# PC Hardware Gurus - Question regarding fans and heatsinks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573 "2002-12-05T00:35:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/21 "2002-12-06T00:50:49Z")
OK I can give you noise even though those smaller fans tend to be drowned out by the bigger cpu fan. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/22 "2002-12-06T01:12:26Z")
The quest for silence makes a lot more sense than the quest for silly colored lights and windows in the sides of your case. I personally don’t care how much noise my PC makes, but I am one of those overly-demanding people who thinks a PC should be capable of running continuously for a year or more without having a component crap out. Therefore, I hate fans. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/23 "2002-12-06T01:43:15Z")
**k2dave** : The larger the fan, the less noise it produces, because it can spin at a lower RPM to produce the same airflow. I have a 120mm 70CFM fan that I can’t hear unless I put my ear up to it, and several 40mm 5CFM fans that produce a very annoying whine that is audible even through my thick steel case. In general, you get a quiet, cooler running computer using larger fans than smaller ones. **galt** : A good, dual-ball-bearing brushless DC fan from a major manufacturer should last a LONG time. My system has been running for about two years with seven fans, none of which have failed. This is longer than nearly any watercooling system I’ve heard of, which require frequent water replacement and commonly suffer pump failures and corrosion. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/24 "2002-12-06T01:43:20Z")
Well, one of my computers has an Athlon-based Epox 8KHA+ motherboard with a heatsink/fan on the Northbridge chipset. The fan noise annoyed me, so I unplugged its power lead. No problems whatsoever. YMMV, but it is unlikely to cause a spectacular failure. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/25 "2002-12-06T01:57:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Why would you want to make this replacement anyway? that fact was irrelevant when I posted. but since you asked… My current ‘Northbridge’ fan is malfunctioning - it sounds like a hedge trimmer. My first thought when I set about dealing with this was [quietpc.com](http://quietpc.com). I searched their website and found that they only do a heatsink for the northbridge (heck- even _they_ say ‘motherboard’) not a fan. so I considered the question - will it be safe to do away with a fan. > [@](#): > > Then count on it in the future. Incorrect questions are unlikely to solicit correct answers. Pedantic is our middle name around here, and not without reason. The diplomatic answer. But in this case/context - pedantry was not needed - any non-pedantic person could figure out what I meant. BTW The last thing I want is an argument/hostility in GQ - I apologise to anyone I may have been terse with. It just annoys me when people pretend not to see what is meant so that they can attempt to look superior. > [@](#): > > OK I can give you noise even though those smaller fans tend to be drowned out by the bigger cpu fan. Which is why I also (during the search for the northbridge heatsink) bought a cpu quiet fan/heatsink. I know well that the cpu fan is the loudest thing in there (especially since I already bought the quiet psu) To answer multiple questions in a shorter way, using **galt** ’s words - ‘The quest for silence’. I use my computer to play music, amongst other things. So I don’t want to hear anything else. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/26 "2002-12-06T02:04:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > **The diplomatic answer. But in this case/context - pedantry was not needed - any non-pedantic person could figure out what I meant.** Several people thought you may be referred to the CPU fan, and so did I when I first read it. So your original post was clearly ambiguous. Why do you think we are being pedantic? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/27 "2002-12-06T02:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Several people thought you may be referred to the CPU fan, and so did I when I first read it. So your original post was clearly ambiguous. Why do you think we are being pedantic? I thought **sailor** was being pedantic. Not everyone (‘we’). That is why I quoted his post in my first reply to mention the word ‘pedantic’. I simply carried on the pedantic issue when people started to argue with said post. Look - I assumed people would understand that I meant the northbridge fan when I said motherboard (afterall - everyone I know personally who is even remotely computer-literare understands that ‘motherboard fan’ translated into pedantic means : ‘northbridge chip fan’ as that chip is the most important chip soldered on the motherboard. As soon as I cotton on that people are simply excercising their [human] desire to have the last word. **Or** continuing to try to look superior at having spotted a little ambiguity (ambiguity which is human. Also human is the ability to understand what is meant in an ambiguous statement - are we human or not) I will give up this little fight. Afterall - I have got what I originally wanted from this thread - I am only still posting out of an (also human) desire to defend my actions. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/28 "2002-12-06T02:43:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*I thought **sailor** was being pedantic. Not everyone (‘we’). That is why I quoted his post in my first reply to mention the word ‘pedantic’. I simply carried on the pedantic issue when people started to argue with said post. > Look - I assumed people would understand that I meant the northbridge fan when I said motherboard (afterall - everyone I know personally who is even remotely computer-literare understands that ‘motherboard fan’ translated into pedantic means : ‘northbridge chip fan’ as that chip is the most important chip soldered on the motherboard. > > As soon as I cotton on that people are simply excercising their [human] desire to have the last word. **Or** continuing to try to look superior at having spotted a little ambiguity (ambiguity which is human. Also human is the ability to understand what is meant in an ambiguous statement - are we human or not) I will give up this little fight. Afterall - I have got what I originally wanted from this thread - I am only still posting out of an (also human) desire to defend my actions. \*\* Give it up. Your OP was confusing to everyone and I merely pointed that out _after_ you complained by saying if no one had read the OP correctly. YES, lots of us had read it trying to help and it was confusing to all of us. I was just telling you what was obvious to all of us. Maybe you should not post drunk. Maybe then you could make more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/29 "2002-12-06T02:52:34Z")
