Silent PCI slot / system exhaust?

spicetek · Post by **spicetek** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:32 pm

Hi all,

I'm looking to install one of those exaust fans that blows air out the PCI slot hole. Only problem is they all seem to be either generic or random brand names with no indication of noise levels.

I don't need absolute silence, but something in the order of nexus 120mm loudness is what I want. Any ideas which fans fit this requirement?

Cheers

Tephras · Post by **Tephras** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:12 pm

Usually they are not very quiet. I have one running at 5V, since it's not pushing a lot of air even at 12V there is no audible air whooshing at 5V but I can hear bearing noise. These kind of fans often has a pretty low quality IMO so it's hard to find one without audible bearing noise.

Steve_Y · Post by **Steve_Y** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:44 pm

A low noise blower like that would be a very nice thing to have for graphics card cooling, or for HTPC systems in tiny cases that only have 60mm fans.

Unfortunately I think the ones that are available are unsuitable for silent computing. I tried an Akasa blower but I found that it was too noisy even at 5v and wouldn't start at much lower than 7v. It's a shame a decent fan manufacturer like Yate Loon haven't tried making them, but I imagine the market for this kind of fan is too specialised for them to bother.

nici · Post by **nici** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:55 pm

Antec makes(well puts their sticker on at least) these things.. Saw some at a computer store today, they were blue transparent plastic. Specs should be available at antecs site, i was in a hurry so i didnt stop and examine it any further

spolitta · Post by **spolitta** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:56 pm

bluefront had one branded and as he said it was pretty quiet, you can pm him. he also have the link he bought it from.

Bluefront · Post by **Bluefront** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:04 pm

http://www.svc.com/fsc-190-42.html Yate Loon slot fan. Not bad at 5v.

Weldingheart · Post by **Weldingheart** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:52 pm

nici wrote:Antec makes(well puts their sticker on at least) these things.. Saw some at a computer store today, they were blue transparent plastic. Specs should be available at antecs site, i was in a hurry so i didnt stop and examine it any further

Antec V-cool
it's not really quiet...

review

Tephras · Post by **Tephras** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:53 pm

That fan from Antec is actually an intake, it's their VGA cooling solution.

stupid · Post by **stupid** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:14 am

I have an Antec slot fan that came with my Aria. I tested it out and even at 5v it was too loud so I just stored it away somewhere. If I really need it I'll take a look at and see if the fan can be swapped out. Until then it's just collecting dust somewhere in my apartment.

MattHelm · Post by **MattHelm** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:29 pm

Bluefront wrote:http://www.svc.com/fsc-190-42.html Yate Loon slot fan. Not bad at 5v.

Is it quiet enought for in the living room? I added 3 256M RAM and a PVR-500, and now my whole system seems to be getting a bit too warm.

(Might help it I take the ReplayTV off of it!)

spicetek · Post by **spicetek** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:41 pm

ARGH this would be such an EASY product to make! Just fab a plastic vent that screws in a PCI slot like the current exhausts do, and let you mount your own fan on it.

In fact I might bloody well make my own in the workshop tommorow it sounds so piss easy !!

Seriously though, do manufacturers listen to large enough communities such as SPCR? This would be such a quick R&D job and a popular product - silently exaust all the warm dead zone air mulching around your AGP/PCIe/PCI slots and cards.

Everyone wants to do this. Err .. dont they?

stupid · Post by **stupid** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:36 am

spicetek wrote: Seriously though, do manufacturers listen to large enough communities such as SPCR?

No not really, slot coolers are for a niche market. If manufacturers were to listen to a relatively small community like SPCR it would drive up the cost. Probably to the point where sales would nosedive.