quiet cpu fan?

[Brett]

Any suggestions for a quiter CPU fan than what is stock that still gets the job done for a Intel 3.0ghz with hyperthreading. And what about some 60mm fans?

BTW for anyone curious I just got an Antec TruePower430 and that beast has to be the quietest thing on the planet

-Brett

[mcowger]

I use a Zalman HSF combo - first time I turned it on, I turned the machine right off because I thought it wasn't working. Thats how quiet it is.

[Brett]

Originally posted by merrypigWhy 60mm fans tho? aren't 80mm meant to be quieter ? (slower rpm for same air flow)

Because i have 60mm cutouts?

Originally posted by mcowger
I use a Zalman HSF combo - first time I turned it on, I turned the machine right off because I thought it wasn't working. Thats how quiet it is.

LOL now thats quiet Curious, do you have a partnumber?

-Brett

[genesis]

Check out the Zalman CU7000A.. I haven't been keeping up with this as well as I used to, but it used to be the quietest hsf that could handle 3.0+ghz.

Also if you've got a bit of money to burn, and are feeling adventurous, Zalman's just released an entirely passive external watercooling system. No fans = no noise.

www.silentpcreview.com is a good place to start looking

[ctebo]

This Zalman solution will do the trick:

http://www20.tomshardware.com/howto/20040115/

Though I don't know if the price tag or the looks of it make sense for the living room :-)

[wayner]

You might want to use the 7000AlCu rather than just the Cu. The Cu is all copper and while it cools a bit better it is very heavy - it is significantly over the max weight that Intel suggests and it is more expensive.

The AlCu is a hybrid Aluminum, Copper unit and is just under the max Intel spec for weight. Both of these units are supposed to be very quiet and cool better than the stock Intel CPU fan.

There are other options including something called a Zen that is a tower that sits on top of the CPU without a fan. This is more expensive and is more work to install as you have to put a backplate behind the motherboard so you will have to remove the mobo from the case.

With the Zalmans you just pop off the current fan/heatsink and pop on the new one.

AS Genesis mentioned, check out www.silentpcreview.com. There are up to date reviews of these products.

FYI the Zalman AlCu is $48 Canadian ($35US) and the Zalman Cu is $62 Canadian ($48 US) at my local shop.