Dell Dimension 8300 - cooling help

DonkeyBoy · 17-Jul-2005, 19:12

Hello

I own a Dell Dimension 8300 - and it has a fan that is as loud as a quiet hairdryer.
[The fan is a NMB 3615KL-04W-B86].

I was wondering if anyone else has a 8300 and has successfully reduced the fan noise by finding a suitable replacement fan/ cooling system.

I have called up Dell - they are aware of the noise problme but do not stock an alternative (quieter) fan model. I have googled around a bit and found quite a few people who have the same problem but no one seems to recomend an alternative fan. So I though a would try a punt on here.

There are a couple of problems
a) Dell have only fitted a CPU fan (i.e. there is no case fan as well). The fan is mounted on the case and there is a duct which sits over the CPU heat sink (so the air is drawn through the heat sink).

b) The case does not have enough ventilation - if I run the computer with the case open, the fan speed drops - this to me suggests that the fan is having a hard time sucking in enough airflow. I have removed all extra blanks etc from the front and the back of my computer to try and improve this.

c) It is a mini tower case and there is not alot of room between the CPU heatsink and the power supply. I was looking at some of the Zalman CPU cooler products but I am not sure that many of them would physically fit in because of the PSU.

d) I bought a Dell and as an added irritation if I fit a "non-dell" fan I will get some "Prevvious fan failure" warning from the BIOS on boot up. This is not such as issue to me if it means a quieter life.

e) I have tried finding the specs of the fan from the manufacturer. The nearest I got was here http://www.newark.com/product-detail...121/68228.html and here http://www.nmbtc.com/products/fans/dc3615kl.html. These show specs for fans from the same family but not the exact fan. What I did note was that a) the fans were the noisy buggers (46.5 dBa) and b) they did seem to have a large air flow rating (76.2 CFM). So if I replace this noisy fan with a single albeit quieter fan, I would need one that had quite a bit of blow. I tried to find an email address to write to UMB for info about my fan but could not find one.

If anyone has fitted a new and better heat sink/cooler to one of these machine I would like to hear from you. [I think a better CPU cooler (with built in fan) and a case fan might be the better option but what do you think].

Unsurprisingly I am a complete noob when it comes to the inside of a computer (I don't even know if there will be a space power connector to run a CPU & case fan) so be gentle and please don't just flame me for buying a Dell.

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.

TheBuZZard · 18-Jul-2005, 09:51

Sorry we only have GX series at work. No idea about the insides of one of those.

Is the space limited above the CPU or around it or both?
If its above a Zalman Super flower is good.
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=91815

If its around then something fancy like a heatpipe cooler thats tall but not wide.

If its both then something more basic would be good such as
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=63317

burundi · 18-Jul-2005, 11:42

What about leaving the DELL fan alone and adding another quiet fan to expel more air, this may result in the DELL fan not needing to run as fast and so being quieter.

DonkeyBoy · 18-Jul-2005, 13:14

Thanks for the replies

The space is only limited on one side of the CPU (there is no prblem with height). But the proximity of the PSU to the CPU means (I think) that the cool looking Zalman flower type coolers will not fit (other 8300 owners have testified to this). I will get out my tape measure tonight and double check.

I like the look and price of that little Akasa cooler though.

Burundi: Unfortunately there is not enough room to fit an extra case fan as well as the existing fan (unless a get my drill + jigsaw out and make a new hole for ventilation).

Whilst on eBuyer I got sidetracked and started looking at cases. It got me to thinking that maybe I should sack off the poorly deigned dell case and just stick all the bits into a new (bigger) case..... Hmmm so many choices I am left dithering.

Everyone seemed very impressed with this (especially the value for money)
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=59321
but I am put off by one guy's reference to noisey fans (but at least they are nice and easy to replace).

I think I will try adding a CPU cooler & keeping the existing fan but removing the shroud and if it is still noisy, get a quieter case fan (that way I ensure that the CPU gets sufficient cooling).

burundi · 18-Jul-2005, 13:17

DELL Motherboards are not standard sizes, you may experience problems fitting it into a standard ATX case.

