Quiet cooling problem - any ideas?

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:14 am

My Gigabyte GA-8KNXP-9 NF4 Ultra mainboard should arrive in the next few days. You'll recall I want to build this box so it's as quiet as possible.

Take a look at these pics:
Mainboard layout

Chipset cooler

Now, I'm a bit concerned about this chipset fan. Firstly it looks bloody noisey - and knowing chipset cooling solutions, I find it hard to believe I'll be impressed by it's dB level...

So, can you see the problem? It's directly behind the PCI-e GFx card slot - and the (silent pipe passively cooled) X800XL will most definitely extend over the top of this chipset fan. That means I can't just take my old ThermalTake Volcano 7+ Cu CPU heatsink and bolt or glue it onto the chipset, thus eliminating all noise...

The only thing I've found which looks like it might just fit is this: Zalman ZM-17 CU VGA chipset cooler

It's only 17mm tall, so maybe...

Problem is... here's the nForce4 chip revealed: nForce 4 core

It's not in a package. It does have two mounting holes though.

So I can drill some holes through a ZM-17 CU and spring-mount the cooler on some long machine screws. This I figure, ought not to place too much stress on the chip, and the springs should hold it flat. I'd use Arctic Silver on the chip. Any comments on this concept?

Anyone know of any other make /model of small heat-pipe/heatsink which might fit in this space?

There's this too: 6-phase power add-in board

I wonder what to do about this one?

I'm open to other suggestions. Water isn't an option.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:52 am

Its doubtful the Zalman would fit, since its 12.5cm long (would interfere with other board components). What I'd do is track down a small-footprint 1U HSF, such as one designed for a P3 (like this one), ditch the fan, and mount the HS.

Regarding the 6-phase add-in card, it might be a simple matter of swapping in a Vantec Stealth fan instead of the stock fan, maybe even removing the HS and reinstalling with AS5.

Of course this all depends on what the fans actually sound like, since it might end up that they arent that noisy (esp. the 6-phase card).

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:48 pm

Good thinking Vindicator - thanks.

Warlock · Post by **Warlock** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:08 am

i have a GA-7NNXP and it has that same fan disign and its prity quite. so i would hook it up 1st and see what it sounds like befor jacking with it. the 6 phase is quiet and if that one is like mine it glows blue

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:43 pm

The board has arrived and it is a different revision to the pictures I linked to.

The chipset fan now has a lengthed heatsink, and the fan is offset. blowing air across the sink, through a tunnel. Maybe it'll be a bit quieter? I can't tell as yet though, because the only part I'm now waiting for is the humunous Sonic Tower passive CPU cooler.

Warlock · Post by **Warlock** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:30 pm

yeah they change the design on mine after i got it