OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required

[d-type]

[ukvac] OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required
Hi All,

I'm getting considerably pissed off with the amount of noise that my PC
makes.
Most noisy is the processor fan.

I've found there's a few places on the web that sell quiet fans, but I want
SILENCE, so I'm on the lookout for a heatsink like the one shown here:
http://www.quietpc.com/secc2install.html

Anyone got a spare they want to part with?

Cheers,
Phil.

 

[d-type]

RE: [ukvac] OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required
And I'm talking about the one being REMOVED, not the new one being put on
i.e. the big chunky aluminium one!

>

 

[zepromz]

Re: [ukvac] OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required
(LONG REPLY, I've got experience here)
Be careful with those Phil. Apart from being rather expensive, the mountings
are VERY stiff and I know people have cracked CPU dies with them due to
the clip arrangement. Also, they aren't very effective on CPUs over 800MHz,
they are very efficient, but only at low CPU speeds.
You might be better off doing what I did and modifying a normal existing
HS/F by:

1) Polishing the active area of the heatsink using progressively fine
emery, til
you get to 2000 grit, then use Autosol on a mirror and gring down further, then
finish off with a REALLY fine metal polish. Basically, get the HS looking
like a
mirror, and yes, this IS possible on aluminium, I did mine in under an hour.
You only need to do the area where it sits on the CPU die, the edges don't
matter.
This increases the contact area between the die and the heatsink, therefore
increases the heat transfer capability.

2) Use a proper silicone or silver heat transfer compound, not the crappy
heatpads they supply stuck to the heatsink.

3) Experiment with resistors/pot on the +12 line (middle pin) on the fan
connector,
100 ohm 3 watt is a good starting point, you want to find the stall voltage
of the
fan motor, usually about 5-6 volts, and also find the "quietness barrier" above
which you are uncomfortable. Note that voltage too, and use the resistor value
that gives you something in between (8 volts is about right). When you have
ascertained the right value, use the closest value 3 watt resistor and make up
a little adaptor using 0.1 molex header and socket, it'll end up about 4cm
long.

The cumulative effect is that you increase the efficiency of our existing
HS, and
drop the fanspeed so you get the same cooling effect, but at lower fan speed.
I did mine using a 4 quid cheapo HS/F from the computer fair, and my PC is
now absolutely silent (using Barracuda 4 HDDs and a QuietPC 300w PSU)
The monitor is now louder than the box

If you are doing it on a SECC2, try to find a dual fan version, then just
rewire
the fans in series (as well as polishing) , that SHOULD work OK, as long as
you arent too close to the stall voltage.

At 16:11 01/06/02 +0100, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>I'm getting considerably pissed off with the amount of noise that my PC
>makes. Most noisy is the processor fan.
>I've found there's a few places on the web that sell quiet fans, but I want
>SILENCE, so I'm on the lookout for a heatsink like the one shown here:
>http://www.quietpc.com/secc2install.html

 

[d-type]

RE: [ukvac] OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required
Now that's what I like to hear - some good experienced advice

My processor is a PIII 500 (100), so it's at the lower end of the heating
scale. I checked my BIOS, though, and it will take up to an 850, so I might
want one of those soon...

Personally I'm not sure polishing the alloy will make much difference, as a
heat conductive gel should fill all of the nooks & crannies. Getting of the
paint might be a good idea, though.

I currently have a heatsink just like the one in the link picture, except
it's about 1/2 the size and has a fucking fan on it that whines. I tried
running the PC with the side off and no fan, but the heatsink gets to hot
for my liking (although it is still touchable).

However, I've also found a quieter PSU in an old box I had lying around and
that has a big monster fan that sits directly above the CPU and it's as
quiet as a mouse. It's like one of the big fans in Total Recall, the movie.
(Well, almost.)

I reckon with a big heat sink, that big fan will suck plenty of heat away
from the processor, giving me peace and harmony. Well, at least until I get
around to removing the PSU completely, enlarging the PSU case and bolting
some larger heatsinks onto the silicon bits. Actually, running the PSU
removed from the PC casing doesn't seem too bad - it doesn't get all that
hot.

Hard Drives - Now you mention it, I also need a new hard drive, my 4.0 GB
one is too slow (but not too small - Grrrr!)

These are for sale at www.simply.co.uk and the info says that they're
virtually silent. Are they fast compared with the competition? Anyone know
where I can get one significantly cheaper?

Seagate Barracuda IV ST320011A 20GB 8.9ms 7200rpm 2MB --- ?59.00 + VAT
Seagate Barracuda IV ST340016A 40GB 8.9ms 7200RPM 2MB --- ?66.99 + VAT

http://www.simply.co.uk/shop/productinfo.asp?sku=62531&prod_id=SEAST320011A&
description=Seagate+Barracuda+IV+ST320011A+20GB+8.9ms+7200rpm+2MB&stock=11&L
eadTime=3&strPricebookCode=&mscssid=1CLX8TG6RHHN9GB6DHGA9XPH8DWJ7CBA

Thank's for your time.
Phil.

>

 

[zepromz]

RE: [ukvac] OT: PIII SECC2 Processor Heat Sink Required
Im keepin this on-list cause itll apply to a few of us. if anyone has
complaints,
then ill take this conversation off-list. Read on...

At 19:26 01/06/02 +0100, you wrote:
>Now that's what I like to hear - some good experienced advice
>Personally I'm not sure polishing the alloy will make much difference, as a
>heat conductive gel should fill all of the nooks & crannies. Getting of the
>paint might be a good idea, though.

The gel doesnt conduct heat too well, thats why they always say use the
thinnest layer possible, all its doing is fillling the tiny holes and giving
them about 50% heat conductivity, its better than nothing, but a great
big smear of gel will make it worse.
Polishing the alloy removes the middleman, so to speak, and means
you need way less gel. I applied mine with a cotton bud to literally JUST
smear it so you can only just see the layer of gel, thats all you need on
a mirrored surface. Also remember (important) that great big sludgy
squidges round the side of the die also hurt the heat transfer, so test
fit the heatsink with the gel, remove it and clean off the overspill, then
refit.
Fiting CPU "shims" makes no difference at all, dont waste your money.

>However, I've also found a quieter PSU in an old box I had lying around and
>that has a big monster fan that sits directly above the CPU

all the more reason to experiment with what you already have, if you can
get a nice big efficient heatsink with a smooth base, you might not even
need a fan on it, depends on the CPU stepping (some run hotter than
others) but you are better off upgrading to a coppermine 800 on an
adaptor card, they run much cooler than SECC CPUs

>I reckon with a big heat sink, that big fan will suck plenty of heat away
>from the processor, giving me peace and harmony. Well, at least until I get
>around to removing the PSU completely, enlarging the PSU case and bolting
>some larger heatsinks onto the silicon bits.

You still need to budget for heat removal, doesnt matter how many heatsinks
you have, you still need a good airflow. A small box with a good airflow is
better than a large box with inadequate airflow

>Hard Drives - These are for sale at www.simply.co.uk and the info says
> that they're virtually silent. Are they fast compared with the competition?

The barracuda 4 is pretty fast, not as fast as the Maxtors, but still
respectable.
They are almost totaly silent. Once you have bolted your box back together,
you will NOT hear it unless you give it hard random seeks, and even then,
its a dull "bp,bp,bp" rather than a CLICK CLICK noise. As I said, my
SVGA monitor is now the noisiest thing in my system.
Pay about 70 inc vat for the 40gb at most computer fairs.