Please help my NOISY new AMD 4200X2

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:37 pm

I just "upgraded" my HTPC from an Athlon XP 2600+ to a 4200 X2 and the system is now very loud. It seems like a lot of the noise comes from my Tagan power supply. I guess with the XP 2600 it was able to run at a lower fan speed but with the X2 it can't.

Any tips on how to quiet things down? I don't even mind losing some performance, like lowering the frequency, etc.

Anything to make my HTPC quieter. Unfortunately I live in Asia where returning the product is not much of an option...

Thanks all.

One · Post by **One** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:48 pm

Have you tried with Cool'n'Quiet enabled?
You can also manually try lowering the Vcore and multiplier. This makes the CPU use less power from the PSU.

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:22 am

Hi One,

I enabled Cool'n'Quiet in the BIOS. I'm not sure if that is all that is required.

Any suggestions on how much to lower the vcore and multiplier?

Thanks...

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:24 am

Will try out the suggestions here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article69-page1.html

One · Post by **One** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:26 am

You also need to install the Cool'n'Quiet driver for your motherboard if you haven't already done so.
To find out if it's working, look in System Properties to see if the GHz number is lower.

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:17 am

I installed the MSI utilities that came with my motherboard, DigiCell and Core Center and now it is a lot quieter.

However, I'm still not sure if Cool'n'Quiet is actually working because under System Properties it never says anything other than 2.21 GHz.

Does that mean I don't have Cool'n'Quiet working?

Thanks

Derek Baker · Post by **Derek Baker** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:47 am

CoreCenter displays the clock speed.

Derek

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:58 am

There's something strange about Core Center on my PC.

It's at 2211 MHz (200 MHz x 11) 95% of the time, even when the computer is idle.

Then sometimes it jumps to 3698 MHz (200 x 18.5) for a second and once in a long while drops to 724 MHz (206 x 3.5) for a second.

What the heck is going on?

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:37 am

Ah, setting "Minimal Power Management" seems to have fixed it. But the fan is still running at full speed it seems (not any quieter, whereas if I manually set it I can make it very quiet).

Trying to figure out why the fan is still at full speed now...

Derek Baker · Post by **Derek Baker** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:44 am

Do you have CoreCenter set to Cool 'n Quiet mode?

Click the word CoreCenter.

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:25 am

Hi Derek,

Yes my PC is now cool and quiet.

Thanks guys!!

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:16 pm

When my PC is idle it stays at 1005 MHz (200 x 5.0).

Is it possible to make it even slower or more aggressive in saving power?

dhanson865 · Post by **dhanson865** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:12 am

18000rpm wrote:When my PC is idle it stays at 1005 MHz (200 x 5.0).

Is it possible to make it even slower or more aggressive in saving power?

Nope, thats the minimum on the CPU. You really won't gain much if anything by trying to force a lower voltage than what cool&quiet is doing for you already.

Your next choices on noise are to replace the PSU with a Seasonic S12, lower noise case fans, and possibly the Hard drive(s).

18000rpm · Post by **18000rpm** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:32 pm

Thanks for the info dhanson.

I'm reasonably satisfied with the sound level now. I have a Tagan PSU which has an acceptable noise volume.

Earlier I noticed Core Center reporting 724 MHz that's why I thought it could go lower. I guess 1005 MHz isn't too bad...