Why the noise?

toffeemad

toffeemad

toffeemad

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I have just replaced both 120mm fans on my T'take Shark case for Cooler Master Silent Fans. I have also replaced mr CPU fan with the Artic Cooling Freezer 64 fan. The only fan I have left alone is the GPU fan on my Sapphire X800 XL card. Although the noise has reduced the fan noise is still well above the level I expected. I was wondering:-

a) Is it the Graphics card fan that is causing this? I dont play games anymore and am considering removing the card.

b) Only the rear fan on my case is plugged into the motherboard controller ( the front plugs direct to my power supply) is it worth removing the rear fan as my CPU has plenty of cooling. Will I get away with just using the front case fan? I dont even know if the Coolermaster fans are speed controlled or just hum away at 1200 rpm?

Hopefully someone can help as I'm a complete novice at this type of thing

Thanks
 
A) Yes, it is most likely that the graphics card is the biggest source of noise.
B) If the rear fan is plugged into the MB then get a program called 'speedfan', I think if it's plugged into your MB then you can use SF to control the speed.

Put your ear near each fan, it's the best way to tell where the most noise is coming from.
 
toffeemad said:
{snip}
b) Only the rear fan on my case is plugged into the motherboard controller ( the front plugs direct to my power supply) is it worth removing the rear fan as my CPU has plenty of cooling. Will I get away with just using the front case fan? I dont even know if the Coolermaster fans are speed controlled or just hum away at 1200 rpm?{snip}
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You can get away with no front/intake fan - but rear/outake fan's very important. But, if its connected to the motherboard, then most likely you can control the speed with SpeedFan :cool: If the Coolermasters are connected to molex connector, then I doubt they are speed controlled :D

hp7909
 
The graphics card will be making a racket, would have been the first thing I changed really as you just can not get a stock one on a reference cooler anywhere near quiet.
 
Thanks for you're suggestions everyone. I immediately downloaded Speed Fan and cut the noise by half! I still need to figure out which fans I have slowed down and what acceptable temperature's are as my System Tray displays a 36?! I am now convinced it is the Graphics Card that is the noisy one and plans are in force to remove it! Thanks again!! :)
 
Always go for the loudest first, as generally out of these two systems..

1)
Super loud mobo northbridge
Several low CFM case fans

2)
Passive mobo
Several medium CFM case fans

The first one will appear louder...you will always have a "noise floor" coming from your PC, but if you have one really loud fan it'll seem a lot louder. ie put a 3cm 10000rpm screamer fan in your system and the other fans will be drowned out...so if you add say a 12cm Akasa (slightly more noise) the 10000rpm fan will still be the loudest and most annoying. Wheras if you switch off 10000 rpm and add the 12cm Akasa will you will notice it, but probably within your threshold.
 
I've opened the case up and sure enough the ref GFX fan is buzzing away like a tormented wasp! Is it easy ( for a relative novice ) to change the GPU cooler for a quieter one? If so, what would be the best option for an X 800 XL? I've also opted for a Nexus fan controller as I dont want to re-configure SpeedFan each time I start my computer.

Thanks
 
toffeemad said:
I've opened the case up and sure enough the ref GFX fan is buzzing away like a tormented wasp! Is it easy ( for a relative novice ) to change the GPU cooler for a quieter one? If so, what would be the best option for an X 800 XL? I've also opted for a Nexus fan controller as I dont want to re-configure SpeedFan each time I start my computer.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Fairly easy and Zalman VF700 or Arctic cooling will do very good :).
 
The Zalman graphics card coolers are really easy to install, not much more difficult than a Socket A processor if you follow the instructions. :)

I have never used any brand bar Zalman for my GFX HSF's as they are reliable and can be silent, which is what I want and they have not let me down yet!

The Artic Cooling and 9800pro failures put me of them.
 
Yewen said:
The Zalman graphics card coolers are really easy to install, not much more difficult than a Socket A processor if you follow the instructions. :)

I have never used any brand bar Zalman for my GFX HSF's as they are reliable and can be silent, which is what I want and they have not let me down yet!

The Artic Cooling and 9800pro failures put me of them.
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I use the AC on my X800 works very nicely and has the plus of blowing hot air out the back.
 
While the system is on, put your finger on the graphics fan to stop it, if the noise stops its the graphics card, if not go prodding and see what else it maybe :)

Hope that helps.


g
 
You can do that quite easily.

Just a case of joining a couple of pins and the PSU will boot up. Usually not necissary though unless your running a test PSU; some PSU's do not like running with no load aswell and go pop on you, mainly older ones mind.

Just easier to boot your PC up with them in and turn off than go to the hassle of shorting the PSU to boot it up.
 
yeah I had a PSU go bang when I tried doing that for the first time.

wasnt old just a poor quality 350w StarTech one :eek:

succesfully worked with a 5 year old 300w Micron one though :confused:

nay well.
 
Micron PSU's are great, have seen literally 100's of them from the mid to late 90's still going now with just a little bit of fan failure starting to creep in.
 
You could always use ati tool or ati tray tools to control the fan speed on your x800 and save yourself some cash. All you would need to do is drop the speed at idle so the sound blends in with the rest of your system. Just keep an eye on temps - you can also do this using either of the above 2 programs. Then if your still not happy with the noise go for an aftermarket cooler.
 
Loads of helpful answers, thankyou!!! Downloaded the ATI tray thingy and slowed the Fan right down. Silence.....I turned up the fan speed again and will now work out what speed I can get away with? The most I do graphically is watch DVD's but I dont have the knowledge (yet) to know what temperatures are safe. What with Speedfan and the ATI tray I can now hear myself think above the computer! :D
 
Glad the ati tools helped, saves buying a new cooler. As for temps, graphics cards can handle temps upto 100'c but I wouldn't be happy with mine that high. Idle temps of round 50-60'c would be ok for your card, just set the fan to progressivly get faster as the card heats up.
 
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