Installing Arctic CPU Cooler

[momanium]

Hi,

I recently got the ADVENT PQD6002 Quad Core which has a Foxconn A6VMX mobo and a AMD Phenom Quad Core 9550. I love the computer and have set it up/ installed Windows 7. The only issue which is bugging me is the noise from the CPU cooler. Its like a droning noise and having inspected it I found it to be the same make as the mobo "Foxconn". I wanna replace it and having looked on Amazon I found the "Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 CPU Cooler" which seems best for my needs. I have afew questions:

1) I presume it will fit the mobo as it AMD 2+ (I think). Will it definitely fit on without taking the mobo out?

2) Will it fit the case? Apparently its pretty big and I wanna make sure it will fit the case instead of being too big?

3) The current CPU cooler has a round plastic thing attached to the side of the case with 2 screws. It directs the air out but I haven't seen it before. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS). Can I remove this because I also have a rear exhaust fan on as well (see photos). I presume itll get in the way.Attachment 168610

4) How hard is the job? I have heard I might need to clean the CPU of any paste but some people say I don't. The new cooler has pre-applied paste on so that wont be an issue?

The noise is irritating and I want to be able to change it. Any help appreciated.

PHOTOS: ImageShack Album - 4 images

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Momanium,
Go with this unit and then replace the stock fan for a pair of quality Corsair fans or even better but more coin are the Noctua's. They will cool without a peep and the pump will cool without a leak.
Corsair CWCH60 Hydro Series H60 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler - Socket LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, Core i5, Core i7 at TigerDirect
You will need to clean the paste off the processor but the new cooler plate attached to the pump will have a quality pre-applied paste. You will thank me for the drop in heat and noise and you can see my pictures for many installations.

 

[bobkn]

You might consider a couple of stopgap measures.

#1 blow the dust out of the heatsink with a can of "air". It's obviously choked with dust, even in the fairly low-res pictures.

#2 replace the fan with a quieter one. Does the system take a PWM fan? (Variable speed, requires a 4 pin connection on the motherboard.) That'd run only at the speed required by the CPU load, so it'd generally be quieter.

 

[momanium]

Momanium,
Go with this unit and then replace the stock fan for a pair of quality Corsair fans or even better but more coin are the Noctua's. They will cool without a peep and the pump will cool without a leak.
Corsair CWCH60 Hydro Series H60 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler - Socket LGA775, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, Core i5, Core i7 at TigerDirect
You will need to clean the paste off the processor but the new cooler plate attached to the pump will have a quality pre-applied paste. You will thank me for the drop in heat and noise and you can see my pictures for many installations.

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions but I think thats a bit of an overkill and way beyond my needs. I dont do much gaming and cant justify using that. Although it does like like a nice bit of kit!

 

[momanium]

You might consider a couple of stopgap measures.

#1 blow the dust out of the heatsink with a can of "air". It's obviously choked with dust, even in the fairly low-res pictures.

#2 replace the fan with a quieter one. Does the system take a PWM fan? (Variable speed, requires a 4 pin connection on the motherboard.) That'd run only at the speed required by the CPU load, so it'd generally be quieter.

Thanks!

I am replacing the heatsink with the one I mentioned so that won't be an issue. Ok, just had a look on the mobo and found that both the cpu cooler and the exhaust fan connections on the mobo have a spare pin the side which is left out. So I presume it does support PWM and neither the fan or cooler are utilising them. Is the arctic cooler I am buying PWM. Also what exhaust fan would you reccomend.

 

[momanium]

You might consider a couple of stopgap measures.

#1 blow the dust out of the heatsink with a can of "air". It's obviously choked with dust, even in the fairly low-res pictures.

#2 replace the fan with a quieter one. Does the system take a PWM fan? (Variable speed, requires a 4 pin connection on the motherboard.) That'd run only at the speed required by the CPU load, so it'd generally be quieter.

Ok so it seems like I will go ahead with that cpu cooler. Fingers crossed.

