What's the best Air Cooling Items?

[ArcticWolves]

Ok I decided I don't want to go with watercooling but I do want a very good cpu fan that can cool my CPU (Intel Core 2 Duo E6700)... Also do you guys have any suggestions on what the best brand for case fans are that are very quiet and can barely hear at full rpms?

The case I will have is the Antec Nine Hundred. So if you could give me some ideas about how many fans should go in it and which ones offer the best cooling/quietness...

[darkorb]

any specific reason wyhy u want it to be quiet? like is it in ur room?

cuz mine is in my room, and i got 120mm and 2 92mm and 1 80mm fans roaring at pretty high rpm, but then again i can sleep through an earthquake.

if its just for gaming or in another room, fan noise shoujldnt be big problem

[ArcticWolves]

It's in my room and I want to be able to leave the computer on at night to download & not hear the fans as I can on my current rig.

[markkleb]

Thats a really nice case. I would use the Antec tri flows on the front and a Arctic Cooling AC12s for the exits (the AC fans are almost silent and Antec fans have their own 3 way switch(quiet on low)

Best would be to use AC12s on everything but it may take a little work to put them in front.
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556026129.html

[ArcticWolves]

I was reading that this case is "Like a dust mop." It doesn't have any filters on it to filter out the dust? If this is true would you still suggest this case or should I go with a Lian-Li. If you have any other ideas for case suggestions let me know.

Thank you mark I will make sure on any case that I get to use Arctic Cooling Fans in place of the factory defaults.

[markkleb]

Usually dust is no prob because I tear my comps down every couple of days and rebuild them, lol.

But I am working on putting the fans on the insides (Quieter) and using a house heater filter on the inside of the front door (where the fans usually go)

(they are cheap and can stop dust 1000 times better than the cheap filters they sell for comps)
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/markkleb/filter.jpg

And as to the AC fans , Just try one ul see THEY ROCK!

[Bio-Hazard]

My case is a dust mop.....;) I have 7 x 120mm fans. I just clean it out every week or so ............ dust filters work wonders like Mark said if you want to go that route........;)

As for fans, I use TT 2000 rpm jobs (Yate Loom) connected to a rheobus to control the noise and performance.

[darkorb]

and which case u have that can fix 7 120mm's?

care to post pics?

[Bio-Hazard]

It's in the case section...............;) But here's one to get you started.........:)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2474/1qj2.jpg

[ArcticWolves]

Since I have never installed filters is it pretty easy to do? I would only install them on the front or could I install them where ever I liked for each fan placement? Do I need to cut and shape them to fit properly?

I noticed something about fan controllers. What's the best fan controller out?

[markkleb]

My thought is they are made of stuff like paper (or gauze) so yes you can cut them to any size you want, BUT

Keep the folds/pleats as they add extra surface area for better breathing.

You can get a cheap filter for about .97 cents at Home depot to try out. They come in different sizes and styles, so try the cheapest size first.

Try to make sure the air has to go through them to get to the fan or dust will sneek in the sides. Use duct tape to seal the ends.

For a buck its worth trying.

[PP Mguire]

I have a really easy solution to fans that my friend uses and loves it. Get a fan controler. Get any loud fans you want or a bunch of quiet ones and when you go to sleep at night use the fan controler and just turn them all on low or turn them off. You can get a Vantec fan controler for like 9 bucks.

[Bio-Hazard]

I like the Sunbeam controlers, they can handle up to 20w pre channel......;)

[ArcticWolves]

This looks like a neat gadget. I think this should do the trick. 8)

http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-chormatic-windmill-black.html

For Filters I think these would be perfect:
http://www.xoxide.com/12alfanfil.html

[ArcticWolves]

Now to find a good CPU cooler...I was looking at the Arctic Cooling stuff. What's a good CPU Cooler?

http://www.xoxide.com/arctic-cooling-freezer-7-pro.html
http://www.xoxide.com/zalman-cnps9500-led-cooler.html

[PP Mguire]

Most big Thermaltake coolers are good like the Typhoon and Copper Tower112. Coolermaster makes a nice cooler that can mount some 120mm fans. The Zalman Fatal1ty cooler is also really nice. There are many cpu coolers that work well just its up to which one you like. The Sythe Ninja is nice as well.

[Scott]

I use the AC7 on my E6700.

[markkleb]

first, if you use the AC fans you dont need a controller. When i used 5 of them (2 AC12s and 3 AC8s) on my crossfire they ALL made less noise than 1 reg fan (stealth).

