Any tips for noise controlling Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE on 7800X3D

[porina]

Built new system and getting it set up and tested. I've hit a snag already. It's way too noisy under load.

 

Key parts relevant to noise:

• 7800X3D

• Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

• Asus ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI

• Fractal Design North

Don't think the rest matters but the longer parts list is in thread linked at bottom of post.

 

The two CPU fans are connected to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT. The two case fans (two 140mm in front, none in rear) are each connected to CHA_FAN2 and CHA_FAN3.

 

First time I booted it was great. Almost silent. That was until I noticed the CPU wasn't going above 4.2 GHz. In short, Asus has an option in bios with description "overclocks CPU and DRAM for more performance" which I switched from Auto to Disabled. I don't want overclocking. It seems that enables turbo and probably isn't an overclock. Back to Auto it went and I got higher clocks. Note it wasn't in the overclocking section, so I think it is just a bad description.

 

Running all core loads, it was using around 35W at 4.2 GHz, fans around 700rpm and practically silent. With the turbo operating I tinkered a bit with the settings. At 65W it was low 70's C and fan speeds around 1000 rpm. It could be heard, but wasn't too annoying. Increasing the load some more it was reaching 85W, high 70's C, and fan speeds 1100-1300 depending on CPU/case I forget which was which. This was too annoying in noise, and there was a beat frequency too making it worse. I tried switching the fans in bios to "silent" mode, but this still maxed out fan speed around 70C so as expected it didn't help.

 

I could set manual fan curves I guess? Haven't looked for one, is there a soft thermal limit I can set in bios which would indirectly control the fan speed too. Beyond that I'm going to guess someone will suggest undervolting or curve optimisation, but I'd like to leave that for later. Want to get a feel for how it works at "stock" first. I don't want to be doing stability testing at this time.

 

I'm wondering if I have spare Noctua resistor cables which will prevent the fans from hitting the higher RPMs. I'm willing to accept performance may drop if it hits the soft thermal limit.

 

 

 

 

[PDifolco]

7 minutes ago, porina said:

Built new system and getting it set up and tested. I've hit a snag already. It's way too noisy under load.

 

Key parts relevant to noise:

• 7800X3D

• Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

• Asus ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI

• Fractal Design North

Don't think the rest matters but the longer parts list is in thread linked at bottom of post.

 

The two CPU fans are connected to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT. The two case fans (two 140mm in front, none in rear) are each connected to CHA_FAN2 and CHA_FAN3.

 

First time I booted it was great. Almost silent. That was until I noticed the CPU wasn't going above 4.2 GHz. In short, Asus has an option in bios with description "overclocks CPU and DRAM for more performance" which I switched from Auto to Disabled. I don't want overclocking. It seems that enables turbo and probably isn't an overclock. Back to Auto it went and I got higher clocks. Note it wasn't in the overclocking section, so I think it is just a bad description.

 

Running all core loads, it was using around 35W at 4.2 GHz, fans around 700rpm and practically silent. With the turbo operating I tinkered a bit with the settings. At 65W it was low 70's C and fan speeds around 1000 rpm. It could be heard, but wasn't too annoying. Increasing the load some more it was reaching 85W, high 70's C, and fan speeds 1100-1300 depending on CPU/case I forget which was which. This was too annoying in noise, and there was a beat frequency too making it worse. I tried switching the fans in bios to "silent" mode, but this still maxed out fan speed around 70C so as expected it didn't help.

 

I could set manual fan curves I guess? Haven't looked for one, is there a soft thermal limit I can set in bios which would indirectly control the fan speed too. Beyond that I'm going to guess someone will suggest undervolting or curve optimisation, but I'd like to leave that for later. Want to get a feel for how it works at "stock" first. I don't want to be doing stability testing at this time.

 

I'm wondering if I have spare Noctua resistor cables which will prevent the fans from hitting the higher RPMs. I'm willing to accept performance may drop if it hits the soft thermal limit.

 

 

 

 

Install FanControl and find the lowest fan speed allowing your CPU to operate below say 75C

If that's still too noisy swap the TR fans (that are average) for some BQ SW3 or Noctuas NF-A12x25 (they are expensive tho)

[PDifolco]

*double post*

[GuiltySpark_]

12 minutes ago, porina said:

I could set manual fan curves I guess?

This is necessary for any cooler. I've run an AK620 and Assassin IV on a 7900x (200ish watts) and 7800x3D (90ish watts) and in both cases, paired with a good high airflow case, I used the same manual "curve". Flat 40% PWM until 85c, then at that point 60% PWM. (7900x was setup with an 85c temp limit)

 

No RPM hunting under normal conditions and will only ever ramp up at all under a full multicore load (render, Cinebench, game shader pre-compile). 

 

99% of the time its dead silent. 

[porina]

@PDifolco @GuiltySpark_ Thanks for the suggestions. Getting late now, I'll try these out tomorrow.

[Hinjima]

50 minutes ago, porina said:

@PDifolco @GuiltySpark_ Thanks for the suggestions. Getting late now, I'll try these out tomorrow.

I use the ASUS Armoury Crate for my own ASUS B650 with my 7700x and NH-D15 to adjust fan curves on my NH-D15 as well as all my PWM fans connected to the motherboard.

It has integrated program called Fan Xpert.

Easy to use and visually very easy to read.

[Alex Atkin UK]

I tend to prefer tower coolers with a single fan in the middle, as two fans always seems to cause annoying turbulence noise.

