Well, one thing I learned is that we love silence.
We also love performance, right?
In the end, you need a fan controller.
I have a completely capable (not highest end) gaming rig.
It runs very quiet.
Here's the specs:

Antec Sonata Case (good quiet case)
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (Swapped NB cooler with Zalman NB Cooler)
AMD Athlon64 3200+ s939 (these run at 1.4v at full clock speed)
Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 (solid copper, pretty quiet)
2x512MB OCZ EL Platinum Edition (2-3-2-5-1T)
OCZ ModStream 520W PSU (Modular and 120mm fan)
ATi All-In-Wonder 9600 (Runs games great, no fan)
Plextor DVD±RW 708A (Reads video at 2x max)
Western Digital 250GB 8MB Cache HDD (not the quietest, good enough)
Zalman Fan Controller (the brains of staying cool)

Here's what I do.
When I'm not gaming or doing anything really intensive I have all the knobs at their lowest on my fan controller and my CPU at 5x200@1.1v via crystalcpuid. When it's time to do some serious loads I set the cpu back to 10x200@1.4v and turn the silent boost up to max (2500rpm). Its still quiet!
I always leave my rear case fane (120mm) at 5v and my 92mm Zalman HDD fan at 5v unless there is a heat wave here in southern cali.

My temps are always below 30C idle. And most people say the MSI reads temps higher than they really are. The lowest temps I've seen at idle was 16C. At full load (gaming) I've seen 45C. I'll post some extra stats if you have any specific questions. Meanwhile here is a pic:

looks like a nice powerful yet quiet machine. but you do realize that room temperature is usually 20C... do you really crank the a/c or something because i know it socal doesn't get real cold ? i think it's more likely your mobo reports too low if you're seeing 16C.

We have had some really cold nights here as of lately.
I do not expect those temps too often.
Should be around 20C to 26C at night time.
26C to 30C during the day.
That is at 5x200@1.1v too.
The winchester A64 only soaks up 21W@1.1v.
It produces next to no heat.

It does get cold in SoCal. I remember it used to frost every morning, so those temps are well within believable range.

Here's some read outs by MBM5:



You can see my high and lows here.
Keep in mind that when the fan is stopped, the temp is 24° C, and the vcore is <1.1v I am running at 1000MHz.

About temps in california...
here's what it is right now
52 F (11 C), Humidity 77%
in my room it is 14C
so we do have some pretty cold nights here right now

Well, I just got my Tt ducting mod and my Panaflow H1A.
Here are some pictures:









Note I do have the H1A in a sucking position.

Here are some specs i got with MBM5:



The first reading (it goes bottom to top) is the processor at 2GHz 1.4v H1A@11v with Folding@Home running (highest heat test)
The second reading is the processor at 2Ghz 1.4v H1A@11v (no Folding@Home)
The third reading is the processor at 1GHz 1.1v H1A@4v (no Folding@Home)

I was going to try it in a blowing setup but I was happy enough with what I got in the sucking position.
Plus I like the idea of that dirty CPU air beeing tossed at my 120mm exhaust fan.

The report that the H1A is at 0rpm at 4v is incorrect.
I'm guessing it's around 1000rpm ~ 1500rpm.

I got a good reading of the H1A @ 4v.
It's running at approximately 1300rpm.
I got off my lazy butt and found out that blowing and sucking yielded the same results.

Here are some pictures of the blowing setup:







I noticed that once you get down below 1900rpm it is pretty quite.
There is still this little high whine.
You have to get pretty close to hear it, like 4 inches away.
Once you get it below 1400rpm you can't hear it at all.

Hi Nice system u got here! Question: How loud is the OCZ 520 PS? Can you hear it within 1 feet? What if you load high power applications and would it become louder? Thanks ^.^

You can set those voltages lower. 5x200 can go down to 0.85v, I would expect a s939 to run 10x200 at less than 1.4 (1.3?) - I have a Newcastle 3000+ that goes to .85 and 1.4 with no problems, and I'd expect .90um chips to go much lower. I can fold at 45C with HS & exhaust fans <1000rpm (except for the PSU which I can't do much about!)