DonkeyBoy · 18-Jul-2005, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by burundi

DELL Motherboards are not standard sizes, you may experience problems fitting it into a standard ATX case.

Gahhh. Now I know why people slate Dell.

OK you may flame me for buying one.

I better double check whether my mobo is a standard ATX then :/

Oh well you live and learn.

burundi · 18-Jul-2005, 13:36

They are great for business users and non technical home users, just not so good if you like getting your hands dirty.

DonkeyBoy · 18-Jul-2005, 14:11

Non technical home user : that's me!

TheBuZZard · 18-Jul-2005, 15:35

Get you hands out from inside then

[n00b]Zippy · 18-Jul-2005, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonkeyBoy

Non technical home user : that's me!

You worked at our firm for five years as a programmer! How did we not spot that???

DonkeyBoy · 23-Jul-2005, 23:07

Yes that's right zip - this is a hardware problem and completely not my field

Well, I just fitted a new heat sink - had a bit of ball ache getting the Dell's own heatsink retention module off and fitting a standard one but all has gone well (or so it seems).

Oh - also managed to bend some pins on the CPU (

OMG FFS WACU time) but luckily managed to straighten them out enough to get the CPU back in. PHEW.

Well I am off to play CS - I hope I have fitted the new heat sink OK or else that might just fry the CPU :/. Fingers crossed.

furax · 11-Aug-2005, 22:55

donkey boy, can you please tell me what kind of heatsink you've used ?
has the noise significantly been reduced ?
thanks
cheers /furax

17-Jul-2005, 19:12	#1
DonkeyBoy postaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,183	Dell Dimension 8300 - cooling help Hello I own a Dell Dimension 8300 - and it has a fan that is as loud as a quiet hairdryer. [The fan is a NMB 3615KL-04W-B86]. I was wondering if anyone else has a 8300 and has successfully reduced the fan noise by finding a suitable replacement fan/ cooling system. I have called up Dell - they are aware of the noise problme but do not stock an alternative (quieter) fan model. I have googled around a bit and found quite a few people who have the same problem but no one seems to recomend an alternative fan. So I though a would try a punt on here. There are a couple of problems a) Dell have only fitted a CPU fan (i.e. there is no case fan as well). The fan is mounted on the case and there is a duct which sits over the CPU heat sink (so the air is drawn through the heat sink). b) The case does not have enough ventilation - if I run the computer with the case open, the fan speed drops - this to me suggests that the fan is having a hard time sucking in enough airflow. I have removed all extra blanks etc from the front and the back of my computer to try and improve this. c) It is a mini tower case and there is not alot of room between the CPU heatsink and the power supply. I was looking at some of the Zalman CPU cooler products but I am not sure that many of them would physically fit in because of the PSU. d) I bought a Dell and as an added irritation if I fit a "non-dell" fan I will get some "Prevvious fan failure" warning from the BIOS on boot up. This is not such as issue to me if it means a quieter life. e) I have tried finding the specs of the fan from the manufacturer. The nearest I got was here http://www.newark.com/product-detail...121/68228.html and here http://www.nmbtc.com/products/fans/dc3615kl.html. These show specs for fans from the same family but not the exact fan. What I did note was that a) the fans were the noisy buggers (46.5 dBa) and b) they did seem to have a large air flow rating (76.2 CFM). So if I replace this noisy fan with a single albeit quieter fan, I would need one that had quite a bit of blow. I tried to find an email address to write to UMB for info about my fan but could not find one. If anyone has fitted a new and better heat sink/cooler to one of these machine I would like to hear from you. [I think a better CPU cooler (with built in fan) and a case fan might be the better option but what do you think]. Unsurprisingly I am a complete noob when it comes to the inside of a computer (I don't even know if there will be a space power connector to run a CPU & case fan) so be gentle and please don't just flame me for buying a Dell. Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Marketer to coder: "You start coding. I'll go find out what they want."

