starsky's Silent Cooling Project 2

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Sun May 25, 2003 8:10 pm

Ok, My last silnet cooling project was the beginning for me, the purchase of an Antec Sonata and the removal of the fan from my radeon 8500. I was wrapped with the difference from my old AOPEN full tower with AOPEN crappy 747 jumbo PSU.

But now it is bugging me again. I am actually positive it is louder that it was when I first got the new case. The PSU is making too much noise, humming and not just turbulence. I think the extra load from the 1Gb of memory is half the problem, and the temps from the HSF o nthe CPU is warming up the PSU making the fan noisier.....

so now My next project is a two phase project..... The aim being a box I can't hear from 2 meters (6 feet).

Phase 1: Replace stock AMD HSF on XP2400+.
I have purchased an SLK800U
I have purchased Arctic CERAMIQUE non conductive goop.
I have purchased an L1A Panaflo, 3pin tail and Zalman Fanmate.
These (with some luck) should all arrive today from 2 suppliers.

Phase 2: Replace Sonata TruPower 380s PSU
I purchased a Silenx.com 14dba 400w PSU about a week or so ago, but delivery will be a while off yet as it takes a while to get to Australia.

EDIT: Phase 3 - Start playing with undervolting........

I will be using a K type thermocouple and my Mobo to do temp measurements before and after, and only a subjective meausre of the accoustics, as I don't have a sound chamber

If anyone has any advice before I proceed I would be most grateful.

Post by **Rusty075** » Sun May 25, 2003 9:18 pm

Excellent choices all around, I don't see anything I'd suggest you'd change.

Be sure to give you opinion about that CERMAIQUE stuff, I've been reading some interesting things.

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Mon May 26, 2003 12:06 am

ok, the Panaflo, Ceramique, and fanmate have arrived. No sign of the SLK800U yet, expect it in tomorrow if I am lucky.

The model number on the panaflo is FBA08A12L

I hope this is the right one for "quiet"

kork · Post by **kork** » Mon May 26, 2003 12:54 am

starsky wrote:The model number on the panaflo is FBA08A12L

I hope this is the right one for "quiet"

It is :) I have the A12L, too, and it comes with a 2-pin header. I think the L1A version comes with bare wires.

DryFire · Post by **DryFire** » Mon May 26, 2003 7:28 am

i use ceramique on my heatsink. It spreads rather easily. does not drip at all. Overall a pleasure to work wil. And from all the reviews i;ve read it preforms on par with as3.

also very good choices. could you post your idle/load temps when you finish.

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Mon May 26, 2003 4:48 pm

Dryfire, I certainly will post temps... Before everything, after the HSF/ceramique/panaflo and before the PSU change, and then after the PSU change

This should provide a good comparison.

Kork, My fan came with 2 bare wires. I had to purchase a 3 pin header to go with it.

A question for everyone, should I tape the zalman fanmate to something, like the Panaflo Fan, or just let it hang ?

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:20 am

ok....

All at room temp 18C -
Temps with stock AMD - IDLE Board 30C CPU : 52C
Temps with Stock AMD - LOAD Board 34C CPU 59C

Temps after SLK800U
- With Panaflo L at 12V - IDLE Board 23C CPU 42C
- With Panaflo L at approx 7V - Board 26C CPU 47C

Consequences are also interesting.... The PSU is now running cooler, and seems to be making less electrical noise, and less fan noise also.

Much happier... hopefully the Silenx 400W will be the icing on the cake. Now audible from 1 meter, but not audible from 3 meters.
Now the folks At Arctic Silver say that the temps will drop a bit after a coupl of days, so I will report back then on the progress.

DryFire · Post by **DryFire** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:50 pm

that's looking good. I will be trying that when i get back home but probably on an slk 900u (hopefully they'll be cheaper in 6 weeks!)

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Tue May 27, 2003 4:54 pm

Ok, I have now slept through the night with the PC on, and I can hear an electrical buzz from the PSU. Damn antec power supply. Silenx shouldn't be far away.....

I will post an article on the instlal of the SLK800U into the A7v-266 soon.

No capacitor bending was required, everything went in sweet.

Zhentar · Post by **Zhentar** » Tue May 27, 2003 7:59 pm

just remember my method- whenever it feels like you haven't improved things at all; you think your system is still the noisy crap you started out with; plug in one of your old, noisy fans. You quickly change your mind

DryFire · Post by **DryFire** » Wed May 28, 2003 2:55 pm

i quite agree my system noisehas dramaticalyl decreased just by a few simple things. After a while they start to sound louder and louder. then i just put my old fans back in to remind me of what i did.

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Wed May 28, 2003 4:55 pm

Actually, I am quite convinced that the temp of my PSU is affecting the noise level.

Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely wrapped with the improvement in everything, including the PSU, but it isn't as quiet as I had hoped. The elctrical noise from the PSU is still audible and annoying.

Anyway, I will be able to do a direct comparison between the Silenx and the Antec 380s very soon.... the Silenx.com Silenx should arrive any day now.

grnarrow · Post by **grnarrow** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 12:35 pm

Did the silenX arrive? Did it help?

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 8:35 pm

Still waiting on the silenx.... this one must have been put on a ship rather than a plane

Also, I am not as happy with the slkk800U as I thought I would be. I am thinking about unscrewing it, and adding some more thermal compund to see if that was a problem.

I was hoping to keep temps down closer to 40. the 46-50 under load is annoying the crap outta me.

Post by **MikeC** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 10:38 pm

I was hoping to keep temps down closer to 40. the 46-50 under load is annoying the crap outta me.

If that's with the Panaflo at 7V, seems pretty good. Don't see how you could get it better without more airflow.

starsky · Post by **starsky** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 12:27 am

Mike, I am happy as punch now.... I built a system for a mate on an xp2600+ and I am really happy with my temps now

Part two of my cooling project is now online..... The installation of the SLK-800U, panaflo etc.

http://bluecouch.com.au/reviews/slk800u/slk800u.asp

Comments and feeback most welcome.

FishaOfMen · Post by **FishaOfMen** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 11:23 pm

Adding more thermal compound will probably not help. Most people put too much on rather than too little.

My suggestion would be to lap the bottom of the heatsink all the way to a 1000-2000 grit polish. That should decrease temps 1-3C.