GA-MA78GM-S2H -> CPU cooling

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aucklander

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 25310 18-Aug-2008 12:51

Hi!

I find the cpu fan the noisiest part of my setup. I am really planning to install an aftermarket cpu cooler. Can you please post what models you installed on this mobo, and how much the noise level changed?

I am using Speedfan and when cold and idle(right after startup), the speed drops towards 1200rpm, but the speed is again up to 2000 rpm (maybe after 30min of watching / recording). This might be due to the heatsing being a bit warm, I would say 36-40 deg (by touch)?. I tried to increase the "target temp" in Speedfan in order to get the speed at a low level for longer, it is already set at 50 deg, I would not like to go higher. I have an extra case fan (80mm - standard fan, nothing fancy) which is much quieter than the cpu fan.

One more thing: do you think the Speedfan settings will be used after reboot? I have a feeling you need to re-start Speedfan after every reboot ( or set it to run at startup). Can anyone confirm this?

mobo Intel DH55PJ, RAM: 4GB RAM, Nova-T 500 HD + Avermedia Trinity tuner card, Geforce 520 video, 120GB SSD Sandisk + 640 WD + 1000SG, Win7 Home Prem 64-bit, Media Portal 1.15.0; BTC 9019URF Cordless Keyboard, Panasonic 55" (HDMI cable), HTPC Case Silverstone Grandia GD05B.

kiwijunglist

2860 posts

Uber Geek

# 157754 18-Aug-2008 15:55

why are you not using cool n quiet which is supported in bios?

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

aucklander

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 157760 18-Aug-2008 16:08

Cool'n'Quiet is enable, but the fan still stays at rpm. I just found out from a site that for Cool'n'Quiet to work you need to select a certain Power Scheme from Windows settings. I do not think I paid attention to that setting, so I will have to check it and see what happens.

alternatively, Speedfan appears to do a good job but I have to add it to a startup list, as it cannot control if it is not running.

are you using Cool'n'Quiet? After you enable it in the BIOS, do you need to make other settings, as well? Where? does it have a Windows interface? I did not focus on this feature as it did not work properly from the beginning (fan sitting at high rpm most of the time), but I did not make any other settings elswhere apart from enableing it in BIOS.

kiwijunglist

2860 posts

Uber Geek

# 157802 18-Aug-2008 19:49

I'm not an expert. Maybe someone else can answer better. From memory it was definitely working in vista. I enabled it in the bios, for the power settings you have to have variable cpu useage setup in advance power settings so it can vary the cpu useage and the fan varies with that i think. Not sure if it is working in XP or not. But i also want to make the computer quieter, and i also think that my cpu fan is the loudest part of the computer.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

# 157877 19-Aug-2008 04:26

Do you really need to run speedfan? I would have thought these same options could be accessed from within the BIOS anyway.

As for a specific cooling option, I have a Scythe Mini Ninja sitting on top of my CPU. It comes with an 80mm fan but I dont use it since my case creates plenty of air flow anyway (thanks to dual 12cm fans), allowing the heatsink to cool passively. Im not sure what sort of case you own but you do need to be careful with the Mini Ninja since even though its labelled as "Mini", the thing is still massive. I have about 1mm of clearance between the top of my case and this heatsink.

imadog

107 posts

Master Geek

# 162585 5-Sep-2008 23:34

Im running a scythe ninja mini in my system without the fan on a core 2 5600+ setup.

My case fans sits right next to the cpu so no issues with airflow.

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=6463

JaBZ

323 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 162642 6-Sep-2008 14:52

I'm also running the scythe ninja mini no fan on a Quad Q9300, stays cool as in a Fusion V2 case. Computer lounge are out of stock for nearly a month.
You can also get it from here http://www.quietpc.com/nz/ click on the order link.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

aucklander

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 163032 8-Sep-2008 11:21

For the moment I am really happy with the noise levels, especially considering I am using an old tower case, recovered from an old P3 office computer (uATX mobo in ATX case), looks really cheap, I have to admit that... all the other components inside are new.

I have Cool'n'Quiet enabled and Speedfan to run at boot. When starting the system (cold), the fan speed drops as low as 600rpm and stays there. When stabilises, after approx 30min, it runs at 900 - 1200, CPU temp as reported by Speedfan never exceded 35 deg C, which (again) I would say is satisfactory. It depends on the room temperature. It usually sits around 28 - 33 deg C.

I had all the above done since a long time ago, but the real noise level reduction I got after some modifications, all of them DIY style:

- anti vibration supports for the HDDs, made of some sort of foam which comes in 10mm thick sheets, one side with adhesive glue, easy to cut and stick toghether to build the "configuration" you need. HDDs are not mounted using bolts at all, there is no contact HDD / case.

- covered the side panel with "industrial" soundproofing insulation, used to wrap the ventilation fans to reduce noise level, if the fan is installed right above occupied spaces... it is like a spongy rubbery mat, approx 10mm thick, pretty heavy stuff (actually part of the noise reduction is achieved by increasing the mass and thus shifting the resonance frequency to much lower values). I had access to the above materials, so I gave it a try and it proved to be a successful try.

Now I cannot hear it from where I watch tv (approx 4m away), when I mute the tv. To be honest, now I believe the stand-alone dvd/hdd recorder makes more noise than the pc.