Fan dba?

What's a good dba level for case fans? The fans I have now are quite loud, and I want to replace them with some quieter ones. Also, what is a good CFM?

My current computer temps are:

System: 81 F
CPU: 86 F
Aux: 84 F
HD0: 102 F
CPU Core: 88 F
GPU Core: 115 F
Ambient: 32 F

 

You want the highest CFM at the lowest dba
Everyones tolerance to sound/noise is different

Sometimes too many fans or the wrong balance of incoming vs outgoing airflow will just mess up the proper airflow need to keep your system cool

Cool air in, usually thru the lower front of your case
Hot air out thru the top & rear
The best place to is around 50% mix of both:major

CPU & VC heat sinks! You might need to reseat them using some good thermal paste after a good cleaning, I use only Artic Ceramique

Dust is your Enemy, dust build up causes Heat


Your system is too Hot:foolish

 

what is are average case temps, then? what should i be aiming for?

fyi, my case is shaped really strange (like a regular tower case, only laying on the side). there is no option for air to be coming in from the front, there are 2 fans on the sides (blowing in) and 2 fans in the back (blowing out) the PSU has it's own seperate fan and airflow apart from the rest of the case.

 

Sorry Your temps are fine, I guess I had a Brain Fart
I'm used to viewing temps in Celsius


I am curious about your Ambient 32F?

 

lol, i think that its really annoying when people post their temps in celcius (i guess that 80+ degrees C would be a tad high )

what does ambient mean, anyways? is that the outside of the case?

 

Yes, ambient generally means the temperature in the room where the computer is located. Obviously, that 32 F reading isn't correct, is it? :confused

 

yeah, the temp sensor is definitely reading the ambient temp wrong.

to replace the 2 current fans in my current system, i found these two fans (dang, though, they're pricey):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835191006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226023

they would be (VERY) quiet, but would they both move enough air?

I also (as an alternative) found these two fans:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998123

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999199

Would there be a real difference in the noise produced by the 2 different sets of fans?

 

Since you're seeking less noise, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998123 looks like one you should avoid. The specs shown on newegg.com say "Noise Level 29.67 dBA", much higher than the others.

Apparently, your case will accommodate either 120mm or 80mm fans. Is that right? I think I'd be tempted to experiment with running just two 120mm fans. Will your motherboard control fan speed, based on temp? If so http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226023 , which is the only one features variable speed, may be a good choice.

I have a conventional mid-tower case, with one 80mm fan in front and one in back. My fans are inexpensive ones and I would like a quieter system, but I believe the CPU fan in the main noise-maker in my system.

 

IMO 29 dba isnt so bad

Something to consider is a fan controller, you can control fan speed thus controlling nosie when you need extra cooling crank up the juice & turn on some tunes, If ya know what I mean.

 

my case can accommodate 2 120mm/80mm fans on the sides and 2 80mm fans in the back.

my MSI motherboard only has one 3-pin fan connector, so i'm gonna buy a fan controller.

 

I wouldn't connect any Case fans or fan controller to the MOBO fan header
The mobo fan header (the three pin plug on the mobo) has limits to the amount it can provide, exceed that amount can burn out the fan header or worse yet the mobo



You should connect all your Case fans or Fan controller directly to your PSU via Molex plug
[Never, connect any fan controller to any mobo fan header... Never]
There are adapters available to use three pin fans with 4 pin molex

 

so...back to the fan question

anything under 20dba is good?

(i would of course get a fan controller, but as a start, under 20dba is good?)