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building a 2nd basic HTPC-case fan needed?

post #1 of 14
3/29/12 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 
My CPU fan and power supply fan are running quiet on my inexpensive bedroom pc build. The htpc will be out in the open and not in a enclosed in a cabinet. Can someone recommend a cheap yet quiet 80mm case fan, or has anyone ever gone without a case fan with sucess? What CPU and MB temps do i need to try to keep my PC at before I need to worry about frying something?

The htpc is a microatx, Asrock H61 mobo, with 220 watt psu, intel g620 w/ built in 2000 graphics & only a 60gb SSD-no pci slots in use. It is only used as a streaming PC, and only has win7 and a few other software on the SSD.

thanks!
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post #2 of 14
3/29/12 at 3:37pm
It'll throttle back or shut down before you can fry it.

I am running a G620 / H61 / 1 x SSD, 1 x HDD system w/o a case fan with a low profile heatsink fan in a very small case without issue. It's warm but not crazy hot or anything.
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post #3 of 14
3/29/12 at 4:39pm
Thread Starter 
thanks for your thoughts.

are you just using the fan that came with your G620 processor then, or something different? My case is somewhat small-17x13x4... I assume yours is smaller than this and not having issues? Just out of curiousity is your HTPC in a cabinet or out in the open?
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post #4 of 14
3/29/12 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by freetvEE View Post

thanks for your thoughts.

are you just using the fan that came with your G620 processor then, or something different? My case is somewhat small-17x13x4... I assume yours is smaller than this and not having issues? Just out of curiousity is your HTPC in a cabinet or out in the open?

Mine's sitting on top of my dresser. The case is 9" x 8" x 3" and I forgot -- it is just using the stock Intel heatsink. I haven't switched it over to the low profile heatsink yet. That's it though.

Here's a picture:


The PSU is a 120W picoPSU with a 72W AC adapter.
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post #5 of 14
3/29/12 at 5:57pm
Noiseblocker fan - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/83...l?tl=g36c15s58


35 cfm at only 19db
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post #6 of 14
3/29/12 at 8:07pm
I think it's a good idea to at least have a slow spinning fan in your case to move some air & keep temps down. I've found with 80mm fans 1500 rpm is pretty quiet & as you get closer to 1000 RPMs they are nearly silent. Here's a nice Nexus fan that's pretty quiet.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835610004
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post #7 of 14
3/29/12 at 10:18pm
Thread Starter 
both of those fans look like they would cover things nicely.

Stardog-if your HTPC isn't overheating being much smaller than mine, I think I might just give it a go and see what happens... I can always add a fan if needed. All I know for sure is that the stock fan has got to go-to loud.
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post #8 of 14
3/30/12 at 7:35am
Just remember that heatsinks don't work without airflow. I'd watch the case temps for a week or two and add a fan if needed. But with an SSD and the stock CPU cooler, I bet you'll be fine.
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post #9 of 14
3/30/12 at 11:24am
I usually take regular 80 mm fans, and reverse the pins so that it is only getting 5V instead of 12. They are really silent. But, whenever I can, use 120 mm fans instead of repinning 80 mm ones.
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post #10 of 14
3/30/12 at 12:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spivonious View Post

Just remember that heatsinks don't work without airflow.

Sure they do. They just don't work as well. Convection currents will dissipate heat, but if you don't have a forced air flow you need a larger heat sink. Look at the cases of A-Tech Fabrication for example.
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post #11 of 14
3/30/12 at 2:41pm
The only fans in my microATX are the one on the processor and the 80mm on the antec PSU that came with the case. It is pretty quite and not audible at all from the couch. Temps are maybe 1 or 2 C higher than my tower with a bunch of fans and HDD's.
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post #12 of 14
3/31/12 at 10:06am
Thread Starter 
for now I am just going to unplug the case fan, and see what happens... I can adjust as needed, and will have lots of options thanks to everyone's excellent advice!
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post #13 of 14
3/31/12 at 10:51am
I think it works if your psu pulls air through your case, if not you will get a heat build up.
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post #14 of 14
4/1/12 at 11:31pm
If the case fan header on the MB is a 4 pin with PWM control, use a fan that support PWM and it will run very quiet until temperature rises. If the case fan head is a 3 pin, then use a fan with thermistor control and it will run very quiet until temperature goes up.

I have a Gelid brand case fan with the thermistor on a long lead. I place the lead on the chipset heatsink.
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