[Micro-ATX] A6-3500 (3x2.1Ghz/2.4Ghz) + HD6530D

Beer40oz Wrote:I love keeping all my movies and stuff. People come over they are like Woah! thats cool. Well once in a while I like to re-watch...

I do, too, but up in the attic on a server. I want my HTPC itself to be quiet and cool.

ElanX Wrote:I do, too, but up in the attic on a server. I want my HTPC itself to be quiet and cool.

Exactly! No need to hear the HDD running also.

ElanX Wrote:1. How many case fans should I put in an A6-3500 build with the Silverstone ml03b case?

2. 80mm is the max fan size for the ml03b case?

3. Can I live with the stock thermal tape on the A6-3500, or should I buy a better compound so that I can maybe keep my fans running slower and quieter?

I would install a couple of this silent fan (11dBA noise level max is un-believable) in it. The cooler the case compartment the better for all the component in it.

Silenx IXP5211 iXtrema Pro Fan - 80mm x 15mm, 11dBA, 18CFM

bluray Wrote:I would install a couple of this silent fan (11dBA noise level max is un-believable) in it. The cooler the case compartment the better for all the component in it.

Which?

Looking at this fan I saw Beer40oz used:

ENERMAX UC-8EB 80mm Case Fan
1500 RPM, 24 CFM, 14 dBA, and very cheap when you buy more than one.

Anyone know if its speed/noise can be lowered with software? Or would I need something like the NZXT SENTRY 2 Touch Fan Controller Beer40oz used?

If not a couple of the Enermax, I was looking at these variable speed fans:
-GELID Solutions FN-PX08-20 80mm Case Fan with Intelligent PWM control
-GELID Solutions FN-TX08-20 80mm Case Fan with Superior Temperature Control
-SilenX IXP-54-14T 80mm Case Fan

ElanX Wrote:Which?

Oooop, I thought that I enclosed it. Here it is- Silenx IXP5211 iXtrema Pro Fan - 80mm x 15mm, 11dBA, 18CFM. I don't think that there is any 80mm/1600rpm case fan silencer than 11dBA noise level.

That'll be XXdB when rated at full speed though, you should be able to slow it down with software.

If you can't control the fan speeds with software and/or your mobo then you could always solder a small resistor into the fan power cable.

I should add that I've not had to mess with case fan speeds for about 5 years and also am not an electronics wiz, but I know it can very easily be done. I imagine you'd have to experiment with a few different strength resistors in order to get a nice balance of speed vs ventilation?

I had a massive Arctic Cooling cpu cooler for my old K6 that spun at around 400rpm, you couldn't hear it at all.

baldmosher Wrote:That'll be XXdB when rated at full speed though, you should be able to slow it down with software.

Yes, when you shop for a fan you want to select one with the lowest dBA at its maximum RPM. It'll insure that you get the quietest fan. Whether or not you want to slow down the fan speed is depending on the temperature of the component. In the case of CPU and GPU, you might not want to lower the fan speed if you want it to stay cool at certain temperature. With better dBA spec, you'll know you get a better fan!

ElanX Wrote:ENERMAX UC-8EB 80mm Case Fan

Think I'm going to try 2-3 of those based on them being cheap and 14 dba at their max 1500 rpm. Hopefully I can get away with running them at half speed.

ElanX Wrote:Think I'm going to try 2-3 of those based on them being cheap and 14 dba at their max 1500 rpm. Hopefully I can get away with running them at half speed.

Good choice on the fans.....

Maybe get a fan controller like this one and cut it so it fits your case?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811995073

Or here you go..... you get 3 speeds internal....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811996016

or


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835118217


Yes my ENERMAX UC-8EB 80mm is at 40% and it's the only fan I am using in my case. And everything inside stays cool.
When it's at 100% yes you can hear it a little.

Great fan.

Beer40oz Wrote:Good choice on the fans.....

Maybe get a fan controller like this one and cut it so it fits your case?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811995073

Or here you go..... you get 3 speeds internal....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811996016

or


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835118217


Yes my ENERMAX UC-8EB 80mm is at 40% and it's the only fan I am using in my case. And everything inside stays cool.
When it's at 100% yes you can hear it a little.

Great fan.

I'd even be willing to use the NZXT Sentry-2 5.25" Touch Screen fan controller you used, because I'm not using the external 5.25" bay for an optical drive. But can't I just use software like SpeedFan to lower the fan speeds? (ASRock A75M mb) Isn't that better?