I hate SUNBEAM anything (had a PS blow up and a controller fail)

Honestly to me there is no better than the AC Freezer64 for cpu.(its the cheapest, cools VERY good, SILENT and dosent hog a lot of room)

I really want to use a Zalman (they look REALLY sweet) but dont seem to cool as good as the AC. (plus they cost double)

[Bio-Hazard]

I've never had a problem with Sunbeam, and I've put some of their stuff through hell and back, you can get a bad product from any company........;) Most all the water coolers that I know are using the Sunbeam because they are one of the few that will turn completely off as well as handeling 20w per channel. Like I said before, I'm controling 7 120mm TT fans as well as my second pump, there's not another controler out there than can control that much power,..........:) And this thing is like almost 2 years old.

[PP Mguire]

Sounds pretty nice but why put a WC pump on it?

[Bio-Hazard]

To control the speed, whick controls the sound level like the new D5's ...........;) the old D4's are a bit on the louder side.

[ArcticWolves]

I'll post some photos when I have everything modified to make it an "Arctic Cooling" Rig...

[markkleb]

Sweet! Finally someone else to help me carry the AC Banner...:grin:

Looking forward to seeing it.

[Xero (1)ne]

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=1217&redirect=yes ;)

[Bio-Hazard]

Zalman does have a larger version of the 9500 out, although it's not as large as the on in the Hexus link...........;)

http://www.zalman.co.kr/usa/product/view.asp?idx=229&code=009

[markkleb]

The Zalmans are beautiful to look at but their cost is more than some water cooling.

The 9700 has a 110mm fan and a bunch more surface area to cool so should cool better than the 9500s.

If the 9500 is $63 how much is the 9700 gonna be? $80?

[Bio-Hazard]

Free......;)

[markkleb]

now thats a deal...:grin:

[Bio-Hazard]

If only all parts were free..............we could all have top of the line systems......;)

J/King, I did see the 9700 for around $65-$70 at a few places.

[werty316]

German review of the CNPS9700:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerbase.de%2Fart ikel%2Fhardware%2Fgehaeuse_kuehlung%2F2006%2Ftest_ zalman_cnps_9700_led%2F3%2F&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

performance/noise ratio is not very good when compared to the Scythe Ninja.

[ArcticWolves]

Thanks guys but I'm sticking with Arctic Cooling to match my name. :-D :lol: :grin: ;-)

[markkleb]

ur really gonna like the AC stuff...

[ArcticWolves]

Ok so I just realized that I made my first stupidest mistake and ordered 5 Arctic Cooling Fans 120mm.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186008

Looks like they are for exhaust only. What that means I have no idea and now I feel really dumb having bought 5 fans and half won't work.

Remember I'm replacing all the 120mm fans in the Antec Nine Hundred Case and adding a few. So the question is can they be modified to be intake fans or should I find some intake fans? I can't believe I overlooked this. Please help me with the locations of where the AC Exhaust fans can go and where the in-take fans will need to be.

I'm guessing these are the intake fans.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186005

[markkleb]

They work fine on the front.


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/markkleb/Front.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/markkleb/FRONTLEFT.jpg

[ArcticWolves]

I don't see how they will work for me.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/fullimage.php?image=5424

Would I put the fan bar grills facing towards the front or the back of the case?

[markkleb]

the bar grills/Cage need to face the front.

I would take the front(mesh part) of the comp off and mount the fans to the front of the case.

show a pict of how reg fans would mount.

[ArcticWolves]

So the fan filter would go behind the fan towards the inside of the computer. Also, just to confirm these fans do not require a fan controller, correct?

I'll have the Case on Wednesday. Just in case the fans will not fit, I have ordered 2 more AC Fans that don't have the grill on them and will replace the originals.

[markkleb]

you can put the filter on the exhaust side, they are so quiet you wont need any controller.

And on the Cage/intake side they will draw air from the sides as well as straight on so try not to block the sides.

[ArcticWolves]

Wow, now I am totally confused if I have the right fans or not. I think I will wait until I get the case to actually start attempting to put the fans in. I don't understand the correct locations to place the exhaust or intake fans. Not to mention where to place the fan filters that I ordered. You're saying on the sides but maybe I'm just misunderstanding.

I bought these fan filters:
http://www.xoxide.com/12alfanfil.html

I was putting those filters on the back of each AC12 Fan. Oh well, If worse comes to worse I will have 1 intake and 1 exhaust fan on the front, 1 exhaust fan on the rear, 1 intake fan on the side, and 1 exhaust fan in the center

OR

I will put 2 intake fans on the front, and the rest of the fans will be exhaust fans. If that won't work, then I will have to buy another intake fan and store the 3 AC12 exhaust fans in the closet.

