Help - cooling w/ Zalman 7000bAlCu

[korben_dallas]

Hi guys,

I'm using the Zalman 7000bAlCu http://www.zalmanusa.com/usa/product...x=142&code=009 as a replacement of the stock Intel cooler for my 3.2GHz.

This did reduce the noise level signficantly, but unfortunately it is still audible during quiet parts of tv shows and movies. I use my PC for many other things, so relocating the PC is not an option.

The Zalman comes with the Fan Mate 2 http://www.zalmanusa.com/usa/product...dx=70&code=017 but I did not connect it. The reason is that I am concerned about manually controlling the speed of the cpu cooler. How am I supposed to know what is the right speed? Sure, I can set it low where it makes minimal noise, but then the CPU will be getting hotter than it wants. Also, what about when I'm doing things like converting DVD's or playing games? Set it to maximum? Will I have to constantly monitor the CPU temperature and make manual adjustments to the fan speed? Sounds cumbersome.

[mls]

Does your BIOS have an option to automatically control the CPU fan speed? Or was there extra software for your motherboard to do so?

Not all motherboards have this feature, but thought I'd toss it out here just in case you were not aware of it.

[stanger89]

Another option to look at is the mCubed T-Balancer.

[edgley]

I have spent many hours in the quest for less noise.

First get a programme called speedfan. It will tell you the temp of the CPU and how fast the fan is spinning.

You can then wind back the fan and see how much CPU temp rises. If you are just doing sage and not ffdshow, you will be able to take it back a bit.

If you can mount another fan on the chassis next to the cpu, it can be used to pull out the warm air that the cpu makes, and you can then lower the fan speed again.

[gongzero]

I have the Zalman 7000A-AlCu cooling my P4C 2.6GHz with the FanMate set to its lowest speed (IIRC it turns at about 1400RPM). Temperatures are reported by MBM5 as somewhere between 40-43*C for the CPU, well within the comfortable operating range for my processor.

I'm using OCZ Ultra II thermal paste to couple the heatsink to the CPU.

This is in a case with a single 80mm (Papst) exhaust fan; case temps are around 37-39*C.

YMMV.

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Another option to look at is the mCubed T-Balancer.

You've mentioned this a couple of times and I've finally checked it out. Way Cool! Definitely sounds like quite possibly THE current best thermal triggered automatic fan speed control solution available.

[stanger89]

Just wish I had one

[korben_dallas]

Just as an update to this, the noise wasn't coming from the Zalman. It is my power supply. It took me a long time to figure it out because of the weird accoustics inside my case. I wanted to see how loud everything else was, so I put my finger (shame on me) and stopped the Zalman fan completely. To my surprise, the noise was still there, and so I discovered the PSU was the culprit.

The PSU is an Enermax Coolergiant 385 watts. It is 100% solid running a P4 3.2 4x256MB 5 drives 9800 Pro, and rail voltages barely fluctuate even under DVD ripping & transcoding.

Unfortunately, this noise is pretty much a show stopper for me, so I think I'll step up to an Enermax Noisetaker 485 watts (quiet and a little more future proof). I just hate spending $ on a new PSU when there is nothing wrong with the old one.

[stanger89]

This is the answer for you.

[korben_dallas]

That Phantom 350 and the mCube together would be a car payment :O

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

That Phantom 350 and the mCube together would be a car payment :O

Yea but do you want the smooth quit ride of a, 2005 Mercedes E500 or a 1972 Ford F150 Pickup?

I too am in search of the truly silent PC at a reasonable cost ... May go with the combination of the Antec fanless PSU, Quiet Zelman CPU Fan for my new 3 GHz P4 and the fanless Gigabyte 6800 Graphics card .... Then, depending on the case (if I ever get out of stuck mode and make a decision), hopefully a couple of quiet case fans.

edgley had some good thoughts here ...

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...2&postcount=61

and Stanger always does anywhere he posts, now making me think of the mCube ...

Of course part of me is thinking wait until after CES to see what gets introduced on 1-6-05 ...

T.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by mightyt

and Stanger always does anywhere he posts, now making me think of the mCube ...

Just waiting for a local (read US) reseller to get them in stock. 3DCool has them listed, but not in stock yet.

FWIW, my recipie for quiet PC (I'm not all the way there myself yet though).

Go fanless where possible.

• Fanless PS (the Phantom is awesome, runs cool even with a 2.4GH P4 and Geforce 6800 hanging off it).
  
• Fanless video card (Geforce 6800 for me).
  
• Quiet CPU cooler (can't really go fanless on the CPU, so Zalman CNPS-7000AlCu for me)
  
• Quiet case fans (I'm running Panaflo L1As) - undervolting them is the way to go, hence the T-Balancer so I can default them to OFF, and only have them come on when necessary I'd also think more than 1 case fan running slower is better than one running faster, and bigger is better than smaller.
  
• Notebook HDD (I don't care how quiet People say HDDs are, if you've built a quiet system a 3.5" HDD will be noticeable).

The other thing I'm considering is the Zalman Reservator 1, that would eliminate the CPU fan, but that's not annoying on mine anyway so I'm not sure its worth it.

And keep the storage elsewhere

One of these days when I get bored I'll post picks of my setup.

[korben_dallas]

Yeah the Resavator looks sweet but man that thing takes up a lot of real estate.

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Just waiting for a local (read US) reseller to get them in stock. 3DCool has them listed, but not in stock yet.

FWIW, my recipie for quiet PC (I'm not all the way there myself yet though).

Go fanless where possible.

• Fanless PS (the Phantom is awesome, runs cool even with a 2.4GH P4 and Geforce 6800 hanging off it).
  
• Fanless video card (Geforce 6800 for me).
  
• Quiet CPU cooler (can't really go fanless on the CPU, so Zalman CNPS-7000AlCu for me)
  
• Quiet case fans (I'm running Panaflo L1As) - undervolting them is the way to go, hence the T-Balancer so I can default them to OFF, and only have them come on when necessary I'd also think more than 1 case fan running slower is better than one running faster, and bigger is better than smaller.
  
• Notebook HDD (I don't care how quiet People say HDDs are, if you've built a quiet system a 3.5" HDD will be noticeable).

The other thing I'm considering is the Zalman Reservator 1, that would eliminate the CPU fan, but that's not annoying on mine anyway so I'm not sure its worth it.

And keep the storage elsewhere

One of these days when I get bored I'll post picks of my setup.

It's all good!

Check out the A-Tech update ... Looks like a completely fanless HTPC is possible ... not sure about a single drive solution and probably have to mortgage the house to get one, but it is cool to dream!!!

http://www.atechfabrication.com/prod...tsync_6000.htm

T.

[stanger89]

I WANT ONE!!!

But look on the bright side, I bet it's cheaper than the Zalman TNN 500 or at the very least it looks better