Quieter CPU cooler for SG05 build

jimbo19 · 2 Oct 2011 at 06:04

I have an sg05 with i7 860 on stock cooler and 5850, however the intel cooler is very noisy when the cpu is pushed (BF3)
What is the quietest cooler that will fit in the sg05 - bear in mind I am using the inbuilt drive trays - so have 2.5 and 3.5" disk and slimline dvd fitted :confused:

crazy8s · 2 Oct 2011 at 08:18

Have a look at the Thermalright AXP-140 which is what I use in mine, though you may find the cable management a bit tricky if you are also using the 3.5" bay due to the size of the heatsink

There's also the Scythe Kozuti and Big Shuriken http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-026-SY&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=1395

jimbo19 · 2 Oct 2011 at 09:39

Would an H50 fit in the case (with everything I am running) and if so how noisy is the radiator fan on it. Don;t want to just change from one noisy cooler to another

Participant · 2 Oct 2011 at 09:45

I've got a Cooler Master Gemini II in my SG06:

End of line so would have to be second hand, but it's cooling a Q6600 @ 2.5GHz (limitation of motherboard not cooling)...I would say passively, but it's not really passive as the case fan acts as the CPU fan. It still fits both drives in even though the picture doesn't show it. Just a thought anyway as it might inspire you to find a fanless solution. One less fan is usually a good thing imo.

Are you overclocking your CPU and if so by how much?

jimbo19 · 2 Oct 2011 at 09:55

Crikey that looks a monster

May have a look and see if I can find one - thanks
Although would need it to fit 1156 socket

FidelZastro · 2 Oct 2011 at 10:04

Wow... I once built a dualcore-system in a SG05 for my girlfriend (no space for a tower but wanted to play oblivion) and was pretty impressed by this case. But I did not know, it could cope with the amounts of heat a current high-end system produces.

If you want to reduce noise, you have to do two things:
- use efficient coolers
- reduce overall heat production

Efficient coolers could be the recommended Gemini II or the Scythe Big Shuriken. In order to reduce heat, I would strongly suggest to get rid of the 3.5" drive - these beasts, especially at 7200rpm, get quite warm and this means hot air your fans have to get rid of. If there is no alternative to the built-in 3.5"-drive, you should at least ensure that it's a 5400rpm model as these produce less heat.

Participant · 2 Oct 2011 at 10:11

jimbo19 said:
Although would need it to fit 1156 socket

Oops, assumed it was...sorry about that! Still, the overall message remains...don't assume you need a fan on the CPU cooler

.

jimbo19 · 2 Oct 2011 at 10:14

FidelZastro said:
Wow... I once built a dualcore-system in a SG05 for my girlfriend (no space for a tower but wanted to play oblivion) and was pretty impressed by this case. But I did not know, it could cope with the amounts of heat a current high-end system produces.

If you want to reduce noise, you have to do two things:
- use efficient coolers
- reduce overall heat production

Efficient coolers could be the recommended Gemini II or the Scythe Big Shuriken. In order to reduce heat, I would strongly suggest to get rid of the 3.5" drive - these beasts, especially at 7200rpm, get quite warm and this means hot air your fans have to get rid of. If there is no alternative to the built-in 3.5"-drive, you should at least ensure that it's a 5400rpm model as these produce less heat.

Boot disk is a 2.5 ssd and the other 3.5 for storage is a 1.5tb 5400 eco green

FidelZastro · 2 Oct 2011 at 10:24

I envy you. But still, I don't think one should use a 3.5" hard disk in this case. however, assuming this has nothing to do with your problem, you still need a better cooler.

Have a look at the big shuriken (standard shuriken is too high). I read of people cooling their q6600 with this. If its good enough for your i7 - I really don't know. At least, it fits your socket.

Participant · 2 Oct 2011 at 10:42

FidelZastro said:
I envy you. But still, I don't think one should use a 3.5" hard disk in this case.

No reason not to as long as it's not causing overheating problems (very unlikely when you consider the relative heat chucked out by a HDD compared to a CPU and GPU).

Bane · 2 Oct 2011 at 13:27

With the Gemini II do you have PSU internal fan facing down pulling air though the fins (can't tell by picture)?

Gepetto · 2 Oct 2011 at 14:47

You also need to take into account the CPU position on the motherboard, as it further influences the coolers that will fit in an SG05.

I couldn't get my NT-06E to fit on my LGA1156 setup, due to the graphics card being too close to the heatpipes.

jimbo19 · 2 Oct 2011 at 16:33

I'm using a Zotac H55 itx wifi

str · 2 Oct 2011 at 21:53

The Thermalright AXP-140 is likely your best bet.

A standard 120mm fan won't fit on it in the SG05 but there is a thin 120mm fan you could use should it need one.

Participant · 3 Oct 2011 at 06:49

Bane said:
With the Gemini II do you have PSU internal fan facing down pulling air though the fins (can't tell by picture)?

Yes, I haven't changed it from default.

str · 3 Oct 2011 at 15:17

FidelZastro said:
I envy you. But still, I don't think one should use a 3.5" hard disk in this case. however, assuming this has nothing to do with your problem, you still need a better cooler.

The ecogreen drives run incredibly cool even with virtually silent cooling.

I have a 3.5" 1TB Samsung F3 ecogreen drive in a virtually silent small HTPC case and the HDD runs around ~30c whereas an older non-ecogreen drive would be ~50c in the same setup and would likely require me to use better and noisy cooling.

FidelZastro · 3 Oct 2011 at 15:31

Good to know, thank you. I am using a 7200rpm F3 (currently in an external case as I recently sold the rest of my PC) and once made the mistake of leaving a bar of chocolate on it - not recommended.