7700 AlCu driving me maaaaaad

zalmanhater · Post by **zalmanhater** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:12 pm

I'm sorry to start off in this forum with a complaint, but damn! 7700 is nowhere near silent and/or vibration-free. Tried everything (except for that 2 X-shaped fan mount with rubber in between and replacing the fan), and it just keeps getting noisier and noisier.
Even more diappointing is the fact that the PSU no-name sleeve-bearing fan (12cm) makes absolutely NO noise....you have get your ear *really* close to hear air whooshing. Same goes for the another no-name 92mm fan at the front: operating at 7V and is quieter than mouse's fart.
So, I decided to write to 'respected gentlemen' at zalman. Has anyone got any experiences with their user support? Do they behave like a company they want to be, and reply to complaints? Or they just leave it, anfd hope it will sink into oblivion?
I think they deserve a nice a$$-whooping (boycotting their products).

I'm so pi$$ed right now...and all I wanted is a quiet PC. Right now I have a refrigerator under my desk...

As for modding this beast: I'm not too keen on idea of spending 45 euros on top-of-the-notch product, and then another 20-30 euros on fans and stuff to get it to work as it should have from the beginning.

Sorry for bothering you all...I just had to get this off my chest.

Thx

vapb400 · Post by **vapb400** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:47 pm

i am unimpressed with mine as well.

I didnt complain, but they got back to me quickly when i emailed them about a broken fan blade.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:57 pm

Just about everyone thinks that running a Zalman cooler at 12V is too noisy, which is probably why they come with a Fanmate included, or in the case of the VF700 (video cooler) it comes with a 5V splitter. You could replace the fan with one of your choosing, although it would require cutting the frame of the fan to mount it. Buying your own fan may seem expensive, but consider that Thermalright heatsinks don't come with any fan included, and they are usually more expensive than a Zalman to begin with.

Longbow · Post by **Longbow** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:15 pm

swap the fan, U'll love it

the heatsink of zalman 7700 is a good design, just let down by the fan

even with additional purchase of a Nexus real silent 120mm fan, total cost still cheaper than Thermalright XP-120 heatsink alone.

Baker · Post by **Baker** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:07 pm

I hear ya.

honestly, even at 5v the fan was a bit too loud for my system.

I run the fan at < 5v and it's pretty darn good. And the temps are still great, never topping 50C even when gaming for a really long time (a64 3000+ winchester, oc'd to 2.3 GHz).

RonG · Post by **RonG** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:22 pm

Lose the fan and duct it to the rear exhaust fan.

RonG · Post by **RonG** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:25 pm

Sorry, I just noticed that you didn't mention a rear exhaust fan.

zalmanhater · Post by **zalmanhater** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:55 pm

It never occured to me and sounds like a really good idea. I have a64 3000, stock speeds (I prefer quiet over 5% more speed), so will this setup provide enough cooling? I' d hate to lose system stability and/or fry the CPU.

BTW which one of these would you recommend (for fan swap):

- BLACKNOISE Noiseb. UltraSilent SX2 120mm
- PAPST 4412F/2GLL 120mm (18dB)
- VANTEC CA-TF12025 120mm

Thanks again.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:03 pm

zalmanhater wrote:BTW which one of these would you recommend (for fan swap):

- BLACKNOISE Noiseb. UltraSilent SX2 120mm
- PAPST 4412F/2GLL 120mm (18dB)
- VANTEC CA-TF12025 120mm

I think most people would try the Nexus 120mm.

pony-tail · Post by **pony-tail** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:10 pm

I bought a 7000 alcu and was never happy with it either - Quiet enough at 5v but needs full speed to adequately cool a 3.2 gig Northwood . So I have not even considered a 7700 (more of the same only bigger)

thrakath · Post by **thrakath** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:33 pm

Brought 7700 AlCu yesterday, and i am Very disapointed, noise is very audible even on lowest rpm and also some vibrations, stay away from it. I will return mine today and will try something different.

Coolin · Post by **Coolin** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:37 am

I'm similarly disappointed with my 7000B AlCu.

