Silent CPU cooler

stoofa · 21 Oct 2016 at 13:08

I've got a customer who needs a silent CPU cooler. The machines are located in a "hearing centre" so the PC's need to be as quiet as possible for testing people's hearing etc.
Machines are pretty standard, no kind of overclocking going on, so they will need to coll CPU's at stock.

Can anyone recommend any "definitely silent" or as near as can be coolers?

Ta

Blackbadger · 21 Oct 2016 at 13:53

OCUK don't sell passive coolers. which are silent.
If they already have the computers getting something to fit maybe tricky as silent ones are big.

As a compromise something like a Noctua NH-D15S would be good, bigger fans are quieter and can run at lower rpm.

Once the cpu cooler is replaced, you may notice the noise from the PSU and the mechanical HDD's, so SSD's and a passive or overspec'd PSU which only turns the fan's on above a certain wattage could be used.

Bantu · 21 Oct 2016 at 13:54

Will you be speccing them a case too? If it has to fit into a small one i'd say something like this would be great:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-quiet-shadow-rock-lp-low-profile-cpu-cooler-120mm-hs-011-bq.html

For a tower cooler, something like this is cheapish:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/alpenfoehn-brocken-eco-cpu-cooler-120-mm-hs-047-al.html

Basically get something with a big fan (120mm to 140mm) and you should be fine..

smilertoo · 21 Oct 2016 at 19:28

There is a completely passive cpu cooler but it requires a big pc case, also costs around £100. It shouldn't be hard to reduce the noise in an existing pc so it can't be heard when wearing over ear headphones like are usually used in hearing tests.

doyll · 22 Oct 2016 at 08:54

Do already have the cases and components?

The problem is not passive CPU cooler but the case. If case is not passive there is no reason to use a passive CPU cooler.

As a general rule cases will not flow much if any air passively. This means a slow speed fan or two are needed to create case airflow.

I can think of two possible ways to do it, and both require cases with good airflow with motherboard / CPU using built in video with something like the Thermalright Macho BW rev.B with it's TY-147A fan that idles at 300rpm and a duct from from cooler to case.

This way the single TY-147A is the only fans in the case and by flowing all it's air through cooler and out of case it creates case aiflow by drawing it in through vents .. preferably filtered.
Same as above but use case intake vents with 1 or 2 low speed fans drawing air in and duct from CPU cooler to vent.

Cases like Fractal Design Define and Nanoxia Deep Silent work well.

I've done a far few silent builds. Trust me a note if you want more info.