Fan Compatability with Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme

[ComputerDrake]

I'm still a relative newbie in PC parts, but I'm -sort of- well read, and I intend on getting a Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme. It will be cooling a quad-core, can't decide on getting

Q6600, Q9300, or Q9450, and even maybe Q6700

Q6600 - Obviously cheapest option, stable overclocks at 3.2 Ghz

Q6700 - Yes $60 for a low increase, but has a 10x multiplier. Any suggestions pertaining to how high it can go?

Q9300 - 45nm tech. Low power consumption -sometimes- provides better performance for different things at lower core speeds. [3.5 Q6600 vs 3.4 9300]

Q9450- 45nm tech with higher multiplier [8x vs 7.5x] is a monstrous overclocker from what I hear. $140 more expensive than Q6600.

Ok so, now onto the issue. You need to mount a single 120mm fan onto the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme [can't seem to distinguish a difference between Ultra 120 Rev. A and Ultra 120 Extreme]. Will any case fan do? For example the monster

SILVERSTONE FM121-B 120mm Case Fan - w/ 110 Rated CFM and estimated 17-39.5 dBA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835220014

Just to be clear, noise is not an issue with me, I have built up resistance to it (don't pay attention anymore) due to the fact that my old P4 3.0Ghz Sony VGC-RB30 was full of dust, and literally sounded like a jet engine, even when idling I could hear it in the other room (a loud whiny noise approx 15ft away w/ a closed door). This has been resolved by taking it to a friend's autoshop and blew out everything w/ compressed air, can hardly hear it except on startup.

Also, can anyone give me an estimate of temps with a Ultra-120 Extreme (and hopefully with FM121) of a Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz or a Q9300 @ 3 Ghz with ambient temps around 23-26C (73-78C) [CENTRAL HEATING/COOLING FTW!]

Ok so, could I plug this FM121 into the CPU fan connector (dont know the compatibility issues of 3/4 pin and 4pin) or will I have to get another fan? Any help would be appreciated, and a premature thanks to any replier.

 

[WestWarrior]

If price is not an object, I would go with the Q9450 hands down. If price is, a Q6600 isn't bad. Something you might want to consider if you havent already bought a CPU is a E8400/E8500. If you dont absolutely need a quad.

The difference between the Ultra and the Ultra extreme is the number of heatpipes. And yes, any 120mm fan will do (120x25mm or 120x38mm), you could possibly put two quieter fans on there for less noise. Just make sure to buy an extra fan and fan clips.

As for your your expected temps, it really all comes down to how good of an overclocker your chip is. If it is a volt hog, your temps are going to be significantly higher than if it was a really good OCer. Also, you could likely expect decent temps with a E8400 on or around 4GHz.

 

[Lupiron]

Q6600 and q 6700 have the same limits. You can attain 3.8 on a q6700 if you get a good VID. Just about any q6600 will hit 3.6. All 9 of mine do, just different VCore voltages for different VIDs.

Hands down, q6600, wanna buy one?

--Lupi

 

[Zorg]

Good fan Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Fan

 

[sailer]

I used a Noctua 120mm fan with my TRUE. Its works well and is totally silent. I like silence. I also like how the TRUE keeps my QX9650 temps nice and cool.

 

[jsc]

Agree with Zorg about the S-FLEX. Just remember, if you go with the S-FLEX, there are several models with different ratings. You want the SFF21F.

Giga EP35-DS3P, Q6600, TRUE, Antec 900 case with fans set to Slow (faster makes no difference), 3.6 GHz at BIOS set 1.45 volts drooping to 1.40 volts under load, Prime95 loaded core temps 65 C.

