Comp Specs What You Think?

The fan attaches via metal clips that slide into little holes on the sides of the outer fins of the heatsink as can be seen on my crappy template webpage that I had to use since freeservers don't support external image references

I'm currently using the ThermalTake SmartFan II which can be used with a temperature sensor which allows it to adjust speed depending on the temperature of the CPU core (workload dependant) or use the pot to adjust the speed manually. Quite a nice 80mm fan with good CFM for its speeds... Although with the 900-U you could opt for a 92mm fan which means you can have even more CFM for less RPM, which means quieter and cooler

What about 120mm lol? My friend did this, I think he was using a volcano too, dunno.

You can't use a 120mm fan on the SLK-900. The largest size that you can use (without some NICE modding) is a 92mm. I am building another system in a few months and I love the SLK-900. I have it in my current system that I built a few months ago with an 80mm fan. In the new system I am going to use a 92mm fan.

And yes, they attach by fan clips. The SLK-900 can also be used in Pentium systems not just AMD. The box supplies clips for both Pentium and AMD's.

Take a look at Thermalright's website for more information on the SLK-900.
http://www.thermalright.com/slk900.html

For the high speed system you are using the SLK-900 would work great. It is the best performing heatsink available right now.

Note that one problem you may come upon is if you want to install a fangrill on the fan that is attached to the SLK-900. This can be a pain to do. I managed to get a fan grill installed on my 80mm fan and finally get it clipped onto the heatsink. It took a lot of work though. Also be very careful when installing this heatsink.

You HAVE to install this heatsink (on AMD) systems by screws into the motherboard. With P4 systems you can use the fan mount on the motherboards, I think. You MUST be very careful when installing this heatsink or you can very easily crack your processor. Do not apply much pressure to the processor when your tightening the screws. Turn with minimal force and when your are unable to turn it anymore with that small amount of force it may be a good idea to stop right then. Also, make sure you DO use the pads on the processor that are included with the heatsink even though your processor already has the circular pads on it, they are not usually the right height for the SLK-900.
I got by with not doing it but I am a bit more experienced so trust me, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Oh and make sure you use thermal paste. Artic Silver III would be a good idea.

Acid, about that pads. I just got a SLK900 today, and it came with a pad. Where do I put the pad during installation? Surely not on the core of the cpu, but where else would it go??

You mean the small circular pads? Your right. They dont go on the core but they fit on top of the processor.

(crappy example but here goes)

---o--|||||--o----

say the flat area is the processore, the ||||| is the core. The pads go around the core to provide padding for the heatsink. I think mostly so that the pressure applied to the core by the heatsink is sort of "distributed" around the processor, that way your not applying ALL the pressure to the core. You want enough so that the heatsink is firm against the core but you dont want it so tight against it that you risk cracking the processor. The pads take up some of that pressure.

I think your processor should already have some of these pads on it when you buy it. Though like I said even if there are already some pads on your processor, you will need to use the ones that come with the SLK-900 anyway. (but leave the pads that are already on the processor where they are).


Or.. do you mean the square black pad that is on the large X peice?

Well im about to leave now (dont ask peeps, acid knows) and I was talking about what you we're talking about However I also dont know what to do with that big large black peice on the "X" shaped thingy, but im having a friend help me install it thats installed a 900 before, so I should be set to go.

Thanks alot acid

No problem. If hes installed one before then you should be fine. When I did it I just looked up instructions for it online.

Good luck.

Sorry for getting off topic like this, but maybe Xtr-X will wanna do it, but is it possible to run your computer, without a fan on the SLK900? (ie: it cools so well, a fan isnt mandatory).

I think a fan might make it just safe and better off. Ok, the heatsink does it's job but there's no air moving around there. The air can tend to get very, very hot around the processor, especially AMD. A fan is optional but should not be taken lightly.

Um, anyways, I'm looking for a good, fast, air pushing powerfull, QUIET fan to mount onto this big-assed heat sink.

Any suggestions?

Don't run that thing without a fan. Not a good idea. You must have air circulating around that heatsink or it does no good.

I recommend the Vantec Tornado 92mm Fan. It pushes about 119cfm which is a lot of air for a 92mm fan. I have heard some say it is loud but others say it isnt.

Even a regular 80mm fan would be fine. You can get them anywhere for around $10.