 

I used to use the Noctua NH-D15s, got a second fan then never used it as it barely shaved anything off the temperature and made it much louder.

 

The AK620 is probably the first I've had that while audible, I don't find it annoying.  Probably because its two fans on a single tower, rather than a dual-tower.

[porina]

7 hours ago, Hinjima said:

It has integrated program called Fan Xpert.

That looks great. Better than trying to do same in BIOS. Think I'll try that after I get some caffeine in me.

 

6 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

I used to use the Noctua NH-D15s, got a second fan then never used it as it barely shaved anything off the temperature and made it much louder.

Thanks for the input but I'm not sure where to go with it? Try using one fan? Buy another cooler?

 

As discussed in the other thread, normally I'd throw on a big Noctua and usually I'm done at that point. Depending on the mobo and case layout sometimes I'd only fit one fan on those if the 2nd is difficult to fit. This cooler was described as better than D15 and at 1/3 the price I thought it worth a shot. Smaller fans though.

[PDifolco]

8 hours ago, Hinjima said:

I use the ASUS Armoury Crate for my own ASUS B650 with my 7700x and NH-D15 to adjust fan curves on my NH-D15 as well as all my PWM fans connected to the motherboard.

It has integrated program called Fan Xpert.

Easy to use and visually very easy to read.

It's nice but FanControl is better

[porina]

5 minutes ago, PDifolco said:

It's nice but FanControl is better

I'm not awake enough for this. Now I got a choice to make. I have Armoury Crate installed already as I wanted to try its software update feature but it does feel like bloatware.

[PDifolco]

1 hour ago, porina said:

I'm not awake enough for this. Now I got a choice to make. I have Armoury Crate installed already as I wanted to try its software update feature but it does feel like bloatware.

Really it's not more complex than any other fan tuning software, it's just waaaay more powerful and light (it's free, even a portable app, no registry crap)

 

 

[Hinjima]

1 hour ago, porina said:

I'm not awake enough for this. Now I got a choice to make. I have Armoury Crate installed already as I wanted to try its software update feature but it does feel like bloatware.

Its totally up to you. You don't need to have Armoury Crate running for the manual fan speed adjustment to work after you have adjusted.

 

[porina]

20 minutes ago, Hinjima said:

You don't need to have Armoury Crate running for the manual fan speed adjustment to work after you have adjusted.

This was something I wanted to look at later, if these were "saved" in the system or wholly software controlled.

[freeagent]

I just set the fans that impact CPU cooling to start spooling at 65c. No software, no muss, no fuss. You could probably set them to spool at 75-85 and be ok.

[GuiltySpark_]

5 minutes ago, freeagent said:

I just set the fans that impact CPU cooling to start spooling at 65c. No software, no muss, no fuss. You could probably set them to spool at 75-85 and be ok.

Yep. Nothing needs to be install, simply BIOS curve, just works. System is silent.

[Gorgon]

4 hours ago, porina said:

I'm not awake enough for this. Now I got a choice to make. I have Armoury Crate installed already as I wanted to try its software update feature but it does feel like bloatware.

it IS Bloatware. Asus used to include their FAN Software as a separate download so you didn't have to install Amoury Crap Crate. Yes, you can set curves in BIOS and then just run with it but as others have said Fan Control is so much nicer. You can have a mixed fan curve for the rear exhaust controlled by the CPU and GPU temperatures.

[freeagent]

Make sure you disable Armoury Crate in bios too, close that back door.

[porina]

 

I did tinker with Fan Xpert last night since it was already installed. It is basically the same as the bios but a little easier to control in Windows. I still wasn't happy with it, and I was too lazy to try Fan Control.

 

Today I went for the hardware solution. After some digging in my spares box I found the above. Two Noctua "low noise" cables, two random resistor cables, and a single fan speed controller. In the end I used the two Noctua cables on the two CPU fans, and used one of the resistor cables for the case fan. This was because the other turned out to be only 3 pin. The case fans had a passthrough connection so they're tied together now. I reset the fan curves to "silent" setting and it has been great so far. In light use, I can't hear it at all. With Cinebench 2024 running, the fans get up to 800rpm or so. I can hear them, but they're a low level and it isn't an annoying sound. CPU temps remain below 80C.

 

I'm also wondering about the thermal characteristics of Zen 4 with different types of code. Prime95 does hardly anything to it. It's going to be interesting benching that later. Mathematical sieves made it really hot. I don't know if CB 2024 is hotter or not. On Intel the reverse is usually the case. Does anything get Zen 4 power right up? I've not been remotely close to the power limit so far.

 

Anyway, time to uninstalled Armoury Crate.

[freeagent]

Prime does not get my Zen3 parts as hot nor do they draw power like Linpack does. When finding my FIT voltage prime was just not cutting it.

[RevGAM]

On 4/27/2024 at 7:51 PM, Hinjima said:

I use the ASUS Armoury Crate for my own ASUS B650 with my 7700x and NH-D15 to adjust fan curves on my NH-D15 as well as all my PWM fans connected to the motherboard.

It has integrated program called Fan Xpert.

Easy to use and visually very easy to read.

I absolutely despise AAC. Last I used it, it behaved like malware, refused to give up control of my fans even after turning it off. Refused to uninstall motherboard fan control program with the rest of the software, reverted or sidestepped every reg edit I did to stop it,  too.

 

Now that I think of it, after using auto-tuning was when the problems started it even refused to let the manual AAC controls for fans to override it.