Unable to get Quiet n Cool to work

[arnabbiswas]

This is not the right forum for this post, but I figured that since this forum is so active, someone might have run into this situation and may have a solution.

My gbpvr htpc is running extremely hot n noisy and I was trying to figure out ways to cool it. I think the culprit is my cpu and besides buying a better HSF, AMD's quiet and cool technology sounded like a good fit. But I was unable to get it to work.

My System specs:

Mobo: MSI K8NGM2-FID Bios version 3.5
CPU : AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice

I downloaded the Quiet n Cool drivers from MSI's global site to ensure that they were compatible with my motherboard:

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/do...702&kind=1

I enabled quiet n cool on my BIOS, installed the driver and changed my power scheme to Minimal Power Management.

Yet when I looked at my System information my CPU speed showed up at 1.8 Ghz, instead of the 800 Mhz that I was expecting.

Thus Quiet n Cool did not work and my system still runs Loud n Noisy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated since I am trying to build a silent HTPC and my PC is far from silent. Kind of spoils the fun of gbpvr which is such a great tool.

[dgeezer]

After reading your post I tried this also. I downloaded drivers from AMD, since I use an Emachines tower for my GBpvr rig. I don't even know what the manufacturer of the motherboard is for this pc. I also downloaded the dashboard program from AMD.

After installing the drivers and switching to minimal power usage setting, the dashboard does show a decrease in power consumption, however, my fans still run at full speed - loud as ever.:confused: If this really does significantly reduce power consumption and load on the cpu etc. I might feel a little better about leaving this machine running 24/7.

I guess the real answer would be to change the cpu and case fans, but, I am a little daunted by that job. I never even cracked open a computer case except to blow out the dust before I started down the pvr road about 2 years ago.

[McBainUK]

Yet when I looked at my System information my CPU speed showed up at 1.8 Ghz, instead of the 800 Mhz that I was expecting.

Why was you expecting this? I'n not sure the System Info screen looks properley at the CPU speed, try using MBM5 or similar to get a more accurate reading.

Quietening a PC is a fun :p project to do, my GBPVR box (see sig below) is unauidible over an arm's length away. Took some time, about £50 and LOTS of research. I can't recomend this site more, was a great help. quietpc.com was a good source of help/components too.

[McBainUK]

Oh and don't forget the Cool and Quiet only effects your CPU fan. You may have one or more fans on your motherboard, graphics card, power supply and some on your case. A system is only as quiet as its loudest component (a silentpcreview.com phrase )

[rowle1jt]

First of all, I have the same MSI board, and cool 'n' quiet rocks! I didn't use the MSI driver, I went straight to the AMD site and downloaded them.

AMD Athlon™ 64/FX Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64/FX processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions.

AMD Cool 'n' Quiet Driver Link

My board runs about 30*C to 40*C depending on idle or load. I also don't use the stock heat sink, I use a Zalman Aluminum/Copper "flower" design. System Properties will always show the normal CPU speed, at least mine always shows 2.0GHz (I have a 3200+) and it doesn't show that it has slowed. I could double check it with AMD Clock but I really am not that worried about. The biggest noise culprit is the stock AMD HSF. It will sound like a jet liner on take off even once you can get it turned down. If you can swing the purchase, I would certainly look to upgrading the cpu HSF.

Dgeezer:
Not all boards are capable of controlling fan speed, some boards will run them 100% all the time. You may need to look into a manual speed controller for your fans. I would also look into replacing the HSF on your system, it will aid in cooling the processor as well as quiet the system down.

Here is a HSF that would work very well for both of you and it is a very good price. Its a little big, so make sure you have room for it before you order it. I have used it in a few builds and it is a very nice, efficient and QUEIT cooling solution. With Cool 'n' Quiet enabled the fan spins very slowly as the heat pipes dissipate the majority of the heat, making it run SILENTLY! Wish I had the room in my case for one, but the Antec case that I use won't allow something that tall.

Arctic Cooling Freezer PRO 64

[dgeezer]

Thanks, I'll look at my case tonight. Is it a fairly simple swap? Assuming of course that the new HSF will fit. I am fairly sure that the HSF is my loudest component right now.

[Ted the Penguin]

speedfan, monitors tempratures (of S.M.A.R.T. HDDs too) and will also control fan speed if your motherboard supports it
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

[rowle1jt]

if your motherboard supports it

I have seen very few OEM boards that worked with Speedfan, although it should still give you temps though.

Don't know if the K8NGM2 supports... never tried.

[mwj]

Thanks, I'll look at my case tonight. Is it a fairly simple swap? Assuming of course that the new HSF will fit. I am fairly sure that the HSF is my loudest component right now.

Before you spend your money on a new CPU fan, have a go at speedfan. I have a stock HSF on an Athlon X2 4200+ and using speedfan to run it at 40% (about 1000 rpm) it is quieter than my very quiet (on low) Antec 120mm case fan. My CPU never heats up doing PVR stuff (< 40C), so the CPU fan is as good as silent in that use.

OTOH, doing CPU intensive stuff the CPU fan does sound a bit like a jet engine, but I can live with that if I'm not watching TV.

[arnabbiswas]

Why was you expecting this? I'n not sure the System Info screen looks properley at the CPU speed, try using MBM5 or similar to get a more accurate reading.

I was expecting this because the AMD QnC manual states this (scroll all the way to the bottom of the pdf):

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_...Guide3.pdf

However, I suspected something was not right and went ahead and installed RMCLOCK available at:
http://cpu.rightmark.org/products/rmclock.shtml
This utility did correctly show that my cpu core clock was running at approx 1Ghz and throttled by 1Ghz. So I beleive that quiet n cool is running after all.

However, CnQ results in neither a cool nor quiet system, at least in my case. The reduced power consumption is a gain, but my main objective was to reduce the noise. My CPU idle temp is still ~ 42 C and my stock cpu fan runs between 6000 to 7000 rpm (causing all the noise).

The main culprit though in my case is the placement of my htpc. I have it stacked in an entertainment center with the fen vents (at the top and back) nearly blocked. This lack of airflow makes a BIG difference because when I take the htpc out of the entertainment center my cpu averages 32 C and fan spins at 3000 rpm, making the system lot less noisy.

However, since this is after all an entertainment pc, I would really like to keep in in the entertainment center. And as far as possible, I would also like to avoid cutting air vents in this furniture for aesthetic reasons. And yet another challenge is that I have the following case:

http://www.nmediapc.com/product1.htm

and most HSFs may not even fit this case. I really liked the scythe Ninja since it was fanless and this completely silent, but it would be too tall for my case. I will do some more research to see which other HSF might fit my case. I am considering :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835118223
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6835109122
and I will try to find out which one fits.

But it would greatly help if I can get further ideas of how I could reduce noise given my constraints of limited airflow and a smallish case. Is there anything else I could do besides get a better HSF? I am fairly certain that the culprit here is only the CPU HSF. My case fan and hard disk are not that audible.