Noisy multi speed Fan

Here are some other reliable parts sources that may have other choices or lower prices:

Jab-tech

PC Mods, CPU Coolers, Computer Fans, Cables, Lighting, Sleeving, and more at the Lowest Prices! - Koolertek

Newegg.com - CPU Coolers, CPU Fans, CPU Heatsinks

I wouldn't bother with the "fan silencer".

The only advantage to 7 volt rather than 12 is lower RPM and thererfore lower noise and less cooling effect. I wouldn't bother with it.

Let me look at the Scythe you chose and make a later post.

Meanwhile, look over the other links for parts.

I'm going to bail out of this because I don't have enough info and cannot look at your PC with my own eyes.

Your user manual is useless. I'm not even sure what CPU socket you have.

I'm guessing socket 775, so maybe you should try to confirm that and then search for socket 775 cooling solutions at various online sources.

Here are 2 lists of socket 775 coolers, but I can't say they will work because I don't know for sure what you have:

Socket LGA 775 | Page 1 | Sort By: Product Title A-Z - FrozenCPU.com

Intel Socket 775 CPU Coolers at Koolertek.com

I don't know if you are trying to mount a fan on the CPU heatsink or on the case.

That Scythe fan you listed appears to be a case fan and I'm not sure you can mount it to your heatsink. I have no clue what you have for a heatsink.

You need to be concerned with clearance and height issues on any cooling setup you locate.

You need to positively ID what CPU socket you have.

You might want to make a phone call to a parts supplier and explain your situation. They may have a database that can quickly ID what you have and therefore be able to accurately recommend a quieter replacement.

ignatzatsonic, here is the dope on my processor if it helps, per HWiNFO32, as well there are pictures of the PC in later posts if that helps.

What I was planning was to remove the snail shroud fan, clean up the socket and processor and apply new paste, clean up the stock heat sink and apply new paste, then bolt a Scythe S-Flex SFF80D 80x80x25mm w/ S-FDB Bearing (2800rpm) on top of the stock heat sink and monitor temps. drawing air up thru the heat sink, If need be and temperatures rise to much, I will vent the case cover.

The present CPU temp runs 54.0c at idle.

Here is the CPU dope: GATEWAY-E4300 -------------------------------------------------------------

[Current Computer]
[Operating System]

Central Processor(s) ------------------------------------------------------

[CPU Unit Count]
Number Of Processor Packages (Physical): 1
Number Of Processors Cores: 1
Number Of Logical Processors: 2

Intel Pentium 4 540J ------------------------------------------------------

[General Information]
Processor Name: Intel Pentium 4 540J
Original Processor Frequency: 3200.0 MHz
Original Processor Frequency [MHz]: 3200
CPU ID: 00000F41
CPU Brand Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz
CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel
CPU Stepping: E0
CPU Code Name: Prescott
CPU S-Spec: SL7PW, SL82Z
CPU Thermal Design Power (TDP): 84 W
CPU Max. Case Temperature (Tcase_max): 67.7 °C
CPU Type: Production Unit
CPU Platform: LGA775 (FC-LGA4)
Microcode Update Revision: 17
Number of CPU Cores: 1
Number of Logical CPUs: 2
[Operating Points]
CPU LFM (Minimum): 2800.0 MHz = 14.00 x 200.0 MHz
CPU HFM (Maximum): 3200.0 MHz = 16.00 x 200.0 MHz @ 1.3875 V [Locked]
CPU Current: 2800.0 MHz = 14.00 x 200.0 MHz @ 1.2750 V
CPU Bus Type: FSB (QDR)
[Cache and TLB]
L1 Cache: Instruction Trace: 12K uOps, Data: 16 KBytes
L2 Cache: Integrated: 1 MBytes

Well, it is confirmed socket 775.

Your method might work---but I have no idea whatsoever if the mounting holes in that Scythe case fan you picked out will match up with the heatsink.

Offhand, I would instead look for a pre-made solution (fan/heatsink combination) known to mount properly on socket 775 motherboards---as found in the 2 links in my previous post. You might be getting a larger and superior new heatsink as part of the package.

You have a narrow case, which means you would need a short cooling solution rather than a tall tower.

And you need to confirm you have left to right clearance as well. It looks like your case is quite cramped.

Here's a bunch more for socket 775:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Fans & Heatsinks, CPU Fans & Heatsinks, LGA 775

Again--your idea may work. I can't tell.

I'd rather my PC ran at 50 or 60 degrees and was quiet, rather than 35 degrees and noisy. Therefore I would lean toward lower speed fans.

All other things being equal, you want the largest diameter fan that will still have clearance---a larger fan means greater cooling performance and lower noise at a given RPM.

It's kind of your call, since I can't get a personal look.

I don't know how much money and time you want to spend on the project, but it might be worth a 10 minute call to a fan dealer (not New Egg in that case---you couldn't get hold of anyone at New Egg with good knowledge).

You could experiment, but I'd lean toward mounting the fan so it blew down into the heatsink, rather than up out of the heatsink. It's trial and error to a degree.

