The ultra-quiet computer...

[LH2312]

I'm assembling computers since ages and built several dozens during the last 10 years, but now I'm on a *very* special quest: an ultra-quiet system, but still state-of-the-art performance, i.e. FSB400, CPU > 2800+ or equivalent and minimum ATI 9700(pro) performance. The only restriction: no water cooling, just air cooling. So far I have together:
- ABIT NF-Sv2
- Athlon XP3200+
- Sapphire 9700 np
- Air cooler: copper cooler from TT Volcano 11+ with Verax KT2 fan temp controlled. (BTW: the original Smartcooler 2 that comes with it is the loudest cooler I've ever heard - absolutely unacceptable. Are TT crazy?)
- LianLi PC6089
- 4 x Papst case cooler 8412 N2/GML ( < 19 dB!) as replacement for the standard Lian inbuild hair dryers...
- Enermax 365W PSU

Two questions:
Does anybody know how to get rid of the VGA cooler, i.e. a good/very quiet VGA cooler system for the 9700? It doesn't need to be fanless, if it's *really* quiet. Can I replace the ABIT NF-S northbridge cooler with a passive one, like the Zalman NB cooler or will this restrict OC capabilities or make the NB unstable?

Thanks,
Lothar

 

[Roger Squires]

http://www.silentpcreview.com/

rms

 

[Dion L Heap]

These are the best :-

http://www.zalman.co.kr/english/product/zm50-hp.htm

regards,

Dion L Heap
www.thetophouse.com

 

[Martyn]

Zalman make a passive Northbridge sink which I've been using for 3 months with a 200Mhz FSB with no problems whatsoever and it's only mildly warm to touch. They also make a fanless VGA heatsink (zm-80 and zm-80a(more clearance for onboard components)) which would cool your 9700 just fine. If you are worried about the Northbridge temps with the passive sink then you could invest in a Zalman bracket and large 80 or 90mm fan to blow over it.

"LH2312" wrote:

I'm assembling computers since ages and built several dozens during the last 10 years, but now I'm on a *very* special quest: an ultra-quiet system, but still state-of-the-art performance, i.e. FSB400, CPU > 2800+ or equivalent and minimum ATI 9700(pro) performance. The only restriction: no water cooling, just air cooling. So far I have together:
- ABIT NF-Sv2
- Athlon XP3200+
- Sapphire 9700 np
- Air cooler: copper cooler from TT Volcano 11+ with Verax KT2 fan ...