Zalman 3100+? Passive?

tehfire · Post by **tehfire** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:15 am

Hey all,
I just picked up an old Dell system, and I know it's old but I decided to upgrade it. It comes stock with a Celeron processor, but I'm getting an 850MHz Pentium III to stick in it. I was looking for a quieter HSF for it, since the stock one makes an annoying high-pitched whine. I was looking online and I stumbled across the Zalman 3100+ - really reminiscent of the old 6000, only a bit smaller and lighter. The only thing is the system is a mini-desktop setup, so the power supply is mounted right above the CPU socket, meaning I wouldn't be able to fit the included fan in there. Do you think I could run it passively? The P3 only dissipates 22.5W, after all. If not, does anybody know of a S370 cooler that's tiny and pretty cheap, and quiet? Doesn't have to be as quiet as my Ninja, but quiet enough...

Thanks

JazzJackRabbit · Post by **JazzJackRabbit** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:26 am

We had 3100 and I wasn't impressed by them. They still needed fairly high airflow to cool down Athlons down to 50 at load. Granted PIII runs much cooler than Athlons, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too much. You can try it, but chances are your temps will be high. I'd rather suggest getting one of the old thermalright socket7/A heatsinks and a good 1000-1500RPM 80/92mm fan. The only problem with this solution is that socket7/A thermalright heatsinks are hard to find and they are expensive.

Operandi · Post by **Operandi** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:14 am

I've cooled a 1GHZ Duron passively with the 3100. It stays under 50C but it dose have a 120mm Yate Loon in close proximity so I'm not sure how it would fare with less air flow.

tehfire · Post by **tehfire** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:49 am

Cool...I wish the thermalrights were an option, but I can't find any for near the price I can get a 3100+. Jack, what model Athlon did you have? I've been looking at their TDPs and they're twice that of my P3...Still hoping to do this passively...

Nick Geraedts · Post by **Nick Geraedts** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:37 pm

I've got a 3100+ on my PIII 1GHz. It's not entirely passive, but the only real thing that's cooling it is a homemade duct that feeds to the rear fan. I'm running SETI@Home all the time, and temps stay at 40C.

So... long story short - yes, you can probalby do it. I'd still recommend using a slow fan though. Running passive is only for the crazy people...

JazzJackRabbit · Post by **JazzJackRabbit** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:07 am

tehfire wrote:Cool...I wish the thermalrights were an option, but I can't find any for near the price I can get a 3100+. Jack, what model Athlon did you have? I've been looking at their TDPs and they're twice that of my P3...Still hoping to do this passively...

I honestly have hard time remembering, was very long time ago. If my memory serves me right we had two, one on 1800+ and one on 2400+. Both had stock 92mm Zalman fan blowing on them connected via zalman fanmate (everything included in one package). The 1800+ had to be run at low to medium speed, 2400+ had to be run at medium to high speed to cool them effectively. I don't remember what revisions those Athlons were, so I can't tell you their real heat dissipation figures.

If thermalrights are too expensive for you, maybe look into Scythe Katana? I believe those should still be compatible with Socket 370 and relatively inexpensive. With 1000RPM 92mm fan they will be nearly inaudible.

tehfire · Post by **tehfire** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:35 am

Yeah, I'd like a Katana, but I think it's too tall for the case that I have. The Zalman is low-profile, so I think I'll go ahead with that. Thanks for everybody's advice, you'll hear from me again if I smell burnt silicon haha

JazzJackRabbit · Post by **JazzJackRabbit** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 am

Well, I'd like to hear from you either way, I would like to know how 3100 copes with low power PIII.