Not a big fan

[marc]

I've been very impressed with the 330 Zotac ION board. The 195 Nvidia driver has eliminated the jitter I was experiencing at the top of the display.
However, I'm not a big fan of ..... well the FAN.

It's noisy. I'm thinking replacing it or removing it altogether.
It's not the air that it moves that is noisy, its just a crappy fan which gets louder the longer it runs.
Perhaps it is defective?

So, my question is basically regarding running without the fan.

Anyone do this with the dual core atom processor?

My temps are:
37 deg C with the fan
67 deg C w/out fan idle
77 deg C w.out fan just after running Mythtv playing HD content.

Going fanless seems risky for the moment and I've re-powered the fan and await advice on ways to quietening the fan (lower voltage?) or replacing it with another.

Thanks in advance.

[sk8er3810]

I feel exactly the same way and very similar same results. 67 would be OK for me but 70+ is over my threshold. I believe the shutdown threshold is ~95C. I wouldn't recommend it and am looking into a better fan.

If you can fit a 60mm fan, 25mm in height, I recommend
http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-34-08
Whisper quiet, low fan speed. The problem is it will not fit in the M-350 case. I found out the hard way.

For ION boards with the M-350 case(or similar size) the fan really can't be any larger than 10mm in height. 15mm would fit...maybe. I may try this fan,
http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-11-14
in the M-350, IF it will screw onto the ION Heatsink. The skinnier the fan, the higher the RPMs in order to get more CFM which is why I can't find a 60x60x10mm height at < 20dBA.

As for Voltage regulation, I could not find anything in the BIOS. After a quick google search I came upon this
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/496/3
or if your not feeling lucky...
http://www.cooltechpc.com/c/ctpc/std/sk ... oller.html

Here's a post on running the ION platform fanless
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/vi ... 6dc149e1a3

I will try the fan hack when I get home and post my temps. If the fan isn't cooling enough or is still too loud. I am going to try putting 1 or 2 Silenx 40mm fans in the case.

[marc]

I feel exactly the same way and very similar same results. 67 would be OK for me but 70+ is over my threshold. I believe the shutdown threshold is ~95C. I wouldn't recommend it and am looking into a better fan.

The Nvidia "Thermal Settings" monitor says something like "Slowdown threshold" at 95 deg c.
I believe you are right about a shutdown because I don't think this atom CPU scales.

If you can fit a 60mm fan, 25mm in height, I recommend
http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-34-08
Whisper quiet, low fan speed. The problem is it will not fit in the M-350 case. I found out the hard way.

No can do... Same reasons as you. I have the M350 case. I love it and the company that makes it. Great box.

For ION boards with the M-350 case(or similar size) the fan really can't be any larger than 10mm in height. 15mm would fit...maybe. I may try this fan,
http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-11-14
in the M-350, IF it will screw onto the ION Heatsink. The skinnier the fan, the higher the RPMs in order to get more CFM which is why I can't find a 60x60x10mm height at < 20dBA.

I wonder if one of those 80mm by 15mm will fit. Hmmmmm

As for Voltage regulation, I could not find anything in the BIOS. After a quick google search I came upon this
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/496/3
or if your not feeling lucky...
http://www.cooltechpc.com/c/ctpc/std/sk ... oller.html

This was the route I was considering; perhaps running at something between 5 and 12 volts.

Here's a post on running the ION platform fanless
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/vi ... 6dc149e1a3

Yeah I read that one before I tried my own temp experiments. It was a sad reality check.

I will try the fan hack when I get home and post my temps. If the fan isn't cooling enough or is still too loud. I am going to try putting 1 or 2 Silenx 40mm fans in the case.

Are you going to try mounting them to the bracket that comes with the M350? I don't know if you can position the fans over the heatsink with good effeciency. It seems it would be somewhat offset. Its worth a try!

All I can say is Cool (no pun intended) I look forward to hearing about your results. In the meantime Sk8ter, thanks for posting your thoughts!

