CPU cooler for LC16M

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elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 30027 27-Jan-2009 10:57

Hi there,

I know a lot of users out there are using the SST-LC16m case and was after some feedback about aftermarket CPU coolers.
What are you using in your case? I'm looking for something as silent as possible without breaking the bank and that will fit in my case.
Currently i'm looking at the scythe Ninja mini, but any other suggestions would be appreciated!

I'm not looking to overclock or game on my HTPC, will just be watching/listening to tv and movies.

Cheers

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# 192233 27-Jan-2009 11:15

G'day,
I don't know what your budget is but I am using the Zalman from PB Tech: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=FANZAL12423 It is very quiet. Am running it in my Silverstone LC17. http://www.silentpcreview.com is a good site for reviews on fans etc.
Cheers,
Matt

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duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 192246 27-Jan-2009 12:40

I'm running a Freezer 7 Pro ( http://www.silentpcreview.com/article285-page1.html). Can't hear it at all, my noise issues relate to the case fans which I intend to replace with some from here http://www.quietpc.com/nz/index.html, and HDD when they are working, unsure how to fix that issue, but it's not a biggy anyway.

hairy1

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# 192250 27-Jan-2009 12:51

I unplugged my Silverstone case fans. I found them way too noisy. Case temp seems ok with the Zalman pointed out the back to assist with the airflow.

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elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 192699 29-Jan-2009 11:52

Thanks for the help guys. That quiet PC page is a great help.

I ended up getting the Ninja mini (pretty sure it will fit) off trademe and will try and run it fanlessly (gotta love making up words). I'm looking at dropping the voltage of the two case fans to 5v and see what difference that makes If they are still two loud I'll grab some scythe s-flex fans and see if that helps.

What about video cards? After an intially good run with the onboard radeon 3200 it seems I am getting quite a bit of freezing/stuttering on mediaportal with DVB-T HD. I was thinking of getting the 4350 or 4550, or does the same problem affect the ATI graphics cards?

hairy1

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# 192793 29-Jan-2009 21:09

I am using a 9400GT silent with no fan and a huge heatsink on it. I haven't done any HD decoding with it yet as the HD budget went on Mysky HDi but bought it with the intention of decoding HD in the future. There is another thread on the 9400GT running also.
Let me know how you get on with the silverstone fans at 5 volts. I would be interested to see how quite they are. That was my next move but didn't get around to it.
Cheers,
Matt.

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elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 192799 29-Jan-2009 21:32

Yep, should hopefully have the fans at 5 volts by next week sometime.

My AV receiver doesn't decode DTS-MA or TrueHD but I'm not sure whether it does LPCM. I'll do a little more research, as the 4550 radeon does do LPCM via HDMI and seems a good bet if I don't go with the 9400. I guess I have to decide whether potentially having 7.1 LPCM through the radeon is more important then any issues I may have with the card.
The 9400T definitely does look like the best option for display purposes.

Nety

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# 192803 29-Jan-2009 21:49

elkano:...I'll do a little more research, as the 4550 radeon does do LPCM via HDMI and seems a good bet if I don't go with the 9400.

Link to where you got this information from?

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

Nety

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# 192812 29-Jan-2009 22:19

Ah OK finally managed to find some info. Couple of good pages to look at to get an idea of how this works.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3411

And on the video card.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3420&p=2

Pity that ATI cards do not play nice with NZ DVB-T freeview

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 192824 29-Jan-2009 22:40

Nety: Ah OK finally managed to find some info. Couple of good pages to look at to get an idea of how this works.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3411

And on the video card.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3420&p=2

Pity that ATI cards do not play nice with NZ DVB-T freeview

So none of the current ATI cards work with freeview HD in NZ? or is the problem only with tv3 (1080i)?
I have found stuttering/freezing with my onboard radeon 3200, is this the same issue that affects the standalone cards or have they got other issues?

thanks

Ragnor

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# 192842 30-Jan-2009 02:04

There was a bug in the ATI drivers that produced green lines/artifacts. Not sure if it's been fixed yet. Also some stuttering problems probably due to drivers that should be fixed (or might already be fixed) at some stage.

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 193390 2-Feb-2009 13:16

I have been looking at a few of the Nvidia cards, but have been having trouble tracking down what I need.

Basically I'm looking for a 8600GT, or 9500GT with dual DVI, passive cooling (no fan) and that fits into a single slot.

Any recommendations?

Nety

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# 193471 2-Feb-2009 17:51

hairy1: G'day,
I don't know what your budget is but I am using the Zalman from PB Tech: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=FANZAL12423 It is very quiet. Am running it in my Silverstone LC17. http://www.silentpcreview.com is a good site for reviews on fans etc.
Cheers,
Matt

Sorry realise that this is going back a bit now but I am running this cooler in my main machine and find it not the best. It is quiet but it has one fairly major problem. It pushes air accross the top of your MOBO it does not push it down and over the components on your MOBO. If have found on my newest MOBO it really does rely on on the cooling from the CPU cooler to blow air across the memory and the MOBO chipsets.

I now think coolers like http://www.ascent.co.nz//productspecification.aspx?ItemID=360283 are a better idea (cheap option).

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 194209 5-Feb-2009 10:06

hairy1: I am using a 9400GT silent with no fan and a huge heatsink on it. I haven't done any HD decoding with it yet as the HD budget went on Mysky HDi but bought it with the intention of decoding HD in the future. There is another thread on the 9400GT running also.
Let me know how you get on with the silverstone fans at 5 volts. I would be interested to see how quite they are. That was my next move but didn't get around to it.
Cheers,
Matt.

I have installed the fans at 5 volts but things still seem noisy, although I haven't had time to fully test whether its the case fans or the powersupply fan. My CPU is using a fanless ninja mini currently, so I know thats not to blame for the noise. I'll try and isolate things this weekend.

Next possible next steps are:

1) Get a quieter power supply (if the noise cause is this).
2) Get quieter case fans

depending on the heat generated I may also put a fan on the Ninja Mini as currently the CPU is running a little hot (~60C).

maorry

19 posts

Geek

# 194211 5-Feb-2009 10:12

I have installed the fans at 5 volts but things still seem noisy, although I haven't had time to fully test whether its the case fans or the powersupply fan. My CPU is using a fanless ninja mini currently, so I know thats not to blame for the noise. I'll try and isolate things this weekend.

Next possible next steps are:

1) Get a quieter power supply (if the noise cause is this).
2) Get quieter case fans

depending on the heat generated I may also put a fan on the Ninja Mini as currently the CPU is running a little hot (~60C).

I replaced my silverstone fans with ones from quietpc.com and also used one of their quiet power supplies and am very happy with the noise levels achieved.

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

# 194213 5-Feb-2009 10:18

maorry:

I replaced my silverstone fans with ones from quietpc.com and also used one of their quiet power supplies and am very happy with the noise levels achieved.

Did you use 80mm or 90mm fans?
I am looking at the noctua 80mm fans, but haven't looked at a power supply yet.

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