[werty316]

Putting the air filter on the "blowing" side of a fan impedes airflow; you want the airfilter on the "sucking" side of a fan as mentioned ;)

[markkleb]

intake and exhaust is just different sides of the fan. Intake is where the air enters the fan and exhaust is where the air comes out.

Regular fans can be reversed so it dosent matter if tis used for intake or exhaust. (you just flip it over to reverse it)

The AC fans cant be flipped, so for a exhaust you mount it to the back of the case. for it to be a intake you need to mount it on the outside of the metal frame. Than the mesh/plastic face covers it.

Its pretty simple. Return the filters, they are junk. Anything you put in front or behind fans slows down the flow. those filters are just a piece of screen, they will only stop big chunks of stuff. (dust is small)

What case are you going to use? I will do a mod and post picts to show you how to mount the fans in front.

One of the main reasons to use the AC12 fans is its suspension and the fact that it draws air in from the sides, it would be a shame not to use them.

[ArcticWolves]

I was getting the Antec Nine Hundred. However, I'm just about ready to order the Lian-Li PC-V1200Bpluss II & scrap the ArcticCooling Plan. I don't want to make this hard project on myself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112066

Here's some good screenshots from a guy that has the case.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121157

[werty316]

The Nine Hundred is great and if you are gonna spend that much I would go with the CM Stacker (http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product_list&p_class=614) instead as it has lots of room.

[markkleb]

Did you read the review? It dosent look like a very good case to me..

The Aluminus kicks its butt and is $29
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2210224&cp

(just dont use a Ultra PS)

[ArcticWolves]

Well I'm just getting frustrated at myself for buying the wrong fans & worrying this is going to be a big project just to get the fans in. I'll be awaiting mark's post.

[werty316]

If you are worried just use the included stock fans; three 120mm and one 200mm fans are included.

One issue you'll find is the lack of space in the Nine Hundred as Antec should have made it a full tower to provide more interior space.

[ArcticWolves]

I don't know what to do anymore about a case. I read other reviews and they were all good. That's the only negative one I have found. I am looking for a case that has excellent ventillation, air flow, and I can upgrade to watercooling in the near future. I am at loss for ideas on cases. I have looked at so many that I don't know which one to get. Please someone help me with suggestions.

[markkleb]

UM................Aluminus for $29.......:roll:

[werty316]

Or the CM Stacker as it has great ventilation and lots of space for a watercooling kit; more so than the Ultra Aluminus but costs much more.

Other good choices for interior space for watercooling kits are the Thermaltake Kandalf (http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/kandalf/kandalf_index.asp)and Armor (http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/armor/armor_index.asp) cases.

If you want to go all out buy a MountainMods UFO (http://www.mountainmods.com/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=bceeo4ncmpu11v09820fpaouu2) case, a Lian Li PC-343B Modular Cube (http://www.xoxide.com/lian-li-pc-343b-case.html) case or a Thermaltake Mozart TX (http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/mozart_tx/MozartTX.htm) case.

For a good cost saving case the Ultra Aluminus Markkleb mentioned is sufficient.

[ArcticWolves]

It will be good for ventilation and everything? I was liking the Armor case with the 250mm side fan. Will that Aluminus fit an 8800gtx?

[werty316]

The 8800GTX is a bit longer than a motherboard when installed so it should fit.

Its the reason why nVidia put the two power connectors on the 880GTX on the top; if they didn't it wouldn't fit in the majority of mid towers out there and the Ultra Aluminus would be one of them.

[Bio-Hazard]

On cases with the 250mm side fan you need to watch out for clearance for the HSF until you get wet.....;)

I hope to have a TT Mozart TX along with the 7" LCD and water cooling finished on a AM2 system sometime this month if you can wait to see how it all works out.........:) But I'm still waiting on a few parts.............OCZ and video card to name a few........:( I have no money.

[werty316]

Is your 7900GT not good enough? :lol:

[Bio-Hazard]

I'm hoping that this will be a complete second system..............;) Time will tell though. I've got enough leftover water cooling gear to complete the TT case except for the AM2 adapter for the Storm block, but Gabe from Swiftech called yeaterday so I should be getting a few new adapters in the mail soon. And my thermal engineer bud is sending me 2 new DDC-2 water pumps to mod for the rig as well.

[Bio-Hazard]

To old and slow, and my wife is using that now anyways..........:( Her old AMD XP system died.

[markkleb]

check out the clearance, room for SLI 8800GTXs and Full on H20..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/markkleb/ALUMULTRA.jpg

(once you take out the junk HDD cage)

[ArcticWolves]

I don't want to modify, cut, tamper with the case in anyway. I don't need to make this building computer tower 101 for me. I'm going to have enough trouble with setting up my BIOS, LOL. :lol:

[werty316]

Get one of the Thermaltake cases or the CM Stacker then unless they cost too much for your budget.

