Eskimo
09-25-2003, 11:08 AM
While this isn't earth-shattering, I swapped one fan out and got a BIG difference!
My goal was a relatively quiet system.. no delta fans here..
All I did for this test was swap out the 80mm Zalman fan installed in the stock side panel hole for a 120mm Vantec stealth.
Other fans are:
2x Zalman 80mm front panel (with filter) - PSU "fan only" leads
2x Zalman 80mm rear panel - one on fan only lead, one with resistor from mobo header
Antec True 430 PSU fans (temp controlled)
Zalman 7000 AlCu cooler (70%)
stock "orb" northbridge fan. (70%)
I was running the side panel fan off the PSU's fan only output before. I hooked the 120mm straight to a 12v+ line, and the volume is damn near the same. It's breathing through an aluminum mesh filter.
Before:
CPU: 45 idle, 60 max
Case: 34 idle, 37 max
PSU: 35 idle, 40 max
Now:
CPU: 43 idle, 57 max
Case: 28 idle, 29 max
PSU: 32 idle, 36 max
Room temp is 77*F through all tests.
The northbridge fan is now the loudest one in the system. It's noticeable even at 70%.. (goes to 100% at CPU 53*)
There's certainly positive pressure inside the case now, as the exhaust fan that is not PSU controlled is moving more air, even though it's at the same voltage.. it's being helped.
Overall, the system is a tiny bit quieter, I attribute that to the PSU running all the controlled fans a few hundred RPM slower, since it's running cooler.
For $13, I couldn't be happier! 120mm fans are the way to go..
What's in the case making heat:
2x 10kRPM U160 SCSI drives
ATI 9800 Pro card, OC'd
Adaptec U160 controller
2.8c @ 3.04
2x NIC
Sound blaster Audigy
My goal was a relatively quiet system.. no delta fans here..
All I did for this test was swap out the 80mm Zalman fan installed in the stock side panel hole for a 120mm Vantec stealth.
Other fans are:
2x Zalman 80mm front panel (with filter) - PSU "fan only" leads
2x Zalman 80mm rear panel - one on fan only lead, one with resistor from mobo header
Antec True 430 PSU fans (temp controlled)
Zalman 7000 AlCu cooler (70%)
stock "orb" northbridge fan. (70%)
I was running the side panel fan off the PSU's fan only output before. I hooked the 120mm straight to a 12v+ line, and the volume is damn near the same. It's breathing through an aluminum mesh filter.
Before:
CPU: 45 idle, 60 max
Case: 34 idle, 37 max
PSU: 35 idle, 40 max
Now:
CPU: 43 idle, 57 max
Case: 28 idle, 29 max
PSU: 32 idle, 36 max
Room temp is 77*F through all tests.
The northbridge fan is now the loudest one in the system. It's noticeable even at 70%.. (goes to 100% at CPU 53*)
There's certainly positive pressure inside the case now, as the exhaust fan that is not PSU controlled is moving more air, even though it's at the same voltage.. it's being helped.
Overall, the system is a tiny bit quieter, I attribute that to the PSU running all the controlled fans a few hundred RPM slower, since it's running cooler.
For $13, I couldn't be happier! 120mm fans are the way to go..
What's in the case making heat:
2x 10kRPM U160 SCSI drives
ATI 9800 Pro card, OC'd
Adaptec U160 controller
2.8c @ 3.04
2x NIC
Sound blaster Audigy