What do people think about SilenX fans?

**Ralck** · 05-28-2006, 05:10 PM

Hello,
So I'm building a new computer, and am planning on either an X2 3800+ or more likely, a X2 4200+ because it's only 60 dollars more.
I'll also be using my 9800 Pro video card and 2x1GB sticks of ram (Patriot 2-3-2-5).

I plan to have one intake (front) 120 mm fan and 1 outtake (rear) 120 mm fan in my case. Basically, my question is, do SilenX fans work that much better to be over 25 dollars plus shipping compared to 10-15 dollars including shipping for ones listed on newegg? The ones on newegg are 30dB, and push 60cfm air though where as the SilenX ones are 14dB and push 64CFM air though.
Is that really worth the extra money? I know case cooling is important, and I want to make sure my system runs cool, especially being a dual core. The chipset on the motherboard is passive cooling, and my powersupply will probably be an OCZ 550W with 1 fan in it, since they are rated high on TSF's list.

Edit: In a year or two, probably when DX10 cards come out, I'll upgrade to a PCIe video card, which will produce even more heat than my 9800 Pro, so which fans would sustain that better too?

05-28-2006, 11:22 PM

Hi Ralck. You might be a bit too worried about heat. Yes, the Silent-X fans are very good i have one, but having an X2 processor doesn't necesarrily requite any more efficient cooling over single core A64's. What matters is having a good overall airflow route. I like a nice balance between moderate case cooling but i place a higher emphasis on teh VGA cooling. Your video card is what will get really hot especially when gaming, and thus i like the Zalman's for quiet efficent cooling. But then again i'm assuming you are getting the AsRock dual 939 since it's got PCIe and AGP slots and overclocks very well, and if you have a high overclock then the case fans, and GPU fan will all be much more important to keep things cool. Having a nice air cooler like the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro CPU cooler helps too (I have one).

**forcifer** · 05-28-2006, 11:27 PM

the zalman 9500 is also very good. its keeping my oven of a proc at a cool 32c

**Ralck** · 05-29-2006, 03:56 PM

I don't plan to overclock much, if at all. And I'm already planning on getting a Zalman CPU hsf (probably this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16835118114).

I was thinking about putting a aftermarket cooling unit on my video card. The problem with Zalman ones is that they don't work with an AIW card, which I have. I'll possibly buy the Artic Cooling fan that states it's specifically designed for a 9800 Pro AIW.

Another thing is I know the case itself should be designed with good cooling in mind. I know this one is fairly cheap, but it seems like it has decent cooling capabilities. The real trade off seems to be that it's not as thick and sturdy as other cases, but I know I won't be carrying this around very often either, so that's not really a problem.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811117040
I just haven't found any good cases that can take 120mm fans for under 70 dollars (though I'm open for any suggestions).

05-31-2006, 01:34 PM

Normally i don't like raimax cases, bit A/R for $49.99 this one looks nice and will accomodate 2X 120 MM's.

05-28-2006, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ralck TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,454 OS: 98SE/XP PRO/FC4 My System	What do people think about SilenX fans? Hello, So I'm building a new computer, and am planning on either an X2 3800+ or more likely, a X2 4200+ because it's only 60 dollars more. I'll also be using my 9800 Pro video card and 2x1GB sticks of ram (Patriot 2-3-2-5). I plan to have one intake (front) 120 mm fan and 1 outtake (rear) 120 mm fan in my case. Basically, my question is, do SilenX fans work that much better to be over 25 dollars plus shipping compared to 10-15 dollars including shipping for ones listed on newegg? The ones on newegg are 30dB, and push 60cfm air though where as the SilenX ones are 14dB and push 64CFM air though. Is that really worth the extra money? I know case cooling is important, and I want to make sure my system runs cool, especially being a dual core. The chipset on the motherboard is passive cooling, and my powersupply will probably be an OCZ 550W with 1 fan in it, since they are rated high on TSF's list. Edit: In a year or two, probably when DX10 cards come out, I'll upgrade to a PCIe video card, which will produce even more heat than my 9800 Pro, so which fans would sustain that better too? Last edited by Ralck; 05-28-2006 at 05:13 PM.

05-28-2006, 11:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
forcifer ole' Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas City kansas Posts: 3,628 OS: Vista Premium 32 My System Blog Entries: 1	the zalman 9500 is also very good. its keeping my oven of a proc at a cool 32c __________________

05-28-2006, 11:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
T_Rex Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Hi Ralck. You might be a bit too worried about heat. Yes, the Silent-X fans are very good i have one, but having an X2 processor doesn't necesarrily requite any more efficient cooling over single core A64's. What matters is having a good overall airflow route. I like a nice balance between moderate case cooling but i place a higher emphasis on teh VGA cooling. Your video card is what will get really hot especially when gaming, and thus i like the Zalman's for quiet efficent cooling. But then again i'm assuming you are getting the AsRock dual 939 since it's got PCIe and AGP slots and overclocks very well, and if you have a high overclock then the case fans, and GPU fan will all be much more important to keep things cool. Having a nice air cooler like the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro CPU cooler helps too (I have one).

05-29-2006, 03:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ralck TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,454 OS: 98SE/XP PRO/FC4 My System	I don't plan to overclock much, if at all. And I'm already planning on getting a Zalman CPU hsf (probably this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16835118114). I was thinking about putting a aftermarket cooling unit on my video card. The problem with Zalman ones is that they don't work with an AIW card, which I have. I'll possibly buy the Artic Cooling fan that states it's specifically designed for a 9800 Pro AIW. Another thing is I know the case itself should be designed with good cooling in mind. I know this one is fairly cheap, but it seems like it has decent cooling capabilities. The real trade off seems to be that it's not as thick and sturdy as other cases, but I know I won't be carrying this around very often either, so that's not really a problem. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811117040 I just haven't found any good cases that can take 120mm fans for under 70 dollars (though I'm open for any suggestions).

05-31-2006, 01:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
T_Rex Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Normally i don't like raimax cases, bit A/R for $49.99 this one looks nice and will accomodate 2X 120 MM's.