I tried undervolting beyond 5V by attaching it to the 5V fan connector on the Seasonic S12 and then using a fanmate, but it's still not quiet. The RPMs aren't much slower either, but I guess I was expecting too much of a difference. It's still the loudest part of my system.

[EDIT] Just did a little experimenting, the Zalman itself at 3V is okay. It was actually the 12V Nexus case fan that was causing problems. I gotta check that out.

burcakb · Post by **burcakb** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:02 am

zalmanhater wrote:It never occured to me and sounds like a really good idea. I have a64 3000, stock speeds (I prefer quiet over 5% more speed), so will this setup provide enough cooling? I' d hate to lose system stability and/or fry the CPU.

BTW which one of these would you recommend (for fan swap):

- BLACKNOISE Noiseb. UltraSilent SX2 120mm
- PAPST 4412F/2GLL 120mm (18dB)
- VANTEC CA-TF12025 120mm

Thanks again.

NONE

joke aside, stay away from the noiseblocker or the vantec. They're relatively quiet at full 12V but undervolted they have an EXTREMELY annoying click that gets louder as the volt goes down.

I have no idea about the Papst.

Try a Yate Loon. D12SL pr D12SM should both be good. They both go down below 5V. The SM one should be easier to find.

zalmanhater · Post by **zalmanhater** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:10 am

Thanks for the tips y'all. However, I've spent too much money on my rig, so I'll just go for the cheapest (i.e. no-name) silent 120mm fan. The only problem is that this fan is equipped with standard sleeve-type bearing. In this forum I've noticed people advise against using this type of fans on heatsinks, as bearing lubricant tends to dry or something, which then consequently blocks the fan. Does this theory really hold the water? And even if it does, I'll set up a little RPM monitor to warn me when the revs start dropping.
But before I do anything, I'll take this beast back to shop to replace it for a good one. After all, it's still under warranty, so why bother.

Shaft0rz · Post by **Shaft0rz** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:51 am

I've replaced the fan on my 7700alcu with a nexus 120, and have great results (500RPM, inaudible, and 47C under extended load). Even stock though, the zalman fan at 5v isn't that far off the 3 nexus 120mm fans I own. If you're getting that much noise, I'd check that it's tight enough on the cpu, or look for some other cause. Something seems fishy about refridgerator levels of noise, even from a zalman fan.

StarfishChris · Post by **StarfishChris** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:55 am

Most of the fans SPCR uses are anything but ball bearing (i.e. sleeve bearing, hydrowave etc.) as these tend to be quieter over their lifetime. Sleeve bearing fans will still last for quite some time, and I think lifespan increases if you undervolt it - less stress? - or oil the bearings occasionally. For quiet purposes you'd need to replace ball bearing fans more often simply because they get more noisy over time...

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:57 am

It's been my understanding that sleeve bearing fans can make noise over time too. In fact, once they're making a lot of noise, it should signal to you that they're nearing the end of their life.

I could be very wrong on this though. Everytime, I've had a fan that became noisy, I usually just swapped it out.

zalmanhater · Post by **zalmanhater** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:17 am

OK,. I'll stick to sleeve bearing fans. I don't mind taking it apart every now and then to oil it...and use the opportunity to do some in-case dust cleaning.
As for this beast I have: I'm sure it sits properly on top of the CPU, otherwise the system would behave eratically due to insufficient CPU cooling. It is really beyond insane: when I put my hand on mobo rear I/O plate, I can feel rather strong vibrations; needles to say that the case resonation effect just amplifies this. This is very disappointing for a product that's just over a month old.
One more thing: last night I removed the HSF and on reinstallation I noticed that the retention clip gives a lot less resistence - considerably less force needed to be applied to tighten the screws than when I first installed it.
All in all, I'm not that impressed with 7700 (apart from the heatsink, which is greatly designed and very well thought).

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:15 am

You are unlikely to find a really quiet fan installed on any HSF from any manufacturer. The product liability would be too great if the chip overheated and a class action lawsuit was filed.