Why don't you point your ducting mod to the exhaust in suck mode? That'll get the heat out the system without heating up your PSU?

And if you can get by with a H1 at 1300 rpm, I bet you could get by with a Nexus fan too. And I guess it would be a bit quieter.

burcakb

I do have it that way. I just haven't posted it again. I tested both directions. Follow the link in my sig to see whats going on.

StarfishChris, I currently use RMClock and have it set to 5x200@.9v ~ 10x200@1.4v.

Yamamoto56, I never hear my PSU, period. Maybe it starts making more audible noise when I'm gaming but I really wouldn't know because of my speakers pumping out in-game action.

Here is my H1A exhausting:



Here is my latest mod, HDD suspension:



I know Tt Silent Cats aren't the best, but they do pull air from the sides.
But at 4v they are quiet enough. Helps bring air across the HDD.



Here's an overview:



For more pics check the link in my sig.

I could get by with a Nexus or L1A but...
I like the H1A because I can crank it up if I need to.
Other fans will cap out at 1900rpm.
We get heat waves here in Southern California during the summer.
So when I want to do some gaming when its 100F+ in my room, I'll need 2700rpm. Nexus and L1A can't give me that. I know it is loud at those speeds but like I said, only when I'm gaming.

My biggest offender now is that stock Antec 120mm exhaust fan.
I always run it at 5v but it is still the loudest thing in my case, not that it's actually loud. It's actually pretty quiet. Just not as quiet as my other components. I wonder what would be better... Getting a Nexus or Panaflow and replacing the 120mm or keeping it and cutting the grill. Obviously doing both would be optimal I'm just thinking that if all the noise is mostly turbulent than a new fan will not solve much then. I have Wiss tin snips but I don't feel like taking my entire setup apart to cut the grill. To tight of a working area to do it with everything still in the case! What do you guys think? Oh, and, where do you guys get those blue ear fan mounts? I have the clear ones that the case came with but I need more!

If your PSU can handle less flow through it then getting a different fan that starts off being quieter will allow you to drop the flow further without it stopping due to inadequate voltage. Starting off with a Nexus 120mm and dropping the voltage on that should achieve your stated purpose. I found on a very cheap PSU with a bad airflow design that even with a low flow fan I couldn't get it quieter without altering the grill in some fashion. I doubt you'll have this problem but it's worth considering if you drop the airflow through it and it remains noisy.

Thanks for the advise ckolivas but I wasn't talking about the exhasut fan in the PSU.
I was talking about the exhaust fan for the case.
The PSU is completely quiet!

Oops my bad

Replace the acronym PSU in my post with the word case and the same applies then

Here is the highest temps I achieved and the circumstances:
Prime95 set to Large in-place FFT (maximum heat)
Processor running at 10x200(2.0GHz)@1.4v
CPU Fan (H1A) running at 4v (1300rpm)
Ambient room temp = 24C
CPU Diode temp reading from MBM5 = 58C
That's a good 20C+ above my idle CPU temps!
Either Prime95 is really good at creating heat or my heatsink (Tt Silent Boost K8) doesn't tranfer heat all that good.
Any ideas?

That's pretty much expected with a low airflow setup. 58 degrees may seem high but it's quite safe. Most processors are designed to be safe up to about 70 degrees. There is a theory that every 10 degrees hotter you run electronics you halve the lifespan of it, but it's only relevant if you are always running prime95 or folding etc. Hardly any of us keep cpus till they die of old age though Getting the flow down to a level which just keeps your cpu at a comfortably safe level at greatest load means you have the minimum amount of airflow, and hence noise, that you can run your machine with under any circumstances. It is worth noting the rise above ambient temperature (58-24 = 34) and consider that if your room ever has ambient temperatures much higher than you currently run. At 40 degrees which we get in .au, 34 above ambient would put it >70 degrees which is unsafe. Therefore 30 above ambient is about as high as would be comfortable here.