BTW Miles did a review of the Antec Ninehundred here: http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=996

[Bio-Hazard]

And Tony over at the other site I write for says that a 8800GTX fit just fine in his Antec 900.............don't know about water cooling though.

[ArcticWolves]

I am trying to get them to stop the shipment or automatically return the package upon me reaching it. I think I am going with the Thermaltake Armor Or Lian-Li.

[ArcticWolves]

What case are you going to use? I will do a mod and post picts to show you how to mount the fans in front.

One of the main reasons to use the AC12 fans is its suspension and the fact that it draws air in from the sides, it would be a shame not to use them.

I will be using the Antec 900 Case. If you can show me how to go about mounting these lovely fans and get it to work I just might keep the case. :) It's just such a cost efficient case for me that offers excellent air cooling.

Also, I will be using a modular power supply so that should make cable management easier on me. Only thing I wonder is the fan on the PSU will be on the bottom of the case. That makes me wonder about overheating the PSU. Could I rotate the PSU so that the fan faced the top and blew nice hot air on my sound card. :P

[markkleb]

You want the PS fan to face the top, BUT you do not want it blowing the HOT PS air into the comp.

(you would have to reverse the fan)

[ArcticWolves]

So how can it face the top and not blow air onto the computer?

[markkleb]

If you re talking about the 120mm fan in the PS, It sucks air and blows out out the back...

[ArcticWolves]

Wow, talk about me being a rookie towards building computers. I wonder how the bios will go. :roll: :lol:

[markkleb]

When I was younger (and sometimes now too) I mess up. Its no big deal.

The big deal it not learning and making the same mistakes over and over.:wink:

[werty316]

PSU only goes in one way or some of the screws won't line up. If all four screws don't line up you have it backwards ;)

PSU fans suck air in to cool the heatsinks in the PSU and blow the air out of the back of a PSU so no worries in that department ;)

[ArcticWolves]

Mark, I was wondering if you ever got a chance to post your tutorial for me on making those AC12 fans work - in terms of positioning and mounting? I just received the case yesterday but haven't even had time to open it. All's I can tell you is the box is huge! I'm hoping to have some time to open it today but that probably won't happen until tomorrow. :(

[ArcticWolves]

I use the AC7 on my E6700.

I will probably get this cooler. However, I have a question on the thermal matter to apply. If I use this cooler and apply thermal grease will that be alright or will it have to be thermal paste? Also once it's applied is there any way of removing for possible other cooling options in the near future?

Please someone reply as I get the feeling that I am being ignored. :(

[Kougar]

Thermal grease/thermal paste is usually just the same thing. And alcohol with a high Isopropyl content will easily remove used thermal grease/pastes, I've found a cottonball and a couple Qtips work best.

[markkleb]

I will probably get this cooler. However, I have a question on the thermal matter to apply. If I use this cooler and apply thermal grease will that be alright or will it have to be thermal paste? Also once it's applied is there any way of removing for possible other cooling options in the near future?

Please someone reply as I get the feeling that I am being ignored. :(

nobodys ignoring you, just busy. I need to see a pict of how the front fans mount on your case.

[werty316]

This pic shows how the intake fans are mounted:
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/8814/interior7xs6.th.jpg (http://img53.imageshack.us/my.php?image=interior7xs6.jpg)

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7889/interior10xu5.th.jpg (http://img53.imageshack.us/my.php?image=interior10xu5.jpg)

This shows how the interior intake fan is mounted.
A fan is mount on the inside of the black plastic bracket and is screwed into the two plastic mounts I have highlighted in green.(Green arrows indicate direction of airflow.)

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/715/interior8xe8ly4.jpg

Mounting a fan is rocket science and you should have any problems but I am not sure if AC fans will work in the front intake bracket since AC's fans are designed to be mounted backwards.


Heres an example of what I mean (Green arrows indicate the direction of airflow.):
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8608/9cmspinningob3xs0.jpg

[ArcticWolves]

Thank you very much for the tutorial pics. I actually have been working on mounting them and it's coming along great. It involved making a few holes but other than that it has been fun. I will see if I can post some pics later on this evening.

I do wonder though which way I should face the Side fan and the extra middle fan on that drive bay. Any suggestions???

[werty316]

Side fan can blow air into the case or out of the case; you would probably get better temps with it blowing air into the case.

The extra middle fan on the drive bay should blow into the case.

I hope this helps.