T
twist
New member
I've been using the stock cpu cooler that came with my PIII 933. It was cheap, and very loud. It stuck out like a sore thumb after I installed a new Enermax P.S.(very quiet!). So after much research, here's what I found.
The efficiency of the cooler (heatsink) is very important. The less eficient your cooler, the more airflow you need to keep the temp. down. The more airflow, the more noise. A larger size fan like an 80mm can provide more airflow at a slower rpm than a 50 or 60mm, and with less noise.
So I was looking at larger heatsink fan/combinations, and found several good combinations, but guess what? I'm using a mini tower case, and the cpu is right under the P.S. They were all too tall to fit. Plus I wasn't too crazy about having all the weight of a two lb. cooler hangin off the mobo horizontally.
Eventually, I found a uniquely designed unit that seems too work pretty well. It's very small and light by comparison, and is nearly silent (18db)! The difference is in the design of the cooler. Instead of a big aluminum heatsink, it uses a solid copper 1" cylinder with a radial fin attachment, and a small 3800 rpm fan on top. With a little modification, I was able to mount sensing thermistor right down in the center of the core which was hollowed out. I believe this placement will also give a more accurate picture of the actual cpu temp because of its proximity to the cpu, rather than having it stuck out on the outer edge of the cooler. If your in a similar situation, this could be a good solution.
Here's a pic. http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/00015.html?id=U5VrUyLp
Also lots of good quiet fans at Plycon, and Sidewinder. they even have comparison charts with mp3s so you can hear how they sound.
My only question is, What should be the normal cpu temp, and where is the "Red Zone"?
FYI
Twist
The efficiency of the cooler (heatsink) is very important. The less eficient your cooler, the more airflow you need to keep the temp. down. The more airflow, the more noise. A larger size fan like an 80mm can provide more airflow at a slower rpm than a 50 or 60mm, and with less noise.
So I was looking at larger heatsink fan/combinations, and found several good combinations, but guess what? I'm using a mini tower case, and the cpu is right under the P.S. They were all too tall to fit. Plus I wasn't too crazy about having all the weight of a two lb. cooler hangin off the mobo horizontally.
Eventually, I found a uniquely designed unit that seems too work pretty well. It's very small and light by comparison, and is nearly silent (18db)! The difference is in the design of the cooler. Instead of a big aluminum heatsink, it uses a solid copper 1" cylinder with a radial fin attachment, and a small 3800 rpm fan on top. With a little modification, I was able to mount sensing thermistor right down in the center of the core which was hollowed out. I believe this placement will also give a more accurate picture of the actual cpu temp because of its proximity to the cpu, rather than having it stuck out on the outer edge of the cooler. If your in a similar situation, this could be a good solution.
Here's a pic. http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/00015.html?id=U5VrUyLp
Also lots of good quiet fans at Plycon, and Sidewinder. they even have comparison charts with mp3s so you can hear how they sound.
My only question is, What should be the normal cpu temp, and where is the "Red Zone"?
FYI
Twist
Sup?