Thats why I got the H1A... for those hot days
Here's a video file of how my setup sounds.
A little explination is needed.
This is recorded approximately 12" from the front of the case.
I took it with my digital camera (not quite high end audio recording equipment).
You will see me turn knobs down.
Knob description from left to right.
Left (analog knob 11v ~ 4v) = CPU fan (H1A 80mm)
Middle (analog knob 11v ~ 4v) = Front intake fan (Tt Silent Cat 80mm)
Right (switch 12v>0v>5v) = Case exhaust fan (stock Antec 120mm)
When you see the front blue LEDs... that's my HDD crunching.
Don't worry you will not hear it... it's suspended
WARNING DIAL UP USERS!!! THE VIDEO IS 6MB!!!
Here it is:
http://battleoftustin.com/toNka_dBA.avi

I have done some upgrades...
It's been a while since I have posted so let me bring you up to date with 14 pictures.
I am now using Nexus 120s undervolted.
I put my Tt fan back on the heatsink and ditched the ducting mod.
I get better temps for some reason this way (can't figure out why).
I know the Tt isn't the quietest but I run it undervolted so I can't hear it.
I put some egg crate foam in some drive bays.
Not to cut down on noise but to keep air from coming in in those areas.
Forcing it to come in more at the bottom front of the case.
I have also closed up the "Antec" hole to ensure this air path.
I forgot, I also am using a 74GB Raptor now.
SATA helped cut down on clutter.
Thinking about getting the Plextor SATA 16x DVD±RW, we'll see.
There are many mini-mods I have done that I'm not going to waste my time mentioning.
If you have any questions regarding my setup... just ask
Now for the pictures:

Looking good!

Have to ask why you've put a fan grill on the internal fan? All it does it messes up the airflow and creates a tiny bit more noise

Well, I don't know how much noise it adds or how much it messes up the air flow...
See those stupid little blue fan mounts.
Yeah, you know the ones... EAR.
Well I spent good money buying a few sets of these only to find out they are completely useless in my Sonata.
I couldn't get them to work on my rear exhaust fan for the life of me.
I tried to "soften" them up with hot water and a hair dryer.
No luck.
So I used some to mount my fan grill just so I wouldn't feel completely ripped off.
BTW, I forgot to post temps...
Right now (summer time in Southern California) I get 30C in the day and 28C at night.
That's with all fan's undervolted to 4~5v and using RMClock to keep the CPU idle at 5x200 (1Ghz) @ .9vCore.
If it ramps up to 10x200 (2GHz) @ 1.3v it rises by 1~2C the most.
Crunching CPUBurn gets me an average of 45C with spikes here and there of 50C.
The temp sensor labeled "NB Temp" is what I assume is the NorthBridge.
I could totally be wrong about that sensor.
If you have a MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum and use SpeedFan and know what Temp1&3 are let me know.
I assume it goes as follows:
Temp1: Case
Temp2: CPU
Temp3: NB
My Temp1 (Case?) reads really low (12C) so I don't display it because I don't feel it's accurate.

Double Post

Deleted. (Multi-posted)

In order to get them into my Sonata, I ended up enlarging the fan mount holes slightly using a drill. I did the same thing to the holes on the fan too, and filed the flange (is that the word?) so that it is a little thinner.

Hey guys. Look at me! I'm a first-timer! lol

Anyway I think I have a pretty similar rig to this so I thought I'd let you know about it.

Antec P160 w/ 2x120mm
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe w/ Zalman NB Cooler
3200 Winnie (Speed of which I'll explain later)
2x512Meg OCZ Premium
Thermaltake Sonic Tower (Passive)
Gigabyte Passive 6600GT
NEC 16x DVDRW
TT Butterfly 480w (lightly modded)
Maxtor DM9 80Gig 8meg
+ barracuda 7200.7 120Gig 8Meg (both suspended)
Enermax 92mm on min

I probably should have made my own post for this but I just thought our rigs were so similar!

