CPU Fan

Hello, I have a dell dimension e521 for the last 4 years and it is the quitest pc that I know of. Now I am going to build a pc at home.using an AMD am3 cpu. Please, can anyone recommend a cpu fan that is quite? One of my friends got a very expensive copper fan but it makes a big racket. Thanks in advance.

Hello wesi, It depends on two factors really. What CPU will you be using ?(this matters because the more powerful the processor, the more heat it makes. The more heat makes, the louder the fan is). And what do you class as quiet? You also have to remember that case fans will make noise too. It's possible that you could be hearing a case fan rather than a CPU fan. Cheers, Nahumi

Thank you Nahumi. The noise in my friend's pc is definitely from the cpu fan. I will be using an AMD Atholon 11 x4 640. Please, I live in Holland and it may be possible that the local description of cpu may be different than in your country.

If that is a new AMD that came in a retail package with an AMD supplied cooler, then note the AMD CPU Warranty it pretty straightforward:

"This Limited Warranty shall be null and void if the AMD microprocessor which is the subject of this Limited Warranty is used with any heatsink/fan other than the one provided herewith."

I am just the messenger. I am not expressing my opinion. I provided a link to the warranty so you can read and learn the facts and consequences for yourself should you decide to use a 3rd party cooler

That said, the case itself is a big factor in noise control. Some of the better cases are designed to deaden sounds.

I personally use an Arctic Freeze 7 Pro. It's a bit tricky to get on, but I can never hear it over my case fans. Your other option is to go for a passive cooler. It has no fan, so won't make any noise at all. Apparently a "Scythe Ninja" is meant to be pretty good. I can't comment on how well a passive cooler is at cooling, however, because I've never used one. I would imagine that they would be a bit hotter than fan powered heatsinks. Hope that helps, Nahumi

I would not use a passive cooler unless I had excellent air flow through the case. Some HTPC cases support it by ensuring the heat rising off the heatsink has a direct path out the case, but then HTPCs don't need lots of heat generating horsepower in their CPUs either, so they tend to be smaller.

Nahumi
I personally use an Arctic Freeze 7 Pro

I recently switched from a stock AMD CPU heatsink to to one of these too. I just can't hear it's fan at all and my CPU temp. has dropped by 10C

I found this heatsink very easy to install and I like the installation design, No pushpins, no plastic. and no need to remove my motherboard.

Yeah, it is very good at cooling. Did you replace the thermal pad, or did you just put it straight on?

Thank you all. I hope I can get the freeze thing here in Holland..

Did you replace the thermal pad, or did you just put it straight on?

You should never reuse the TIM - thermal interface material. Once it has gone through one heat and cool cycle, the TIM begins to cure and create a bond between the two mating surfaces. If you break the bond, you replace the TIM, after thoroughly cleaning both the CPU and heatsink.

Well in Holland it is called arctic cooling freeze 7 , is it the same as yours? Second it says for AM3 on a main ATX board. My board (Cannot be returned or exchanged) is uATX. Will it work on my board.? I do not know much,therefore, so many questions.

Did you replace the thermal pad, or did you just put it straight on?

You should never reuse the TIM - thermal interface material. Once it has gone through one heat and cool cycle, the TIM begins to cure and create a bond between the two mating surfaces. If you break the bond, you replace the TIM, after thoroughly cleaning both the CPU and heatsink.

Sorry, I meant to ask if Lee had taken off the pre-applied thermal pad before putting it on and used a different TIM. Not if he had replaced the old TIM. That goes without saying.

@ Wesi,

Yes, that's the same one. It will come with two brackets that you need to hook into the motherboard mount and then screw into the heatsink. Until you tighten the two screws it'll feel a bit wobbly, and then once it's tight it should be fully secure.


The reason I asked Lee about replacing the pre-applied Thermal Pad is that you can knock off an extra few degrees by using Arctic Silver 5. I was forced to do this when I mounted the heatsink the wrong way (which then messed up the rest of the airflow). Although the pre-applied pad does a good enough job, it's not as good as some decent TIM.

That goes without saying

Maybe not to everyone reading, however.

Although the pre-applied pad does a good enough job, it's not as good as some decent TIM.

Very true.

Thank you.

To blabber on…

I always remove the thermal pad and apply a new layer of TIM, even when using OEM fans on new CPUs. They do a good job and they are safe, but those pads are mostly paraffin. I know most of the paraffin is squished out and evaporates away the first time the CPU heats up, but melted wax on my CPU just does not sound right to me. If you don't have a good application technique of your own sorted out, see my sticky, Thermal Interface Material.