Fans/Heatsink for HTPC

[CJ145]

I am building a HTPC and am in need of some fan and heatsink advice.

These are the parts that I already have.
Silverstone LC17b
Gigabyte GA-G33M-DSR2
E6600 (may upgrade to 45nm later)
8600GT

Planning on:
Corsair HX520
3x500GB Seagates 7200.11's (I own a few .10's and they are rather quiet)

I need two 92mm fans, an 80mm fan and a heatsink for this build. They all need to be nearly silent at 1-2 meters away (the more the better).

Currently I have a TRUE on this mobo however it's too high and I am forced to mount it facing the top of the mobo vs the IO bracket (the northbridge heatsink blocks the heatpipes). If the heatsink I get stands up I would prefer it to face the rear.

I should be able to fit any heatsink height wise that is under 5" tall.

For the 92 fans I was thinking of getting these.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/92evbabe3pca.html
Are they any good and will they be quiet enoguh?

I have only ever bought yates, sunon, and panflow before (my computer room sounds like a server room). I really don't have any clue on what 80mm or heatsink to get for this build.

Whatever I get they can not be light up fans.

Thanks in advance.

[Serra]

My first suggestion is going to be that you (shudder) underclock your processor if possible. It almost hurts to say, but if you're going for quiet and it's not going to be used in a capacity which will require a particularly high-performing processor, you'll shave a lot of heat (and thereby sound) off by underclocking.

I'm sure someone else will have a better suggestion for a heatsink, but you might look at the TT Big Typhoon... it was the top dog before these tower-style coolers started coming along back in the day. Sorry, no comment on the fans.

[CJ145]

I really can't underclock it at all. It's for HD 1080p content under linux. So there is no offloading to the gfx. The case does have 2 92mm intakes and 3 80mm exhausts as well as the psu (but that is it's own loop). I got it because it seems to have good airflow. I'll take a look at the TT, thanks.

[LennyRhys]

Or you could just get a TRUE without fans - there are a few good coolers out there which do a great job passively, depending on your ambient temps, but I'm sure the TRUE whoops them all (without wanting to sound like a TRUE fanboy, which I'm not... Zalman ftw :D).

[CJ145]

TRUE is too high I'm afraid. I would have to cut a hole in the case. >.>

[turtletrax]

Dont want to hijack the thread but in a similar, but not exact, situation. I have a Silverstone Crown that had an AMD 939 X2 system in it that is being changed over to Intel. I had a Zalman CNPS 9500 AM2 cooling it and it was about as high as I could have gone without interfering with the case.

I have a Asus P5K premo and will be getting a E8500 on release, but will be using my Q6000 G0 (not OC'ed of course) untill that happens. Looking for some feedback for CPU cooler ideas that I have so far, and perhaps some new candidates.

Some of the ideas so far...

Zalman CNPS8000
Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Thermalright XP-90C
Scythe Ninja Mini
Scythe Kama Cross
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (might be too high)


Any other ideas???

Thanks in advance!

[Vapor]

Ultima-90 is shorter than the 9500 I think...compact little beast.

EDIT: damn, 14mm taller :(

I had a 9500 back in the Dothan days, thought it was big at the time. Guess not.

[CERO]

How about the Thermalright SI 128 "SE", the SE got some heatpipes added and I thought I saw a while ago it was on pair with a Thermalright Ultra-120 ( not Extreme), and it is a low profile cooler, or maybe a Enzotech?

[turtletrax]

Ultima-90 is shorter than the 9500 I think...compact little beast.

EDIT: damn, 14mm taller :(

I had a 9500 back in the Dothan days, thought it was big at the time. Guess not.


Ya, I found an Ultima-90 used and thought it would fit. Measured and found it would not. I was crushed :D

I love the Silverstone Crown, but makes it hard for cooling.

[Vapor]

How about the Thermalright SI 128 "SE", the SE got some heatpipes added and I thought I saw a while ago it was on pair with a Thermalright Ultra-120 ( not Extreme), and it is a low profile cooler, or maybe a Enzotech?SI-128 SE is the same thing as the SI-128 except with fewer fins. It's better for low airflow (where the SI-128 didn't do so well :p: ).

SI-128 has thicker pipes than the discontinued SI-120 ;)

Both the 128s would be a good option here, depending on your fannage :)

[turtletrax]

SI-128 SE is the same thing as the SI-128 except with fewer fins. It's better for low airflow (where the SI-128 didn't do so well :p: ).

SI-128 has thicker pipes than the discontinued SI-120 ;)

Both the 128s would be a good option here, depending on your fannage :)


Probably be using a Noctua NF-P12 or a YL D12SL-12, don't want too loud. Which would be better fan for which cooler?

Sorry for my questions, been WC'ing for so long I am out of the loop for air :)

[g1raffe]

if your mainly after quietness and not necessarily performance with high overclocking, how about something like the Scythe mini-ninja? May not be best performance but can be good for HTCP's..

[turtletrax]

if your mainly after quietness and not necessarily performance with high overclocking, how about something like the Scythe mini-ninja? May not be best performance but can be good for HTCP's..

I will be pairing it with an E8500 when they release, so it will be impossible for me to not OC that thing. Performance will be on my mind as well, but cannot have a 100CFM fan on it either.

Upon more thought the SI-128 makes sense as it will fit nicely and allow for a 120mm fan. The Se will probably be the way to go so I dont need high pressure fans to get good flow.

Last question Vapor. What fan would be on your short list for the SI-128 SE??

Thanks for all your help BTW :up:

[CJ145]

I ended up buying a mini ninja from from Petra. Will post how it does. Also got some misc stuff and fans for the case. Great site to buy from.

I plan on having an E8500 in here too, it's going in my desktop first, but then when 45nm quads come I'll move the E8500 to the HTPC.

[Vapor]

SI-128SE?

Well, height is a given limitation....if you orient your case so the fan is blowing up/down, then sleeve bearing might as well be avoided...so I guess that leaves:
S-Flex (1200 or 1600, up to you),
Minebea (not as great on a radiator, not as quiet of a noise profile either--but it'll last forever),
Noctua P12.*

I would go with the S-Flex...very safe choice. BUT, Hardware Canucks tested the P12 on a radiator and it did very well and they said it was very quiet. I'm not going to fully endorse a fan I haven't tested, but it looks like a good choice based on that review and specs/design--it is expensive though :(

[Ugly n Grey]

Just to jump in here, the last HTPC I built before coming home was water cooled... I ran the lines and rad down to the basement. It was an OC'd x2 939 running 1.5v. I liked the concept so much I put the hard drives in an external case and moved THEM downstairs. (SCSI at the time but ESata offers the same thing now). Just a little lateral thinking with a moderately basic product like the Swiftech H20-220 kit selling in the 200 ish range.

A friend of mine with NO basement, installed his rad in the interior wall behind the Entertainment system blowing such that the rad blew through a grill in the hallway. Again, perfect silence and excellent cooling. Just some ideas.