Zalman is a well known supplier of silent computer components.  Therefore, they should be considered when purchasing silent computer parts.  The Z-Machine shown below is only one of many products that they have available for silent computer enthusiasts.

Scythe is known for their unique products.  Therefore, this came as no surprise.

I currently have a Scythe CPU heatsink and fan installed in my main computer.  I am very happy with my purchase.  Therefore, you could imagine how happy I am to see a custom, silent graphics card cooler.

Buying a silent graphics card can get quite expensive, therefore, you will have to decide what you want.

I will buy a graphics card that costs less than $100 and make it silent.  If a silent(fanless)  graphics card is available that costs less than $200, I will buy that instead.

If I put this cooler on my graphics card, I would put one fan over the middle instead of the two.

The one thing I love about computers is the ability to try out different parts.  I will definitely be buying this Scythe “MUSASHI” Twin-Fan VGA Cooler when I buy a new computer.  Customizing is fun.

http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/vga/002/scvms1000_detail.html

Another option is available that will allow you to stick a 120mm fan in a PCI slot instead.  This is actually very nice.

http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/071/sckst1000_detail.html

This is the Scythe “Kama Stay” multi purpose solution being used just below the video card.  1 -120mm fan is blowing towards the video card’s heatsink and the Northbridge heatsink.

I tested having 2-120mm fans blowing on the video, Northbridge, and the SouthBridge, but the computer got quite noisy.  Therefore, I stuck with 1-120mm fan blowing on both the video card and the Northbridge.  Based on the results at http://aprivatebeach.com/blog/2009/11/custom-silent-pc-nov-2009, a 120mm fan blowing on both the video card and the Northbridge has the best noise/cooling ratio.

For those on a budget, you can create your own very cheaply.

Mine is an obsolete PCI card with the connectors sawed off using a hacksaw.  A jigsaw would have been better, but I did not have one to use.

With that you zap strap a silent 120mm fan onto it and screw the PCI card into an empty slot.  Ensure that the fan is blowing air onto the video card.  You can check which side is blowing air by putting the fan beside your cheek.

Connect the fan connector to your computer.  After that, disconnect the fan connector on the video card.

If all is well, you will have a custom PCI slot fan.  Unfortunately, it is quite large and will take up two PCI slots, but for those on a budget, it will have to do.

Although I used an obsolete PCI card, other stuff can be used too.  If you look closely at the PCI card, it is being held to the  bracket with screws.  Therefore, if you remove the bracket, you can screw something else onto the bracket such as a wood, plastic, metal, etc. fan holder.  Unfortunately, it must also be very thin and have holes drilled into it, so that it can be attached to the bracket.

A better solution for those not wanting to make a homemade model is available.

The one below is called a PCI slot cooler or slot cooler if one is doing a Google search.  Instead of pushing air onto the card, it is pulling air from the card out the back of the computer case.  I have never tried one of these before, but it looks good.

This, Sunbeam Wherever PCI Rack, allows you to mount anything including a 120mm fan into a PCI slot.  For less than $10, this is a good deal.

Unfortunately, the Wherever PCI rack does not seem to be available anymore.  You will have to do a Google search for it.  You may find a few places still selling it.  The Scythe “Kama Stay” multi purpose solution is the alternative that is still available.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 at 5:06 am and is filed under Computer hardware. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.