0 db mode on case and cpu fans.

[Tomgang]

I was wondering if people have their cpu cooler and case fans running all the time or made a 0 db mode as most gpu's and psu has now a days. So the fan only turns on when cpu or a chosen component in pc turns on cpu and/or case fans.

Also what ever it would be good or bad idea to do. Like no airflow but less dust in the PC. Ambient temperature and case design also has a saying what ever it is fra or not.

Personally I have fan's running all the time at low speed when ilde or at low load. However I am going with the idea to make 0 db mode. But airflow might be concern like nvme ssd temp, vrm and other components might be to hot or run unnecessary hot.

So are guys doing it or not and why?

 

[tabascosauz]

Getting 0dB to work on BIOS control alone might depend on the board and fans you use. T30s for example have a semi-passive mode on the switch selector.

With a CPU like the 5600/5600G/5700X, pretty good chance you can get a beefier cooler (D15/FC140) and just forgo heatsink fans entirely.

If you live in a soundproof chamber and have extremely sensitive ears, I can see the benefit of case fan stop......otherwise, get better case fans and a blower/air compressor and accept that cleaning out dust is a fact of life.

NVMEs and RAM are not a problem unless you also intend to have no airflow when under CPU/GPU load. VRMs are not even close to being a problem unless you created problems for yourself by buying a board with VRM problems.

 

[P4-630]

Well I had issues with fans that are 0rpm able, had to replace my great noctua's....

Z690 Aorus Master , fan sometimes not spinning

I'm happy with my new build but I have noticed that sometimes the exhaust fan isn't spinning. I tried to set the fans on maximum performance in gigabyte fans app and it still wouldn't spin. Now today I suddenly see that one of the CPU cooler fans wasn't spinning. Once a fan stopped spinning I...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[freeagent]

I started using 0db mode on my GPU when EVGA packed it in

None of my current fans support 0db, but I could get by with just the stock 2 case fans and no fans on my cooler for my X3D.

Not sure about summer though..

 

[Udyr]

Literal 0db or perceptive 0db?

For the CPU you need a low power/easy to cool unit and a beefy heatsink.
For the GPU... only when idle/low use.

My setup is not 0db, but it's very quiet with the two 200mm in front keeping the rest of the fans on a "keep the air flowing" mode most of the time.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Coming from an audiophile-quality electronics background, I hate fan noise. So 0db (silent running) setups have been an interest of mine for many a long time.

Ambient temperature and case design also has a saying what ever it is fra or not.

Ambient temperature for sure is a factor. Fortunately, the ideal temperature range for "creature comfort" (normal room temperatures) is typically and perfectly suitable for electronics too.

Case design is a MAJOR factor, AS LONG AS case cooling is properly setup to provide a good flow of cool air through the case - and the interior of the case is not blanketed with heat trapping dust.

Hand-in-hand with case design is case cooling as provided by the case fans. It is the users responsibility to ensure a good flow of air is provided. Typically front-to-back flow is desired with just a small amount of positive or over-pressure. A slight over-pressure helps ensure the vast majority of the incoming cool air enters the case only through the [hopefully filtered] intake vents - and not through cracks, optical drives, and data ports.

Of course, quality case fans are important too - not just to move lots of air, but to move that air quietly - especially when you don't like fan noise, important for me, because I really hate fan noise. I've been really happy with the fans Fractal Design includes with their cases, and many of their cases include a 3-speed controller too. I have mine set to 7VDC (medium speed) and all I hear is the dog's toenails clicking across the kitchen floor down the hall.

What matters most with 0dB modes for CPU and GPU fans (and PSU fans too) is, of course, heat. So AS LONG AS the function is working properly (and for most, it does), and the fans kick in when the preset thermal protection thresholds are crossed (which is comfortably below any overheat level), 0dB modes are outstanding features.

That said, how would you know if effective is not monitoring your temps? So I recommend using a decent real-time temperature monitor. I use and recommend Core Temp to monitor CPU temps in real time. Under Options > Settings > Notification Area, I have mine set to display "Highest temperature" only.

HWiNFO64 is also very (if not overwhelmingly) informative. When using for the first time, I recommend you select “Sensors only” when prompted. Then scroll down to your motherboard’s section to see the temps.

HWiNFO also includes an excellent notification/system “Tray Icon”, though it is a little more challenging to setup than CoreTemp because of the massive amount of information and options provided by the program. Under Sensors Status > Configure Sensors (the gear icon), select the Tray Icon tab, scroll down to and click on “Core Max” to highlight. Then click on “Show in Tray”. Then OK to set. If you want HWiNFO to run all the time you will need to select “Auto Start” from the "Main Settings" window.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

24/7 365 I keep the party going with the fan sound vibe(used to be hardcore but fan sound now).

Not sure why 0Db doesn't equal off.

If you're doing something that resource light get an iPad.

In all seriousness it's up to you but personally I don't do 0Db I like the background noise and my pc is always busy and hot, handy in these cold days ATM.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Not sure why 0Db doesn't equal off.

Technically, it does, of course. So I am going to assume in this case, "marketing huff/hype" is doing its typical stretching of the truth!

handy in these cold days ATM.

0dB (not db, DB, or Db, but dB as Bel is the unit) does not mean no heat. Even when my CPU and GPU fans are idle, I still feel warm air exiting my case through the rear case fan vent. But I hear you about these cold days. However my monitors generate heat too and it is never too long before my computer room/office is warmer than the rest of the house.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Technically, it does, of course. So I am going to assume in this case, "marketing huff/hype" is doing its typical stretching of the truth!


0dB (not db, DB, or Db, but dB as Bel is the unit) does not mean no heat. Even when my CPU and GPU fans are idle, I still feel warm air exiting my case through the rear case fan vent. But I hear you about these cold days. However my monitors generate heat too and it is never too long before my computer room/office is warmer than the rest of the house.