[sk8er3810]

Running Hulu desktop full screen it looks like ~46C with the stock fan at 7V. Stupid mobo said 0 RPMs. My guess would be around 2400? It was significantly quieter(little hum at ~2ft with cover of the case off, can't hear it across the room ~6ft) but seems to be sufficient to cool the CPU/GPU. I think the key is that there is some sort of airflow, however minimal.

As for putting 40mm on the brackets, I wasn't sure about that. I was going to try one on the heat sink, first; I don't think the holes will line up to screw into the heat sink however. If they didn't, I would try them on the bracket.

Bottom Line:
I would try the voltage trick first. It seems to be both effective and cost effective. This is the route I am going.

Second choice the 80x15mm if you can attach it in some fashion. 11dBA and 1600 RPM, 18CFM looks great.

Third, but not least would be 2 40x40x10mm fans. 14dBA, 3500RPM, 5 CFM They will fit on the bracket if the heat sink fan is absent. Couldn't tell you how effective it would be but I think it would be enough.

Thanks for bringing this up as I was slacking on this particular task

[Patrick]

I'm using the stock fan that came with the Zotac Ion AU and honestly I don't notice much noise. Could have to with fact that my A/V cabinet is closed. I'm going to open up the door and see if it makes much of a difference.

[marc]

I'm using the stock fan that came with the Zotac Ion AU and honestly I don't notice much noise. Could have to with fact that my A/V cabinet is closed. I'm going to open up the door and see if it makes much of a difference.

Yeah, since I'm using a blueray remote (stolen from my PS3), I should stuff this box in a cabinet too.

Pat, remember how I used to bug you in IRC asking if there was any magical thin client?

The question is resolved. I can't be happier. I have not plugged in my popcorn hour in over a month. I'm feeling a little guilty about how I've forsaken my PS3 and Popcorn hour.

I only plug in th PS3 to watch netflix or blueray movies now. Sheesh, I'm spoiled.

I was about to grab another MB since I have a spare M350 case but newegg jumped the price and now charge shipping. I guess it's a hot item now. (again, no pun intended)

[marc]

Running Hulu desktop full screen it looks like ~46C with the stock fan at 7V. Stupid mobo said 0 RPMs. My guess would be around 2400? It was significantly quieter(little hum at ~2ft with cover of the case off, can't hear it across the room ~6ft) but seems to be sufficient to cool the CPU/GPU. I think the key is that there is some sort of airflow, however minimal.

Agreed. If I could train a small animal, perhaps a rat, to breath on the heat-sink I would achieve fairly silent operation whilst cooling the cpu. However my previous attempts at this have introduced a irritating squeak which is although random, is nonetheless not welcome. Not to mention the droppings and holes gnawed through my shoes.

Oh... I've got some questions about Hulu but I'll post another topic for that. You have been warned!

As for putting 40mm on the brackets, I wasn't sure about that. I was going to try one on the heat sink, first; I don't think the holes will line up to screw into the heat sink however. If they didn't, I would try them on the bracket.

I just think they would be noisier because of the smaller diameter and inevitable higher rpm rate. The only thing more irritating than fan noise is two fans running out of sync and "beating." It's somewhat like preachers while you are walking downtown. One is tolerable but the two of them screaming different passages at the same time is a bit too much.

Bottom Line:
I would try the voltage trick first. It seems to be both effective and cost effective. This is the route I am going.

Second choice the 80x15mm if you can attach it in some fashion. 11dBA and 1600 RPM, 18CFM looks great.

Third, but not least would be 2 40x40x10mm fans. 14dBA, 3500RPM, 5 CFM They will fit on the bracket if the heat sink fan is absent. Couldn't tell you how effective it would be but I think it would be enough.

Shift pins to reduce the voltage or did you rig something off the four pin molex power connector from the MB?

Thanks for bringing this up as I was slacking on this particular task

No problem. I'm known for creating issues.
Thanks for the update on the volt trick.