If your case is very cool, then do you need to worry about the CPU fan?

[Owltoid]

I'm configuring my new computer and questioning every dollar I'm spending :)

Currently I'm looking at this case:
http://www.azzausa.com/Product-Case-Solano1000.asp

It comes with two 230mm fans, two 140mm fans, and one 120mm fan. The reviews I've seen says the case moves air well and keeps thing cool.

My question is do I need to upgrade my CPU fan from a standard Intel LGA1366 Certified CPU Fan & Heatsink to something like the Thermaltake Big Typhoon VX Gaming CPU Cooling fan for $45?

[Cruelty]

You would only need to worry if you are planning on overclocking your CPU!!

[rahven32]

If your not planning on OC'n the stock fan is fine. Even with some minor OC the stock would still be ok. Would obviously have to watch temps at first just to be safe but you should do that on a new system anyway imo.

[Owltoid]

Great, thanks for the input! I'm guessing the default fan is pretty noisy. Can anyone confirm that assumption?

[moosejaw]

Full speed most of the fans are noisy. If you enable the bios fan control for the cpu fan you should do ok with noise level on the stock intel fan. You will hear the fan spinning up and down as you load the cpu but overall you will have less fan noise.

You can also plug in your case fans to the motherboard (if they are 3 pin) and let the bios control them, it will be based on MB temp instead of cpu temp. This will really cut down on noise level.

[warwizard]

A lot of fan noise is from vibrations, if you put a small piece of rubber between the fan and the case before you screw them in this can really help with the sound level!

[Normak]

idk

maybe im just old shool or overly cautious but id at least chuck on a large heat sink

nothing worst than having your cpu fry or your pc constantly going into "omg omg were all going to die" mode and just powering down evertime it thinks somethings wrong cause there is no fan

[Bovidae]

idk

maybe im just old shool or overly cautious but id at least chuck on a large heat sink

nothing worst than having your cpu fry or your pc constantly going into "omg omg were all going to die" mode and just powering down evertime it thinks somethings wrong cause there is no fanQFE

I'm not going to pinch $60 at the risk of a vital (and expensive) of a component as a CPU. Can you do it? Sure. But you will not find an intel cooler in ANY machine I have ever built.

[rahven32]

Worse case you watch the temps and see if it's hot. If it runs hotter than you like then you can just get a heat sink. A lot of times getting a after market heat sink is just over kill. Especially if you don't OC. Since he's building a new system now I'm guessing he's building a I7 which isnt a very hot chip in the first place.

[Normak]

i'm thinking new pc multicores sitting on top each other...doesnt disapate heat very well.

heat sink, even a small one will make a huge diference

[Ozbert]

The standard Intel coolers with the Core 2 and Core i7 CPU's are perfectly adequate if you don't intend to overclock. They're also pretty quiet too.

Even with some modest overclocking, they're probably fine.

Don't be taken in by people telling you that you absolutely MUST have a $50+ third party cooler even when not overclocking.

However, you can not go without a heatsink and fan altogether.