Fair enough I will again blame this phone (though it was me) dB it is, I knew that too yet wrote it wrong.

It is abnormally cold at night at the moment here, because my GPU is new and not waterblocked it is not loaded while I am not there, like now I'm in work, and my rooms not warm with just 150Watt Total load and only the CPU loaded up, my monitors go into standby.
It doesn't take long to warm though.

 

[claes]

I generally run my systems with fans off with basic workloads (web browsing and such), then set the curves to accelerate as the temps do. No issues so far FWIW

 

[Tomgang]

Coming from an audiophile-quality electronics background, I hate fan noise. So 0db (silent running) setups have been an interest of mine for many a long time.

Ambient temperature for sure is a factor. Fortunately, the ideal temperature range for "creature comfort" (normal room temperatures) is typically and perfectly suitable for electronics too.

Case design is a MAJOR factor, AS LONG AS case cooling is properly setup to provide a good flow of cool air through the case - and the interior of the case is not blanketed with heat trapping dust.

Hand-in-hand with case design is case cooling as provided by the case fans. It is the users responsibility to ensure a good flow of air is provided. Typically front-to-back flow is desired with just a small amount of positive or over-pressure. A slight over-pressure helps ensure the vast majority of the incoming cool air enters the case only through the [hopefully filtered] intake vents - and not through cracks, optical drives, and data ports.

Of course, quality case fans are important too - not just to move lots of air, but to move that air quietly - especially when you don't like fan noise, important for me, because I really hate fan noise. I've been really happy with the fans Fractal Design includes with their cases, and many of their cases include a 3-speed controller too. I have mine set to 7VDC (medium speed) and all I hear is the dog's toenails clicking across the kitchen floor down the hall.

What matters most with 0dB modes for CPU and GPU fans (and PSU fans too) is, of course, heat. So AS LONG AS the function is working properly (and for most, it does), and the fans kick in when the preset thermal protection thresholds are crossed (which is comfortably below any overheat level), 0dB modes are outstanding features.

That said, how would you know if effective is not monitoring your temps? So I recommend using a decent real-time temperature monitor. I use and recommend Core Temp to monitor CPU temps in real time. Under Options > Settings > Notification Area, I have mine set to display "Highest temperature" only.

HWiNFO64 is also very (if not overwhelmingly) informative. When using for the first time, I recommend you select “Sensors only” when prompted. Then scroll down to your motherboard’s section to see the temps.

HWiNFO also includes an excellent notification/system “Tray Icon”, though it is a little more challenging to setup than CoreTemp because of the massive amount of information and options provided by the program. Under Sensors Status > Configure Sensors (the gear icon), select the Tray Icon tab, scroll down to and click on “Core Max” to highlight. Then click on “Show in Tray”. Then OK to set. If you want HWiNFO to run all the time you will need to select “Auto Start” from the "Main Settings" window.

I am all ready using HWinfo 64 and have used it for years, as it provide readings for all temp sensors in one program.

I have pretty much unlimited control over my fans directly in windows. As i use a software in windows for my fan controllers (Aqua Computer Aquaero 6 XT). That allows me to control all my fans including cpu fans in windows on the fly. None of my fans are connested to any of my two motherboard and bios control. With the fan controller i can set my fans up to 0 DB and start at any given temperature i set it to start and i can use any software readable temp sensor to start my case or cpu fan. But cpu cooler fans are controlled by temp sensor on CPU, while case fans are controlled by VRM temp. GPU either auto or with MSI afterburner. PSU fan just has a buttom for either 0 DB or running all the time.

So i can control my fans at any time any moment with out have to go to bios for it. That i really like.

I use these fan controller. Exspensive, but worth the money.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/aqua-computer-aquaero-6-xt-lcd-fan-controller-black-red-wc-32v-aq.html

This is my machine. You can se the two controllers top right corner.

 

[cvaldes]

I fancied the idea of totally silent desktop computers so I tried it out on several PC builds in different cases. Apart from my Mac mini, all of my desktop PCs sit on the floor so their fans are never closer than three feet to my ears. I had a head start in quietness.

It turns out that in a quiet environment I can hear when a fan kicks in whether it be a case, radiator, or GPU fan. So a fan going from 0 to minimum speed to gradually ramping up is more irritating than a fan running at minimum speed and gradually ramping up.

Moreover, there is no practical benefit of a stopped fan from an acoustical standpoint in my home. There's still some ambient noise in the environment that is louder than the PC fans running at minimum speed, even during the dead of night. A few times a year, I leave the bedroom PC on overnight to download some software and I can't hear it, even with the fans running. Halting the fans won't decrease sound and it might save me a penny in electricity.

So today all of my desktop PC builds have the fans set at minimum rotation speeds at idle. I configure my fan curves on the hottest days of the summer so I know the rest of the year the PC will run cooler and possibly quieter. None of my PCs have fans that run at maximum speed (apart from maybe my Mac and my notebook PC). All of the desktop PC builds have fans that max out below the fan maximum speed.

I make an effort to configure the fan curves so even when the system is maxxed out (gaming, Handbrake encode, etc.), the fans remain relatively quiet. My primary gaming PC has a custom cooling loop, this helps the acoustics a lot despite the Ryzen 5900X and RTX 3080 Ti inside.

Yes, the fans make sound, but my ears have to be a few inches away from them if they are running at minimum speed for me to hear them. And I don't sit that close to my PCs.

 

[Vario]

The Aqua Computer Splitty 9 Active fan hub has a potentiometer that allows you to turn fans off at lower PWM signal but I like having my fans run all the time any way.