PC/CPU Cooling & Power Supplies

[pc-tecky]

Hello,I have two topics and many questions.CPU CoolingI am aware of a number of cooling methods: fans, blowers, water blocks, heatpipes, and full-blown A/C.For the record, the A/C is way out of my league - price of components and the electricity bill. Although it would be nice. :w00t:I have a few questions to ask.Any companies to avoid for off-the-shelf consumer products?Any 'whisper' or 'silent' varieties?Which cooling methods should I consider?Which cooling methods should I avoid at all costs?Of the Water Coolers, what will they work with? What should I avoid?One water system I saw in a store sold for $130 (by AOC) MicroCenter Online details & specsBuy at a 'real' store or online?The desktops are P-75, P-166 (mmx? - used & free), 3x PII-450, and 1 dual Athlon MP 2100+ (1.73 GHZ). I'm primarily concerned with the PII's and the daully at the moment.Power SuppliesWhat styles or versions of ATX power are there? I've replaced the PS on the P-166 from AT to ATX for ease of software-shut-down (click shutdown and walk away without having to babysit to hit the physical switch). However, I'm leary of a flashing power LED when the system is 'off'. I don't want to destroy or blow an otherwise good working and free computer because the ATX PS is pumping in too much juice in "standby". Is my concern valid? It's an older Gigabyte GA-586TX2 Socket 7 board with both AT and ATX power connectors. The reason I ask is that I'm not familar with the brand and none of my other systems do that while off. So it sits off and unplugged until I need it or know why the power led flashes.thanks

[pc-tecky]

Cool...Now, how to reduce the noise of the Athlon dually so it's not like a freight train and tolerable to my ears. I shouldn't have to walk out of a room with my ears ringing and buzzing because of the noise from two computer fans. They are Athlon MP box sets (with heatsink and fan) on a Tyan motherboard.I get a power management error on cold boots that are traced to the CPU fans being cold and gummed up (for lack of better words). I wish I knew how to fix that without replacing. Even if I had to replace them, won't know where to go to get two ball bearing 50mm fans - one with tach.I saw something in here about blower fans that looked pretty sweet. :thumbsup:Any differences between MPs vs. XPs (of AMD Athlon(s))?That blinking light on the Gigbyte GA586TX2 powered by an ATX PS is still a bit disconcerning.

[striker]

Hi pc-tecky,Regarding cooling your "Athlon dually" : take a (couple of) peek (-s) over here :http://www.dansdata.com/coolercomp.htmOne word of wisdom : the better the cooling capacities from the coolerblock (without the fan ! ), the better your cooling will be ,resulting in less "blower power needs" : I've used the info on this site mainly to get my own rig (Athlon XP 2400) and others silenced to acceptable levels.I'm sitting next to it on a daily basis, so I know exactly what you mean with "how to reduce the noise of the Athlon dually so it's not like a freight train and tolerable to my ears" . It took me 3 months and a bit more, many experimenting hours and the help from a family member from Technical University to finally find the way to treath this rig.If you need specific info where to start and what to look for, howto's and more of that, or just a hand regarding cooling the Athlons, just PM me. I've got to much info to put it all in this thread, so lets hear something if the needs arises. Don't experiment too much though, it 'll cost you more money than you"ll think : better do some descent research first and ask them who handled Athlons already. Don't you trust these "wise" guys at the computer shops with their "we sold this or this .... times and never got a complaint " ... be prepared ... !Good luck !