I see what your saying ignatzatsonic, after my lats post I figured out the socket size and did some looking on "frozen CPU.com" The CPU Units are close to the same money and I think they will plug directly into the board, eliminating wiring problems! If you have time could you please give me your opinion on these?
Thanks...N2

Scythe SHURIKEN Rev B 3-Heatpipe Universal CPU Cooler - FrozenCPU.com

SilverStone NT07-775 Nitrogon Series Low Profile Heatsink (SST-NT07-775) - FrozenCPU.com


Dynatron T191 1U Server PWM CPU Cooler - Socket 775 - FrozenCPU.com


Gelid Solutions Slim Silent I-Plus Low Profile CPU Cooler (CC-SSilence-iplus) (Sockets 775 / 1155 / 1156) - FrozenCPU.com

I have a Shuriken; great and very low noise, but I seriously doubt it will fit for you---too wide, that fan is 4 inches across, and it looks like your CPU is jammed up in a corner. I can't tell for sure. This fan is a bitch to mount.


Silverstone: 93 mm wide, about 3.7 inches; will that clear in your case? It's relatively low rpm which is good.

Dynatron: 80 mm wide; looks like it has a skimpy heatsink; never heard of the brand; I'd pass without more info.

Gelid: includes thermal paste; about 95m square; will that fit? It's PWM, but I don't know if your motherboard supports PWM, so it might run only at a fixed speed.

Of the 4, I'd lean toward Silverstone. But I obviously can't guarantee it will have clearance and I cannot vouch for how quiet it is.

You may be forced to remove your motherboard to install any new cooling solution--are you prepared to do that?

Continue to look. Look for these brands: Scythe, Arctic Cooling.

Look at all dealers I've mentioned.

I will do some measuring in the coming evenings and see if the Shuriken will fit, I may have room.
I don't have measurements for the stock mounting holes, but do you think the stock board holes will work? I thought I would get some extra long 6-32 screws and cut them size. As well will this fan plug into the stock power pins?
How do you mean the fan was a bitch?
Oh, and which do you like better, Arctic Silver 5 or Arctic Silver Ceramique?
Thanks again for all the help!!.....N2

N2Abyss said:

I will do some measuring in the coming evenings and see if the Shuriken will fit, I may have room.
I don't have measurements for the stock mounting holes, but do you think the stock board holes will work? I thought I would get some extra long 6-32 screws and cut them size. As well will this fan plug into the stock power pins?
How do you mean the fan was a bitch?
Oh, and which do you like better, Arctic Silver 5 or Arctic Silver Ceramique?

Thermal paste: take your pick; whatever is cheaper; it doesn't matter much.

Re the Shuriken: you have to understand the mounting mechanism on socket 775. It is diabolical and awkward. The Shuriken makes it even more difficult because it is so wide you cannot easily get your fingers in the right position to exert enough downforce to snap the mounting pins into position, which is mandatory for a proper mount and cooling.

Your CPU was operating at 51 degrees you said; I assume that is with that original snail fan thing?? That's fairly warm if idling. Indicating to me that it doesnt' cool very well. I think its fan is only 60mm??

Shuriken might not be a good idea if your smallish case means fairly high temp. Shuriken is designed for very low speed and quiet. You may need middle speed and a smaller fan, still hopefully quieter than the original.

But you will never know how quiet any new fan is until after you buy it.

You MUST use those 4 mounting holes you see around the perimeter of the socket. That is where the heatsink mounts.

You MUST be confident that the overhang of the mounted heatsink will still clear any nearby components, whatever they might be--RAM or whatever.

You should use the proper power connector on the motherboard---the same one the current setup uses.

You also need to ask yourself why Gateway used that peculiar snail fan? I am assuming any standard "socket 775" heatsink/fan combo will mount on that Gateway motherboard, but it could be non-standard is some way. I can't see it and cannot confirm.

You might Google for more info from other Gateway users.

Go to youtube and see if you can find a video of someone demonstrating the socket 775 mounting procedure. There used to be a video at Intel. It's a nasty piece of engineering.

Does your case have another exhaust fan? You might replace it too if it's noisy or inadequate.

No, the 60mm snail fan is the only fan and after looking at the measurements of the Shuriken, I will definitely consider the Silverstone! I need to get in there and do some more measuring.
I am a still little confused on mounting though, I have four 6-32 threaded holes in my moboard and don't understand completely those plastic push pins Silverstone shows on the lower unit?
I will also google the information you suggest!
Thanks....N2

N2Abyss said:

I am a still little confused on mounting though, I have four 6-32 threaded holes in my moboard and don't understand completely those plastic push pins Silverstone shows on the lower unit?

I assume you are referring to the 4 holes on each corner, surrounding the CPU socket?

On the motherboards I have seen, those are bored, but not threaded.

So I am wondering exactly how that snail fan mounted? If it used standard threaded screws of some type, that is not traditional 775 mounting, like the Silverstone and Shuriken use.

The standard mount is 4 "push pins" that are forced by manual pressure through the mounting holes. When forced far enough, they will click into place. It's very awkward and quite possibly could require you to remove the motherboard to mount the heatsink.

Are you up for that?

I have never worked on a Gateway and they may use some non-standard procedures--I know Dell does.

Because I am not literally looking over your shoulder, I'm not going to vouch for any purchase you make. Other than that, I will give you my best opinion.