Which Fan ?

[waverider]

I want to build a silent AMD system with little or no overclocking. I really don't want much noise from the CPU fans. So I would like to buy one of the following coolers (no other options are possible, this is what my dealer has):

- Globalwin WBK68 5000 RPM Socket A / 370 (24cfm/36dBa)

- Thermaltake Dragon Orb 3 Copper 4900 RPM Socket A / 370 (32cfm/31dBa)

- Thermaltake Volcano 6CU Copper 4550 RPM Socket A / 370 (32cfm/30dBa)


So what's the best? I see there are air flow and dba ratings for each fan cooler, but of course these are only theoretical numbers.

 

[Eriksen]

I can't give you much solid advice here, except that I just put together my new system with a Thermaltake Volcano 6CU Copper + Arctic Silver paste. And I am currently shopping for replacement alternatives!

I dunno... the thing just wasn't anywhere near as low-noise as I expected, plus my temp. scores are too high for my liking. The 30dB were advertised as something really low, but I don't really think it is.

I am thinking about getting a silent (12dB) Papst 80mm case fan, installing it in the case hole closest to the CPU and have it blow lots of outside air directly onto the heatsink through a large plastic tube of some kind. If that cools as well (or bad, hehe) as the original heatsink fan, then I have moderate cooling with very little noise. That's my theory, anyway....