I already know I shouldn’t post drunk - except when I am drunk. I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt and say that my OP _was_ flawwed. I apologise to those I have argued with - and thank those who understood what I meant and tried to help - your answers were usefull - I will not hesitate to instsall the heatsink when it arrives. ---
**Author:** ![TECHNOGHOST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TECHNOGHOST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TECHNOGHOST)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/30 "2002-12-06T07:41:00Z")
Whenever Lobsang… And yeah, Chill a bit… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/31 "2002-12-06T22:42:33Z")
**TECHNOGHOST** I don’t think ‘Egoism’ is a real word. Nice picture though. ---
**Author:** ![TECHNOGHOST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TECHNOGHOST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TECHNOGHOST)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/32 "2002-12-06T23:23:50Z")
what!? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/33 "2002-12-07T00:07:43Z")
I am of course refering to your website. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/34 "2002-12-07T00:10:12Z")
Oh and by the way - Welcome to the boards. ---
**Author:** ![TECHNOGHOST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TECHNOGHOST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TECHNOGHOST)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/35 "2002-12-07T02:06:43Z")
Oh… OH! Ok! Sorry hah… Bloody old homepage haha… Thanks for the welcome, I appreciate that. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/36 "2002-12-07T03:44:29Z")
In defense of **Lobsang** , I think **sailor** did sound a bit pedantic. The OP was quite clear to me. It’s only unclear if you assume that **Lobsang** is ignorant of the distinction between a motherboard and a CPU. I mean, **k2dave** is wrong right off the bat. A lot of motherboards nowadays have heatsink/fans on the motherboard for a chipset on the motherboard. I’m talking since about three years ago, not last month. I call them motherboard heatsinks or motherboard HSFs, and I’m not the only one who does. And how many CPU heatsinks nowadays are 5mm high? Try zero. Good luck finding one less than a couple inches high! Obviously he’s referring to a motherboard heatsink. If you spend any time at all messing around inside a computer this knowledge should be trivial. If it isn’t, maybe you shouldn’t have attempted to answer the question by accusing **Lobsang** of not knowing what he is talking about. -fh ---
**Author:** ![TECHNOGHOST](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TECHNOGHOST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TECHNOGHOST)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/37 "2002-12-07T09:05:26Z")
"I have recently bought a Motherboard heatsink from [Quietpc.com](http://Quietpc.com). They claim that it is the replacement for a heatsink and fan. But it does not have a fan itself. My question is - how safe is it to replace a [5mm ‘high’] heatsink and fan with a [5cm high] heatsink? I’d assume the answer is ‘pretty safe’ as a company probably wouldn’t sell something that might result in damage. But I thought I’d make sure and ask here." Actually now that I think about it, Lobsang was perfectly clear. Sorry actually I just went through all the replies at first very fast and got a bit fedup so answered a bit, in a straightforward manner… First question never mentioned the CPU and it’s obvious that a Motherboard Heatsink goes on the Northbridge/Chipset, and NOT the CPU… Sorry for the late support Lobsang, what can I say, hazel-rah opened my eyes haha… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/38 "2002-12-07T16:41:58Z")
No need to apologise Technoghost. I am humbled by the support from you and hazel-rah. **Thakyou Guys**. To be fair also to sailor, k2dave (and probably everyone else) I was a bit terse/cheeky with my replies to their replies - **Sorry Guys**. I rarely get like that in SDMB - especially GQ. I am sure there is some stuff in the archives to show the contrary - but I have changed a lot since then. Anyway… my North Bridge (if I remember rightly the heatsink box has it as two seperate words) heatsink arrived today, along with the CPU fan/heatsink I said I had ordered. (in order not to re-confuse people - the cpu fan I ordered was **as well as** the North Bridge heatsink) I haven’t installed them yet, as I had to leave for work soon after I recieved them. I think I over-estimated the size of the heatsink. It’s more like 30mm high. The CPU fan/heatsink is like 100mm high, so it’s hard to confuse them. (Also - the cpu f/h almost resembles a squashed jet engine!) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573/39 "2002-12-08T01:02:47Z")
I’ve installed them now. Sorry if these progress reports are annoying people - please mention if they are. Well it’s not completely silent, I can hear the slight humming. But I suppose that’s a good thing as when I am at my dads house (he was first to be obsessed with quietening his PC) my brain is in conflict… SURELY this computer isn’t on - yet there are things on the monitor! His PC makes no noise at all (not 25db, not 12, not 6, **0!** ) I swear it feels so weird, so wrong, so eerie. So I am glad I have the audible clue that the computer is on on mine. But then again his PC is much lower-spec than mine - he has done away with his CPU fan alltogether, and any graphics card fan/heatsink would be offended if it was asked to cool his graphics card. I am most glad of all that my pc still works - I was sure I’d break something or end up throwing the whole lot out of the window. And allthough it is not silent - it’s a **lot** quieter than it used to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-hardware-gurus-question-regarding-fans-and-heatsinks/140573.md?page=1)