18-Jul-2005, 09:51	#2
TheBuZZard This custom title is too l Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rotherham Posts: 11,353	Sorry we only have GX series at work. No idea about the insides of one of those. Is the space limited above the CPU or around it or both? If its above a Zalman Super flower is good. http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=91815 If its around then something fancy like a heatpipe cooler thats tall but not wide. If its both then something more basic would be good such as http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=63317 Last edited by TheBuZZard; 18-Jul-2005 at 09:55.

18-Jul-2005, 11:42	#3
burundi WARNING: May contain nuts Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Prestonia Posts: 7,852	What about leaving the DELL fan alone and adding another quiet fan to expel more air, this may result in the DELL fan not needing to run as fast and so being quieter. __________________ "I came here to drink milk and kick ass. And I've just finished my milk!" Moss, the IT Crowd. Last edited by burundi; 18-Jul-2005 at 12:25.

18-Jul-2005, 13:14	#4
DonkeyBoy postaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,183	Thanks for the replies The space is only limited on one side of the CPU (there is no prblem with height). But the proximity of the PSU to the CPU means (I think) that the cool looking Zalman flower type coolers will not fit (other 8300 owners have testified to this). I will get out my tape measure tonight and double check. I like the look and price of that little Akasa cooler though. Burundi: Unfortunately there is not enough room to fit an extra case fan as well as the existing fan (unless a get my drill + jigsaw out and make a new hole for ventilation). Whilst on eBuyer I got sidetracked and started looking at cases. It got me to thinking that maybe I should sack off the poorly deigned dell case and just stick all the bits into a new (bigger) case..... Hmmm so many choices I am left dithering. Everyone seemed very impressed with this (especially the value for money) http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=59321 but I am put off by one guy's reference to noisey fans (but at least they are nice and easy to replace). I think I will try adding a CPU cooler & keeping the existing fan but removing the shroud and if it is still noisy, get a quieter case fan (that way I ensure that the CPU gets sufficient cooling). __________________ Marketer to coder: "You start coding. I'll go find out what they want." Last edited by DonkeyBoy; 18-Jul-2005 at 13:18.

18-Jul-2005, 13:17	#5
burundi WARNING: May contain nuts Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Prestonia Posts: 7,852	DELL Motherboards are not standard sizes, you may experience problems fitting it into a standard ATX case. __________________ "I came here to drink milk and kick ass. And I've just finished my milk!" Moss, the IT Crowd.

18-Jul-2005, 13:36	#7
burundi WARNING: May contain nuts Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Prestonia Posts: 7,852	They are great for business users and non technical home users, just not so good if you like getting your hands dirty. __________________ "I came here to drink milk and kick ass. And I've just finished my milk!" Moss, the IT Crowd.

18-Jul-2005, 14:11	#8
DonkeyBoy postaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,183	Non technical home user : that's me! __________________ Marketer to coder: "You start coding. I'll go find out what they want."

18-Jul-2005, 15:35	#9
TheBuZZard This custom title is too l Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rotherham Posts: 11,353	Get you hands out from inside then

23-Jul-2005, 23:07	#11
DonkeyBoy postaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,183	Yes that's right zip - this is a hardware problem and completely not my field Well, I just fitted a new heat sink - had a bit of ball ache getting the Dell's own heatsink retention module off and fitting a standard one but all has gone well (or so it seems). Oh - also managed to bend some pins on the CPU ( OMG FFS WACU time) but luckily managed to straighten them out enough to get the CPU back in. PHEW. Well I am off to play CS - I hope I have fitted the new heat sink OK or else that might just fry the CPU :/. Fingers crossed. __________________ Marketer to coder: "You start coding. I'll go find out what they want." Last edited by DonkeyBoy; 24-Jul-2005 at 00:19.

11-Aug-2005, 22:55	#12
furax flame fodder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1	same noise issue here.. donkey boy, can you please tell me what kind of heatsink you've used ? has the noise significantly been reduced ? thanks cheers /furax