Quieting/Cooling my 3.0 Prescott on an Abit IC7-Max3

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:24 pm

Hi there, I have been reading these boards for a while and thought I should really register and get posting before undertaking a few projects which require the expert advice I see on these boards.

As the title suggests I am looking to make my current PC a bit quieter and provide a bit of extra cooling. I also know how you guys love your details so I will try to note down everything I can think of, here goes...

Background
I am looking to move my current PC from my downstairs to my bedroom, although it won't be running while I'm asleep I would like it to be quieter during the late night hours and able to cope with the slightly warmer summer environment with the case door on. I will be building a new PC for downstairs after I sort this one out, but we will cross that bridge another time

. Almost forgot, in terms of budget I would think around the Â£50 mark as a max.

The Machine - Not OC'd
Case: Antec Sonate
PSU: 480W Antec True Blue
MB: Abit IC7-Max3
CPU: Intel P4 3.0e (Prescott)
CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS7700-ALCU
RAM: 4x 512mb PC3200
HD: 2x 74gb raptors (raid 0), 1x 200gb Seagate barracuda 7200.8, 1x 250gb WD Caviar SE
GFX: Geforce 6600 GT 256mb (AGP 8x, silent pipe)
Fans: Nexus 120mm (BW version)
Northbridge: replaced with fanless heatsink

The Stats
Temps
Downstairs - Ambient temp 16-18C winter, 21-23C summer
Bedroom - Ambient temp 16-18C winter, 24-26C summer

Machine Temps (downstairs)
CPU Temp - 56 Idle / 72-76 Load. (Without side door), +4-5C (With side door)
SYS Temp - 30 Idle / 45 Load (W/O door), +5-7C (W door)
PWM Temp - 35 Idle / 50 Load (W/O door), +4-6C (W door)

Fan Speeds
CPU - 2280 rpm
OTES - 4800 rpm

Noise
I went through the identifying noise article (nice work btw

), and I have identified the main source as the big ol Zalman CPU fan, however I suspect the little OTES fan might be making a fair amount of noise also.

Concerns - Abit IC7-Max3 board image (ref.)
1. The OTES may get in the way of potential CPU coolers, but if I removed the OTES how will that affect the temperature?
2. If I get the Zalman ZM-NBF47 (with the loops) this will probably also get in the way of CPU coolers.
3. I was hoping I could actually put the side door of the Sonata case on without the temps going through the roof.

Requirements
1. CPU fan, I'm not looking for total silence just quieter with more cooling. I see Scythe Ninja mentioned time and time again but I'm not sure it will fit unless I remove the OTES.
2. Northbridge Cooler - probably a Zalman ZM-NBF47 (81 x 37 x 47mm)
3. Any other suggestions/advice would be most welcome

Sorry about the multiple sections I wasn't sure the best way to set out all the required information

Cerberus · Post by **Cerberus** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:20 pm

Perhaps the Thermalright SI-128 is more up your alley? Lots of clearance above the mainboard...

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:46 pm

I like your idea Cerberus, the Thermalright series seem to have a lot of tall heatsinks.

I am not sure the SI-128 will fit my 478 though

Cerberus · Post by **Cerberus** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:54 am

Oops!

My mistake; the SI-120 is the high-riser that fits Socket 478 boards. If memory serves, its fin placement is less dense than the SI-128, as well, so you'll have less turbulence noise.

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:13 pm

Ah cool, any fan you would recommend in particular? or should I stick a nexus 120mm on the bugger? Thanks for your help

Cerberus · Post by **Cerberus** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:18 pm

I'm impressed with Scythe's S-FLEX fluid dynamic bearing fan; one exhasts my Antec NSK2400 care

Don't know if they're appropriate for CPU heatsink duty, though; hopefully someone here with more experience than I can chime in. Don't forget to pore through the fan reviews; these folks sampled a bunch of 120mm fans and undertook rather thorough noise analyses.

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:11 am

Ok, my list is set

1. Thermalright SI-120
2. Nexus 120mm
3. Zalman ZM-NBF47

Now the Nexus and Zalman I found pretty quickly, but after searching for an hour I can't seem to find anywhere that sells the Thermalright SI-120

Any ideas on that one?

Cerberus · Post by **Cerberus** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:58 am

Nuts.... maybe check eBay UK? In a pinch, I'm sure a Thermalright XP-90C cooler would work as well.

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:13 pm

No joy on the ebay front damn

I have found the XP-90C, only problem now is deciding on a 92mm fan...

Noiseblocker XE1
Nexus DF1209SL-3
or even the Acoustifan AF92CT

From the round up, there are question marks over the Nexus' ability on a hot processor which has me concerned a bit. As well as the sound of the Acoustifan, I anticipate the fan running at a fairly fast rate in order to keep things cool.

Why is it you can always find the worst fans around but nobody seems to want to sell the good stuff

EDIT: I've just found some Papst 92mm fans, not sure if they are any good.

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:34 pm

Sorry for the double post, but I really could use a hand deciding on a 92mm fan for the Thermalright XP-90C...anyone?

Edit: How about the AcoustiFan 92mm, does anyone have any experiences with them?

Bluefront · Post by **Bluefront** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:40 am

IMHO.....It's obvious to me that you are having thermal issues with your CPU, and with your case airflow. A load temp over 80C with the case closed is 30C higher than my p4-3.4EE. I tried a 92mm Nexus fan on an XP-120.....just didn't blow enough air to cool very well. I'm now running an Arctic Cooling 92mm @ about 1200rpms.....much better. But it still seems that your total case airflow needs improvement. The big temperature rise when the case is closed is an indication of problems.

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:24 am

Thanks very much for your input, I think there must be some problem with the Zalman CNPS7700-ALCU possibly has a fair bit of dust on it, which I have cleaned. I was testing it earlier by stopping the 120mm case fan and then the psu fan and noticed that the Zalman didn't seem to be shifting much air by itself, a bit odd considering how much noise it was making

Should I look at getting an exhaust blower to maybe suck out some of the hot air?

Edit: woho found some 92mm arctic cooling fans

Bluefront · Post by **Bluefront** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:28 am

That's the AC fan mounted on an XP-120. I used a 92mm fan rather than a 120mm because I could soft-mount the fan using rubber hose and zip-ties. Much over 1200rpms and that fan gets noisy.

If you aren't using an exhaust fan other than the PSU fan, that could be your problem. A Zalman 7700 should cool better than your numbers....

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:21 am

Your case is much tidier then mine

I have been trying to find a SI-120 or a XP-120 but with no joy, so I've decided to go the way of the 92mm Arctic Cooling fan as you suggested

With the Zalman Northbridge cooler, hopefully that will help lower the numbers.

I will update when they arrive, thanks again

mikeom1 · Post by **mikeom1** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:37 am

So over the Easter weekend, I installed all the bits and have some good news on my update. Considering the weekend temps were fairly warm here I am very happy with the new readings after modifications...

New Temps - with case door on!

CPU Temp - 54 Idle / 65 Load
SYS Temp - 32 Idle / 33 Load?
PWM Temp - 38 Idle / 50 Load

I was wondering why the Case temperature doesn't seem to move much even under heavy load. Could it possibly be with the case door closed the airflow is vastly improved?

I would like to thank both Cerberus and Bluefront for all their help