I was looking at the tornado 92mm earlier. It says it's noise is dba 55, pretty loud. This comp is sitting on my desk, next to my computer screen. The noise may be a big problem.

I don't know about the 900-U, I was reading quite many reviews and they all say it doesn't fit with most AMD boards. Shocking, I tell you. Do any of you know if it fits on the A7N8X?

If they don't fit, what about this (I mean I know it fits but what do you think about it)?

Thermaltake VOLCANO 11- Xaser Edition.
Opti-fin technology, made of All Copper.
Adjustable fan speed controller, installs in expension slot.
For AMD Athlon XP up to 3400+.
Specifications:
Fan: 80x80x25 mm(Two Ball Bearing). Heat sink: 70x66x30.8 mm.
Air Flow: 20.55 CFM at 20°C~ 75.70 CFM at 55°C. Mfr's P/N: A1607

Also, guys, I have 2 days left to order from today. I must order on the 27th, that's when most everything I want comes back in stock, so everything ASAP would be nice.

I can't afford another 2-4 weeks for stock to come back in again.

http://www.thermalright.com/faq_900_Motherboard.html

You would need to bend the capacitors back a bit, but you should be fine (just be careful). I am going to be buying the A7N8X for my next machine and will be using the SLK-900.

Oh and btw your going with AMD now?

On the Thermaltake Volcano 11:

Well, the first thing that pops right out is the fact that this sink is made of all copper. They tried reverting to an aluminum hybrid thing in the last revision, so it is good to see that they went back to the quality components. It is a well established fact that copper has better thermal dissipation capabilities than aluminum, but when weight and cost comes into play it can sometimes be an alternative that manufacturers look at. Not so with the Volcano 11, though, and this is certainly a very welcome concept.

Copper is a good thing.

The clip used to secure this cooler to your motherboard isn't anything fancy, but it is very functional and requires no abnormal amount of force to attach it to the socket. Also, the three prong approach pictured above will help make sure that your screwdriver doesn't slip out when installing the cooler and ruin the tracings on the motherboard

Be careful when using a screwdriver to do this. There is a certain technique you need to use, and the screwdriver can very easily slip and scratch the board or knock a hole in the motherboard.]


- Pros
Effective cooling
80mm fan size
Built-in external rheostat
All copper sink
Multiple fan speed controls

- Cons
Fan is LOUD at maximum speed
A little expensive


Excerpts taken from:
http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=review&dId=453



Opinion: It really isnt any quieter than the Thermaltake but you won't have to bend back capacitors to get it installed. (This is if you get the stock fan with the heatsink).

hey - I 100% garantee you, it fits an Asus A7N8x!!! I just installed it today, on that board, so it DOES fit

Dont get that tornado fan, 55db? Are you nux? Thats load as heck! Get this from googlegear, along with all your other AMD hardware:
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370809

I'll probbly get dogged cuz it "only" pushes 27CFM, but if you ask me, thats fine...

If I were you, I'd get the AMD system I e-mailed you in the word doc...Thats what I'd do, its fits what everyone thinks, 160GB HD, 1GB ram, 9700 pro....Personally I think its ideal for what you want.
Those prices in that system are also the lowest I could find, and google offers 2-day Free/$.50/$1 Fedex Air, on most of they're stuff... And alot of what I listed, came from google.

I had to bend 1 capicitor the slightest bit...It fits just fine :grinthumb

Awesome Agissi. I am purchasing the A7N8X and SLK-900 for my next PC. It's nice to know didnt have a problem.

Ok, that's reassuring.

Yeah, that thing is pretty good (what you sent me) but I am going to change to a different case and will have to buy another PSU.

Also, since the processor is 400mhz FSB, and the motherboard supports 400mhz FSB and PC3200, I'm gonna go with PC 3200.

That case isn't much of my style really... I really like the Antec cases, 1000 series, etc.

Btw, newegg.com and googlegear.com have very similar prices. Sometimes newegg is cheaper, and somtimes googlegear is cheaper. Take the 3200+ for example, the retail version is cheaper at newegg than googlegear.

Why do I buy retail versions of processors?
In case something is wrong with the heatsink/fan I buy addittionally, I hate sending stuff back and getting nailed with restocking and shiping and having to wait to test a sucker out (has happened to me in the past, I'm just unlucky alot). I'm just hoping I have enough luck bending that one capaciter.

Also, I'm posting all the system specs revised by tomorrow, just to get it a little feedback before I make the purchase.