[Laibr]

Hi,
I want to order a case fan but i am not sure wich one.
Should i go for the 500 or 800 rpm?
Another thing i am asking myself, install it as a intake or a exhaust fan?
This will the only cas fan in combination with a kuzoti CPU cooler in my apex mi-008 case. Will i still hear the machine?

[eskro]

answered in my HTPC guide..
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=114896
install as intake COLD air.

[Orclas]

Well, the 500RPM will obviously be the quieter, but how do you perceiver your cooling needs? A "tad is enough" or "I need some good flow from time to time".

At any rate, voltage control - via Mobo (best) or some regulator - is a very good way to control fan noise, both from a pure noise perspective but also as in flexibility.

[numb7rs]

Get the faster one. You can easily slow it down by changing the voltage supplied to it, either though mobo controls or something like this.

[eskro]

+1 numb7rs

[Orclas]

Still depends. If cooling need is in the range of "I need to at all move the air", a downvolted 500RPM fan is pretty much bound to be quieter than a 800 RPM.

Perceivably so? That will also depend on a few things.

[Laibr]

Thanks for the replys. I ordered the faster one. Cant wait to install it together with the kozuti. A bit of a shame i need to install my 1.5 tb hdd (7200rpm). Lets hope it does not make too much noise.

[eskro]

keep us up2date!

[Laibr]

Having this installed for a little while, here are my experiences :
-the slipstream is absolutely quiet, a Nice surprise
-i also installed a kozuti CPU cooler, made a lot of noise. But after altering the speed level to 1 in the bios. This ones is quiet too. So the only thing that can be heard is the hdd. But when sitting 4 meter away from the htpc, you cant hear a thing.
So after installing the coolers the htpc stays cool and quiet
And lets me enjoy my tv shows :-)

[Orclas]

Cool and quiet, just the way it should be

So the only thing that can be heard is the hdd.

I don't know how large your case is, but if you're still in the tinkering mood there are cheap and good ways to greatly reduce HDD noise, discussed for example here.

[Laibr]

@orclas: I have seen that tread, but i have a apex -mi-008 with a dvd drive and a hdd and ssd. So i haven't got enough room left for this kind of mod.
Have been looking at it already

[Orclas]

You're obviously a very well informed member

[Balinus]

You might try to put some small rubber feet on your HDD and stick your HDD with tie-wrap... ?

I had some rubber already on a salvged external USB HDD and even at 1 feet, I can't hear it!