I have an old Dell L500c uATX computer that I would like to silence. Its a socket 370 system running a Celeron 500. I found an Intel data sheet saying that the TDP for this chip is less than 25 watts. Cooling is currently accomplished by an aluminum based HSF. I'm looking into replacing this with a copper based passive solution. However, commercial solutions I've looked at thus far are aimed at higher end chips (1.5GHz+) and they're all active. So, I come to my question.

Do manufacturers typically give a power dissipations rating for HSFs with and without the fan? I'm wondering if a HSF designed to cool a much faster CPU might be able to passively cool my Celeron 500 were I to remove the fan. However, I have not been able to find any information on the total wattage dissipated by the cooling solutions I've looked into thus far. I've had a look around at some manufacturers' sites and come up with nothing.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Quote: Originally Posted by Silent Rabid I have an old Dell L500c uATX computer that I would like to silence. Its a socket 370 system running a Celeron 500. I found an Intel data sheet saying that the TDP for this chip is less than 25 watts. Cooling is currently accomplished by an aluminum based HSF. I'm looking into replacing this with a copper based passive solution. However, commercial solutions I've looked at thus far are aimed at higher end chips (1.5GHz+) and they're all active. So, I come to my question. Do manufacturers typically give a power dissipations rating for HSFs with and without the fan? I'm wondering if a HSF designed to cool a much faster CPU might be able to passively cool my Celeron 500 were I to remove the fan. However, I have not been able to find any information on the total wattage dissipated by the cooling solutions I've looked into thus far. I've had a look around at some manufacturers' sites and come up with nothing. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

The Noctua coolers are among the best passive coolers, and allow you to add a fan in the future if you wish...

X-bit labs - Articles - Two Towers: Noctua Heatpipe Coolers Review

Only problem I can foresee is the mounting bracket. You might have to make your own, I'm not sure.

This will run that processor passively,as long as there is a whisper of air moving in the case.

Zalman cnps 3100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118102

And its less than $20 ,Id use the fan though and just turn it all the way down with the speed controller thats included!.

Hey, thanks for the recommendations! reflux, I'm afraid those Noctua coolers would be way overkill for my purposes. :-) I also need something fairly low profile, as my PSU is mounted beside the motherboard rather than above it and it sits right over the processor. I'm working with maybe two or three inches of clearance at the most.

RBIEZE, that is actually one of the ones I'm looking at. I'm also considering this one:

Newegg.com - MASSCOOL 5F394B1L3G Ball Full Copper Heat Sink CPU Cooler - Retail


My only problem with the Zalman is the height. I'm afraid 65mm would be too high. Of course, I'm always for modding one way or the other to fit things in, but I prefer simplicity. :-) My main problem is that I've no clue about how well these candidates will dissipate the heat once I remove the fan. I plan on having air flow through the case and the primary exhaust port is through the PSU, which is hanging just above the processor. So, air flow won't be a problem. You know, if I can find a data sheet listing the thermal properties of copper, I might just be able to rough out a guesstimate about the power dissipation.

I think I'll pursue that for a while, see if I can come up with something.

I went passive using a Athlon XP mobile 2500+ and a Thermalright SP-97 heatpipe cooler for testing purposes...let me tell ya, it works..but if you don't have some kind of fans in the case...it gets pretty damn hot!

Pasive cooling is tough on hardware...unless you are set on COMPLETE silence..using low RPM large diameter fans at least on the case is gonna keep your hardware much happier..with or without a CPU fan.

Most 120MM fans at low rpm are inaudable unless you stick your ear next to it...
Most coolers you find with a 80MM or larger fan at low rpm will do the job and won't be noticable once in a case..I assume you had a loud crappy cooler on there?

For the longest time I was experimenting with Pentium III processors and have seen and tried different solutions. I know for a fact that the slot type Pentium III CPUs up to 700MHz were cooled with passive aluminum coolers and had no problems. But - that is when used in a well ventilated case.In addition, the socket 370 run hotter than the slot type CPUs. I would not go passive in a mATX case which probably has poor cooling as it is. I would go with a low noise active HSF such as the Zalman. You may have a problem with such a large HSF in a mATX case, so you should verify the size on Zalman's website.

The Dell PSU may be another source of noise - putting a better fan in there may be more beneficial for noise reduction purposes.

Hey $SOLID$ Necro, you hit it spot on. The cooler currently on there is likely the original and its very annoying (we're talking vintage 1999-2000 here). To top it off, I received this computer for free from a local business that bought brand new Dells and left all the old ones sitting in a dirty, open warehouse for a few months. Those bearings are probably crud city.

PurpleDiamond, you bring me great wisdom! I'm planning on replacing the PSU fan as well. The PSU's internals are mounted "upside-down" and it has a mesh bottom, so it draws air directly from the processor zone and ejects it out the back of the case. It is a rather small case, but I think I can get adequate flow through it. I have a free 3.5" bay in front that I might use for ventilation.

I'm going to have to find a way to quiet down the HDD as well, that whine is hideous.

Ya..overall, that generation of PC's were pretty noisy, not many people were hung up on dead silence back then...they were after raw clock speeds back then and not much else.

Todays HD's and PSU's, not not mention CPU cooling is light years ahead in terms of DB levelss...but, once you do all that, it kinda negates the saddling it with such a slow CPU!

It's kind alike dumping money into a 4 cylinder cavlier form the early 90's...lol

I would at least purchase hardware that could be easily transfered to your next PC, so make sure the PSU is at least 450 watts, and probably nothing under 120GB's for a HD.