How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink?

Robie7642003 · 03-19-2009, 07:38 AM

Hello All,
My CPU fan on an older machine (it's several years old, an ASUS Mobo, but afraid don't have the model handy) is getting very loud. Always has been noisy but now it's really, really loud. (Temperature is fine.)
It's the stock fan/heatsink that came with the Pentium D. I am looking to replace it with as quiet a fan as I can find in my price range ~$30US. But I am confused on the dBa number--should I be very concerned with it if noise is my number one priority? (I also don't want to have to remove the Mobo to install.)
I have narrowed down to these two units, the first says dBa is 16, has good to mixed reviews on Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106087

The second was highly recommended by someone, has only one review on Newegg (but good reviews online elsewhere), but has a dBa of 27:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835207006

Would I hear any difference at all between the two do you think? The machine is used mainly for TV and video, thus the desire for no noise.

Thanks for any suggestions or education.

**linderman** · 03-19-2009, 08:06 AM

the sunbeam is a better choice but will require motherboard removal to install the back plate ........... most any heatsink thats worth installing will require a back plate installation ...................... I would not mess with any push pin heat sink ............ it requires too much pressure against the motherboard unless you remove the board ...... and they have a habit of popping loose

**linderman** · 03-19-2009, 08:08 AM

my preference is the Zalman 9700 or Zalman 9500 will do ........ they are rather quiet .......... it will require mobo removal and it will cost more than $30.00 for the 9700 anyway

**linderman** · 03-19-2009, 08:09 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118003

Robie7642003 · 03-19-2009, 10:29 AM

Thanks for those replies (that's a pretty cool looking cooler!).

03-19-2009, 07:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Robie7642003 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 27 OS: Vista, XP	How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink? Hello All, My CPU fan on an older machine (it's several years old, an ASUS Mobo, but afraid don't have the model handy) is getting very loud. Always has been noisy but now it's really, really loud. (Temperature is fine.) It's the stock fan/heatsink that came with the Pentium D. I am looking to replace it with as quiet a fan as I can find in my price range ~$30US. But I am confused on the dBa number--should I be very concerned with it if noise is my number one priority? (I also don't want to have to remove the Mobo to install.) I have narrowed down to these two units, the first says dBa is 16, has good to mixed reviews on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106087 The second was highly recommended by someone, has only one review on Newegg (but good reviews online elsewhere), but has a dBa of 27: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835207006 Would I hear any difference at all between the two do you think? The machine is used mainly for TV and video, thus the desire for no noise. Thanks for any suggestions or education.

03-19-2009, 08:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink? the sunbeam is a better choice but will require motherboard removal to install the back plate ........... most any heatsink thats worth installing will require a back plate installation ...................... I would not mess with any push pin heat sink ............ it requires too much pressure against the motherboard unless you remove the board ...... and they have a habit of popping loose __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-19-2009, 08:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink? my preference is the Zalman 9700 or Zalman 9500 will do ........ they are rather quiet .......... it will require mobo removal and it will cost more than $30.00 for the 9700 anyway __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-19-2009, 08:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118003 __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-19-2009, 10:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Robie7642003 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 27 OS: Vista, XP	Re: How to pick a cpu fan/heatsink? Thanks for those replies (that's a pretty cool looking cooler!).