 

[ComputerDrake]

Ok, change to an S-Flex? Can you offer any performance difference of the S-Flex and Silverstone's FM121B, which has 100+ CFM? . Again, noise is not an issue, so silent fans are not needed, I need the most effective one. I intend on getting an Antec 900 or an Antec 1200 [interior black finish, more room, included fan controller, additional rear fan, and holes for cable management]. It's down to Q6600, Q9350, and Q9450 for CPU's. Q6600's can overclock higher than both of the 45nms [without insane FSB's, dont intend to try to raise FSB higher than 400Mhz], but the Q9300 and Q9450 are both more energy efficient, cooler, and have a new instruction (SSE4, correct me if I'm wrong), which may provide better performance for certain applications. The Q9300 and the Q9450 don't seem to be TOO different besides the multiplier, and I dont want anything insane, 3.0-3.4Ghz overclock seems reasonable to me.

And another issue, can I plug in the case fan into the CPU fan socket? Or do I have to plug it into the 4-pin peripheral on the power supply? (Thermaltake 750W, Modular Series)

 

[Evilonigiri]

I used a Noctua 120mm fan with my TRUE. Its works well and is totally silent. I like silence. I also like how the TRUE keeps my QX9650 temps nice and cool.

Noctua = Expensive.

2 x Noctua = Quiet + Very Cool = VERY EXPENSIVE ($40 for fans...)

 

[Evilonigiri]

Ok, change to an S-Flex? Can you offer any performance difference of the S-Flex and Silverstone's FM121B, which has 100+ CFM? . Again, noise is not an issue, so silent fans are not needed, I need the most effective one. I intend on getting an Antec 900 or an Antec 1200 [interior black finish, more room, included fan controller, additional rear fan, and holes for cable management]. It's down to Q6600, Q9350, and Q9450 for CPU's. Q6600's can overclock higher than both of the 45nms [without insane FSB's, dont intend to try to raise FSB higher than 400Mhz], but the Q9300 and Q9450 are both more energy efficient, cooler, and have a new instruction (SSE4, correct me if I'm wrong), which may provide better performance for certain applications. The Q9300 and the Q9450 don't seem to be TOO different besides the multiplier, and I dont want anything insane, 3.0-3.4Ghz overclock seems reasonable to me.

And another issue, can I plug in the case fan into the CPU fan socket? Or do I have to plug it into the 4-pin peripheral on the power supply? (Thermaltake 750W, Modular Series)

For fans, go with Scythe Ultra Kazes. You will underestimate the power and noise of it. They come in quiet cheaply as well, $9 for one, so get two for a push pull config of noisy-as-hell setup.

If you don't want to go over 400MHz, the Q9350 is out of the question. Since you have a excellent cooler, you might as well go for the cheaper Q6600 and hit 3.6GHz. Temps would be around 65C under 100% load, so perhaps every day usage would be around 55C max. The Q6600 at 3.6Ghz is equivalent to ~3.4Ghz Q9450, depending on what application.

 

[ComputerDrake]

Can you mount two fans on the TRUE? If so, how effective are the Ultra Kazes?
Like I said NOISE IF DEFINITELY NOT AN ISSUE. Do you have to purchase an additional fan retention bracket? If so, recommend one. And I repeat my question that is the true problem I'm thinking about.
Can I plug in the case fan into the CPU fan socket? Or do I have to plug it into the 4-pin peripheral on the power supply?

 

[Lupiron]

You can, and I have 4 UKs, I plan on mounting two beneath my trip water rad, because the three 92 fans pull upward through the radiator, but nothing blowing under it through to those fans, relying on their suction.

I set one Kaze under there and lost 3c! So, I think i will actually mount a pair there. Leaves a pair for my TRUE, but I have yet to double up, because a single kaze does as good as I appear to need it. And I am supposedly one of the "loose with the temps" kinda OCer.

--Lupi

 

[ComputerDrake]

Ok...but again you haven't answered a single question.

> Do I have to purchase an additional fan bracket?

> Can I plug my FM121B into my CPU fan power connector or do I have to put it into the power supply/fan controller?

 

[Evilonigiri]

Yes, you do can buy an additional fan clip: http://www.jab-tech.com/Thermalright-Ultra-120-eXtreme-fan-clips-pr-3980.html

Or you can improvise like many of us do.

