Any tips for a quieter heatsink fan?

[bigandy]

I've got a system based on a Novatech barebones as below;

Product code BB-P730BUB, order number 3803085
Barebones Bundle * Heatsink and Fan, 512mb Ram, Intel P4 630 3.0 LGA775 Motherboard

I'd like to fit a new heatsink and fan to try and make the machine quieter. So far the Zalman CNPS9500-AT Aero Flower (Socket 775) CPU Cooler (HS-020-ZA) seems the best bet, though I've yet to check whether it'll fit on my motherboard with all the surrounding PCI & AGP cards. This fan runs at 18 decibels.

Do any of you guys have tips for a better fan? I'd rather not go the whole hog of water-cooling ! :-)

Also, would mounting the hard discs on rubber gromits help to reduce noise, and do Novatech sell such mounts?

TIA

-andy

[Danno]

i have always found nexus products to be nice and quiet.

a heatsink like this would be good.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... NEX-PHT775 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NEX-PHT775)

if you wanted to silence you hard drive you could use one of these.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... ?NEX-DSKTW (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NEX-DSKTW)

[bigandy]

Thanks for the reply and advice - I've ordered the items you suggested, (order ref 3870121).

I presume I'll need some new thermal paste when I change over the heatsink?

[Danno]

the new heatsink will have a thermal pad on the bottom. you would only need paste if you were to remove the heatsink and re-attach it after its been in use for a while.

[Taxation]

You also have to get rid of any thermal paste on the actual cpu,otherwise it will be too thick and give adverse affects

[Nox]

paste is generally slightly better than pads, but for 99% of people, pads will be absolutely fine :)

You should be able to (carefully) use some ear buds to remove the old paste on the cpu, if you get really keen, then ipa will help, but i've never found it necessary.

Nox

[Taxation]

i used some toilet tissue 8)

[Daedalus]

I can recommend the Zalman heatsinks. I've been running one for the last couple of years and it's been totally reliable and very quiet.