I use speedfan to keeps the 120mm's quiet (the stock one is at 30%, while the 'Quiet Blue One' is at 40%). These fans are basically all that cools my CPU.

Here's a Pic:
No there isn't. How do you post pictures?

Now it gets complicated.
In BIOS I have it set to 240FSB, 10X multiplyer, 1.55vcore, 333 mem Div. @ 2.5 3 3 7 1T
My Sweet spot.
Loaded my CPU gets up to 57°c (HOT) with these slow fan speeds, but it doesn't crash and is P95 stable ( atleast for a few hours )

Generally I use crystal CPUID to lower the multiplyer to 5x for 1.2GHz with ~1.125v (Purely because this was set to .975v but since I raised the vcore in bois its is raised by this amout, o.15v, above stock at all settings in CCPUID). At this speed it idles at 35°c in a 27°c case.
GOT THAT?
lol

I could chat forever about this

Anyway to suite this thread more I think the P180 should be a great case. I find my P160 great with only 1 or 2 flaws:
1. The thin aluminium sides are prone to vibration from drives etc..
2. Flow from the front 120mm is very restricted.

These seem to be a thing of the past with the P180

James

Lenny, I did think about drilling the holes bigger but when the system is already completely assembled then I don't think it's a wise decision
Plus I think the grommets that ANtec supplies with these cases are better than the EAR grommets.
Here's a link to buy them:

http://www.antec.com/Detail.bok?searchpath=7f0000011051ba07bf8d2&keyword=grommet&keywordoption=AND&start=1&total=5&no=328

I did dremel out the "flanges" on my Nexus 120s though, that's a must.

mmjw,

WELCOME TO SPCR

Well I thought I'd just give a virtual tour of my room.
A few things to note first...
I do not have a bedroom, I live in a livingroom (no pun intended).
We will go clock wise around my room.

In the first picture you see the sliding glass door that leads to my patio.
This is where I draw all my cool air from
You also see my videogame rocker chair, cheesey Target shoe rack, my left tower and surround speakers (I'll explain this more later), all my computer hardware/software boxes, Boba Fett & Slave1, and one of my two dressers.



In the second picture you see the main course... All my AV equipment.
Gaining the most attention would be my RCA MM32110 HDTV/Monitor.
It is 32 inches, 800x600 native, and has two VGA inputs among the other obvious inputs. I know your thinking 800x600 is low res, it is. But when you are playing games at this res with AA maxed out on a 32" CRT sitting on a couch, it's way better than playting at 1600x1200 on a 19" one foot away. You see the Toshiba 6 head VCR, woop-di-doo. Onkyo 6.1 receiver. My center channel with Nintendo beanie babes. A heavily modded XBOX. Behind the little door in the middle is a GAMECUBE. You'll see my computer on the right and an external HDD with a Duplo Bunny sitting on it. Notice my computer is sitting on some furniture. Underneath, inside, is my modem and router. Elevating the Sonata keeps all the cat fur from getting sucked into it. Plus better air flow. On my dresser, right side, is an Air-Zooka. If you don't own one, buy one .



Third picture, right tower and surround speaker. Stone Brewing 3 liters, Kramer, tool box, sub, small dresser. Kitchen in background.



Fourth picture, Phone, couch, surround speakers, framed Nintendo ads from E3 mag (year of GC demo), and more junk.



I don't know why anyone would care, but that's my room.
I feel that there is soooooo much more to a rig than whats just inside, that's me.
About the speakers, I have towers and surround. You need towers for music. Good Ol' 2 channel stereo. Surround music sounds okay at best. Of course I use the surrounds for movies and games...
I think that covers the most of it.