If you have a fan controller like this one: http://www.jab-tech.com/Sunbeam-5-1-4-Rheobus-Kit-BLACK-pr-2530.html then you should connect the fan to that and not the mobo.

I'd suggest getting 2 Ultra Kazes, they are more powerful than your Silverstone fan by far and quite cheaper as well. http://www.jab-tech.com/Scythe-ULTRA-KAZE-120-x-38-mm-Case-Fan-High-pr-3940.html

 

[ComputerDrake]

Huh..I guess it is more powerful. The reason why the Silverstone FM121B is more expensive is because of the built in fan controller. But I didn't think it would work because I'm planning on using an Antec 900/1200, and all the 3.5" bays are covered with fans, and I wanted to keep those... I guess the Kaze's will work better. How many pins are on the Kaze's power connector? I want to get the right fan controller.

 

[Andrius]

Good fan Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Fan

This one keeps my Q6600 below 50°C at all times (except for Prime95 where I get 55°C max in coretemp) at 3.3GHz (9x367MHz). It's inaudiable at 1200rpm.
But still keeps my OCed quadcore below 60°C.

 

[Evilonigiri]

Ultra Kazes have 3-pin fan connectors. They take up 6W full speed, so make sure your fan controller can support that.

 

[Navvie]

I've just started overclocking my Q6600 with a TRUE... I'm currently at 333x9 and idle at 32/31/32/29 with Artic Silver 3 (I know... its what I had lying around) in a P182 case, three case fans set to low (870rpm, 21CFM) and a Nexus Real Silent D12SL-12 running at 12v (1080rpm, 29CFM).

At idle 1.99GHz the Q6600 is 32/31/32/29
Under load (Prime95, in place large FFTs) 55/52/55/52
... all temps measured with Real Temp 2.5

The Scythe DFS123812H-3000 (12v - 2760rpm, 107CFM)... you exceed the design limits of the TRUE, it simply does no good to push all the extra air through it, the TRUE can't get the heat from the CPU to the fins fast enough.

*all figures are from www.silentpcreview.com the most reliable source for fan reviews, IMHO.

(I used to run an 80mm Vantec Tornado on a AthlonXP... I know its easy to say noise doesn't bother you, but a few hours with relative silence and you will never go back... and all the other people in the house really appreciate it too!)

 

[ComputerDrake]

Well yeah I DO appreciate silence, but it's not going to be a deciding factor because I'm going for performance. You say it does no good because it exceeds the design limits, then great! It'll only be a bottleneck until they create a new one and I'll upgrade. Then I know I'm getting the best possible performance.

Everyone in my house has adapted to the noise (it had been going on for a year, the only reason I fixed it was that I messed around with the BIOS RAM speeds and it crashed, had to open it up to set the configuration jumper). My computer has become nearly silent except for startup (I think it's a small fan[stock], the rating on my motherboard states 3400-3800RPM, which was it sounded like before I cleaned out the dust [I think it was like a 5-inch ball total] because I hadn't cleaned it out in 5 years. The temperatures dropped from 70C to 50C after I did so. I'm thinking about getting the Asus P5K Deluxe/WifiAP motherboard. For the CPU fan does it use 3 pin or 4 pin (because I think UltraKaze comes with an adapter)

 

[sailer]

Noctua = Expensive.

2 x Noctua = Quiet + Very Cool = VERY EXPENSIVE ($40 for fans...)

I was already in the expensive area, what with having a QX9650, so the extra dollars for the Noctua didn't seem bad. After my last build, which I found noisy, I decided to build as quiet a machine as I reasonably could and I accomplished that. Its so quiet that I can't hear it at all. When I first started it, it was so quiet that I had to look to make sure the fans were running. I really, really like the silence.

 

[Evilonigiri]

Geez Sailer, you spent what, $3000 on your system? Damn, I wish I was rich too.

Hmm...only one HD3870?