Project Silence

mediamatt

mediamatt

mediamatt

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15 Nov 2010
Posts
676
Hi,

Have a bit of spare money so am thinking about doing a totally fanless/silent pc build. Will probably use this for video editing/photoshop. No gaming at all.

Any ideas on the fastest processor/graphics card combo that i can passively cool? Was thinking of getting the nofan fanless cooler for the processor unless there is something better?

Matt
 
The Nofan CR-95 is wonderful; the Nofan CR-80 is not. The CR-80 will gradually work its way loose thanks to differential thermal expansion. If you go to Nofan's website you'll find a motherboard compatibility list showing which motherboards can use a GPU in the primary x16 slot (with mine, I have ~2mm gap). In your case you won't be losing anything by using another slot, and the heatsink on the GPU may prevent you using the primary x16 slot.

With regards to the GPU itself, check if the onboard graphics will suffice. You can get a fanless Geforce 750 Ti or Quadro NVS 300. There are also fanless TV / satellite tuners available.
 
Quartz said:
The Nofan CR-95 is wonderful; the Nofan CR-80 is not. The CR-80 will gradually work its way loose thanks to differential thermal expansion. If you go to Nofan's website you'll find a motherboard compatibility list showing which motherboards can use a GPU in the primary x16 slot (with mine, I have ~2mm gap). In your case you won't be losing anything by using another slot, and the heatsink on the GPU may prevent you using the primary x16 slot.

With regards to the GPU itself, check if the onboard graphics will suffice. You can get a fanless Geforce 750 Ti or Quadro NVS 300. There are also fanless TV / satellite tuners available.
Click to expand...

Cheers!! I see you have the Nofan and a 3770s. What temp does it go to maximum when hammering it?

Matt
 
This is one of those questions where I always feel I have to ask, do you truly need no fans at all? It's possible to build an essentially "silent" pc that you simply wont here over normal use without going truly passive.

Something like this ensuring you configure the BIOS to keep the case and CPU fans in the 6-800rpm range would essentially be silent without the full hassel of having to go 100% passive. Using a massive oversized heatsink on a standard non overclocked processor will keep it amazingly cool allowing you to run the fans at 500ish rpm almost constantly where they will be inaudible.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £966.38
(includes shipping: £12.60)
​

You could even replace that 750 with something like a 970 that has a 0 fan mode. It would be truly silent most of the time, and with a custom fan curve can be made to be essentially inaudible whilst giving much more power.

Unless you are working in a sound deadened room in complete silence, I've never really understood the need for 100% passive PC's.
 
Last edited:
BinnsY said:
This is one of those questions where I always feel I have to ask, do you truly need no fans at all? It's possible to build an essentially "silent" pc that you simply wont here over normal use without going truly passive.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but no, it isn't. If you're working in an office with others, you may not hear the thing, but if you're in a quiet room alone with the PC, even if it initially seems silent, you quickly pick up on the noise that it does make.
 
Quartz said:
I'm sorry, but no, it isn't. If you're working in an office with others, you may not hear the thing, but if you're in a quiet room alone with the PC, even if it initially seems silent, you quickly pick up on the noise that it does make.
Click to expand...

I agree. When im on my PC at night when everybody is in bed, I can hear it easily. During the day, seems silent.
 
I've still yet to get my PC at a level I can't hear it.. Although I think the noise must be from my PSU as it's old so maybe not as quiet as newer ones.
 
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