Also I want to replace the rear exhaust fan which isnt PWM controlled. Any suggestions? I am not sure what size to get.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

The rear case fan looks to be an 80mm.
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=45&lng=en
But it also appears that it can take a larger fan and likely a 120mm.
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=42&lng=en
If this is the case then my suggestion would be to replace it with the largest that will fit. Noctua also has a 140mm which mounts to a std. 120mm mounts.
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=33&lng=en
That helps with exhaust and the new cooler helps with the CPU. Now you can also take a close look at placing a 120mm fan in the intake position just in front of the hard drive cage.
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=12&lng=en

 

[Layback Bear]

Noctua fans.
1. I don't like the price
2. I don't like the color
3. They work great
4. They are very very quiet
5. I use lots of them.

 

[momanium]

Have ordered, will report back. Hopefully all will be well!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

This is an excellent starting point for more fun upgrades later. I've found that this kit works wonders for cleaning the thermal compounds and getting back to clean surfaces but denatured alcohol also very good.
Amazon.com: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound 3.5 Grams with ArctiClean 60 ML Kit: Electronics

 

[momanium]

Hi,

Have got the cooler and it looks great. I started putting on the amd metal lugs and found that they used the original yellow bracket on the mobo I mentioned.The way I wanted the cooler attached so that it was giving air to the exhaust fan (2nd photo) but this cant happen because the metal hooks can only be used in two directions (shown in third and fourth picture). Would it be OK to use these position or would airflow be messed up. Any advice appreciated!

ImageShack Album - 4 images

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Fans on the cooler should be oriented to move air to the rear of the case whenever possible---toward the case exhaust fan.

Your choices to accomplish that are to rotate the cooler as necessary or to remount the fan to another side of the cooler.

Or you may need to re-orient the fan so it is pulling warm air FROM the cooler, rather than blowing cool air THROUGH the cooler fins.

The cooler fan may suck air to the rear of the case or blow air to the rear of the case---it wouldn't matter. As long as the airflow direction is to the rear.

If you cannot orient the cooler fan to move air to the rear, then your remaining choice is to do something else and measure the resulting temperatures. It either cools sufficiently or it does not. Anything else doesn't much matter.

 

[momanium]

It blows air towards the back of the heatsink so it would either blow air towards the psu or the bottom of the case, Which one?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Toward the case exhaust fan as much as possible, which is typically on the rear of the case at the midpoint or a bit higher.

Regardless of the PSU location.

Unlikely you would want to CPU cooler fan moving air down, toward the floor or the bottom of the case.

But ultimately, temperatures are what matters. If it's cooler with no fans, don't use any.

 

[Layback Bear]

Take a read through this.
Arctic Silver, Inc. - Instructions

 

[momanium]

Ok, just installed it and all is fine. Well most things... I have got idle temps of 29 and loading up Youtube went to 32 so all fine. However the noise is still there! Turns out its the PSU! Not sure whether to keep it or return. Amazon are fine to return and I have found this PSU:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ACE-750W-PSU...5496564&sr=1-2

I am really pissed at myself and dunno what to do. Should I go through the hassle of reapplyng paste which seems to about 6 pounds (I could try taking preapplied of heatsink and using that?). Then ordering PSU, wasnt hoping to spend much but this seems to be adding up!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Why would you consider reapplying paste when the noise is from the PSU and you apparently don't have temperature issues??

I don't understand.

That PSU link does not work for me.

Does the PSU noise come from the PSU fan or from elsewhere in the PSU? You can temporarily stop the fan to see if the noise goes away.

Some PSUs have quieter fans than others. Some PSUs have coil whine unrelated to the fan.

Some PSU fans do not even spin until the PSU is under a load and heat rises, so they are inaudible most of the time.

I never heard of the Ace PSU brand and would be suspicious of it generally.

It's up to you to decide how bad the noise bothers you.

It's not likely you need a 750 watt PSU.