The types of people who buy aftermarket HSFs include everyone from under-clockers to over-clockers, so the installed fans have to be capable of handling the cooling needs for all of them. That is probably the main reason that Thermalright's do not even come with fans installed, and most people on this forum run a much slower fan than recommended on the Thermalright web page.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:17 am

zalmanhater wrote:OK,. I'll stick to sleeve bearing fans. I don't mind taking it apart every now and then to oil it...and use the opportunity to do some in-case dust cleaning.

I don't think I have ever heard of anyone oiling a sleeve bearing fan. Is that possible or advisable?

Shaft0rz · Post by **Shaft0rz** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:33 am

It sounds almost like the fan isn't properly balanced or something, like one of the fins weighs more than the others. Weird...

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:04 am

m0002a wrote:
zalmanhater wrote:OK,. I'll stick to sleeve bearing fans. I don't mind taking it apart every now and then to oil it...and use the opportunity to do some in-case dust cleaning.
I don't think I have ever heard of anyone oiling a sleeve bearing fan. Is that possible or advisable?

http://dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm
Personally, I've had a hard time finding the bearings on my personal favorite, the Panaflo.

StarfishChris · Post by **StarfishChris** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:16 am

Yes, sleeve bearing fans will make noise too, but it's a better warning sign

I think there is a website referenced in the forums. Try a search.

Edit: found. Save your oil for any ball bearing fans you find.

andyb · Post by **andyb** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:36 am

I have never been a Zalman fan (no pune intended).

I considered buying one, but settled for an £8 Arctic Cooling Silencer 64 Ultra TC, and have been very impressed with performance and noise.

I have just ordered it's even bigger brother the Freezer 64, and I plan to duct it to my 120mm case fantherefore taking my system down to 3 fans.

Hopefully it will arrive in the middle of the week, and I will let all of you dissapointed Zalman customers how I get on at 12v, 5v and after ducting.

BTW my new HS/Fan is costing me £15.

Andy

RonG · Post by **RonG** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:45 am

When I first ducted my zalman 7700 aclu to the back I used a 120vac 120mm sleevebearing fan running at half speed(surplus at Princess Auto), and kept my temps in the low thirties at idle, and low to mid 40s at load.
Now I have a 140mm 24vdv papst 6424 at 960 rpm (also from Princess Auto) at the back, and my temps dropped about 2 degrees.
To make the duct I used two margarine tubs for the ends and a section of 6" dryer duct. The hardest part was trying to keep the one end over the heatsink.

RonG · Post by **RonG** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:47 am

I also hung the exhaust fan outside the case - there would have been no room for the 140 mm inside, and the 120mm was just too thick for the duct to fit.

holeman · Post by **holeman** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:42 pm

I had the same disappointment with the Zalman 7700CU. I am baffled how the reviewers rave about some of these things, saying they are amazingly silent, only to find they are loud as can be. It is as if they are ads for the product sometimes. (Sorry I do not recall what review(s) I read. But i forked out $50 to get it and it is not quiet. For that matter, nor were the SilenX fans I bought that claimed to be 14db.

nici · Post by **nici** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:23 am

If you read the SPCR review on the 7700 you will notice its not ranked that high from a noise point of view but it cools well. And with a fan-swap it really is an excellent cooler... However, if i was to get a heatsink now, i would go for the AC Freezer 64, its half the price and more than anough for a winchester anyway..

Oxboy555 · Post by **Oxboy555** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:14 am

I also bought into the hype and recently purchases a 7700alcu. Cranked low is 'tolerable.' Thing cranked up all the way is a veritable 747.

Is there a success story anywhere for replacing the Zalman fan with a Nexus and having the motherboard in a vertical position?

nici · Post by **nici** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:30 am

The SPCR review covers that as well, but anyway here´s a picture of my modded 7700. I used epoxy to secure the fan, other have used strong double sided tape.

7700 AlCu driving me maaaaaad

7700 AlCu driving me maaaaaad

Ducting to rear fan

Re: Ducting to rear fan

Re: Ducting to rear fan

Zalman 7700