CPU fan suddenly significantly louder after adding GPU

[mr_pepper]

I have a 7850K APU that ran very quiet even under load. Recently added a dedicated GPU and now the APU fan is extremely loud under load. I tried toggling the integrated graphics and AMD cool n quiet in the BIOS on and off to no avail. In games, the 7850K runs only at ~80%. I have HDMI plugged into the GPU. I did not make any other changes to my system.

My build: http://pcpartpicker.com/b/6bHNnQ

 

[synphul]

If I had to guess, the added gpu is adding heat to the case making the cpu fan work harder to keep things cool.

 

[mr_pepper]

If I had to guess, the added gpu is adding heat to the case making the cpu fan work harder to keep things cool.

What would you recommend? I figured a 200mm fan in the front of the case would be sufficient to get the heat out. This fan is not PWM. Should I buy a PWM fan, new case, a new CPU cooler?

 

[synphul]

Are you sure you're hearing the cpu (apu) fan and not the gpu fan? Gpu fans are known to be just about the loudest fans in any system and would make sense under gaming loads. For instance my hd7850 gpu, doing most tasks it's barely audible. Start a game and it sounds like a small vacuum cleaner in my case. What cooler are you using for your cpu, the stock cooler? Do you have any fans in the 80mm exhaust fan spots at the rear or just the 1 200mm fan as intake?

 

[mr_pepper]

Are you sure you're hearing the cpu (apu) fan and not the gpu fan? Gpu fans are known to be just about the loudest fans in any system and would make sense under gaming loads. For instance my hd7850 gpu, doing most tasks it's barely audible. Start a game and it sounds like a small vacuum cleaner in my case. What cooler are you using for your cpu, the stock cooler? Do you have any fans in the 80mm exhaust fan spots at the rear or just the 1 200mm fan as intake?

Very positive it's the CPU fan. Using stock cooler. The GPU creates a wall away from the CPU and the rest of the case. No exhaust fans in the rear. I can feel a lot of air coming out the back.

 

[Zhavios]

It's probably your GPU adding heat to the case, making it tough on the CPU, if you want I could link a good cooler, and I would also recommend putting in more case fans, if possible.

Recommended CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608041
If you have space in your case for it, I would recommend upgrading to either: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608045 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181094&cm_re=h110i_gtx-_-35-181-094-_-Product

 

[synphul]

If you're sure it's the cpu fan then yes an aftermarket cooler would help with heat dissipation and be more quiet than the stock cooler.

Something like these would work.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhl12
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps8900quiet
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/scythe-cpu-cooler-scbsk2100
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cryorig-cpu-cooler-crc1a

Max cpu cooler height for that case is 140mm which limits the coolers to more or less low profile. The good news, you opted for mushkin stealth which is low profile ram so any of these coolers should work. Some like the cryorig c1 are large enough to cover part of the ram, modules with tall heat sinks could have been a problem.

 

[mr_pepper]

Took some pics of my setup. It doesn't look like there should be any heat going to the APU. Anything that escapes should be blown out the back by the huge fan in the front. If I need a new cooler I think I'm going to get a new case as well.

http://imgur.com/a/92bNa

 

[synphul]

I know what you're saying, but this is the way I look at it. Your pc prior to the r9 380 was quiet and at that time the only real significant heat source was the cpu (apu) and maybe a bit of heat coming off the vrms behind it. A cooler fan blowing directly on it and the front 200mm blowing through the case. Since you didn't change any settings in the bios when you added the r9 380, you added an additional significant heat source. The gpu does have its own cooler and vents somewhat to the rear but you have direct blowing fans on the gpu. Not a squirrel cage type fan blowing air front to back like the gtx 980ti has. Heat from the gpu will circulate around the case some, not to mention even though the cooler is on the far side of the gpu card away from the cpu - there's still heat radiating from the other side of that gpu right next to the cpu.

For a cramped itx case it looks to have decent airflow but I would still add rear fans to help 'guide' the air through the case past the cpu and other components. I'm not a big fan of stock coolers to begin with, my guess is that apu only it was borderline needing to kick the cpu fan up a notch. The additional gpu heat may have forced the apu fan to ramp up.

Here's a walkthrough of msi's click 4 bios, it might be worth playing with the fan settings to see if changing them has any effect on the cpu fan. It should. This would at least verify that speed control is working properly and that the fan isn't just stuck at 100% usage all the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTD_fBj12tA

 

[mr_pepper]

I know what you're saying, but this is the way I look at it. Your pc prior to the r9 380 was quiet and at that time the only real significant heat source was the cpu (apu) and maybe a bit of heat coming off the vrms behind it. A cooler fan blowing directly on it and the front 200mm blowing through the case. Since you didn't change any settings in the bios when you added the r9 380, you added an additional significant heat source. The gpu does have its own cooler and vents somewhat to the rear but you have direct blowing fans on the gpu. Not a squirrel cage type fan blowing air front to back like the gtx 980ti has. Heat from the gpu will circulate around the case some, not to mention even though the cooler is on the far side of the gpu card away from the cpu - there's still heat radiating from the other side of that gpu right next to the cpu.

For a cramped itx case it looks to have decent airflow but I would still add rear fans to help 'guide' the air through the case past the cpu and other components. I'm not a big fan of stock coolers to begin with, my guess is that apu only it was borderline needing to kick the cpu fan up a notch. The additional gpu heat may have forced the apu fan to ramp up.

Here's a walkthrough of msi's click 4 bios, it might be worth playing with the fan settings to see if changing them has any effect on the cpu fan. It should. This would at least verify that speed control is working properly and that the fan isn't just stuck at 100% usage all the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTD_fBj12tA

I removed the top case cover and discovered the backplate on the 380 is very hot. It's right next to the APU. I put my hand over top the GPU under load and little heat was coming off it. I'm thinking if I get an aftermarket cooler for the APU it will still be hot. The front intake fan blows very little air, almost none. It's not PWM sadly. It has no switch to make it faster. I think it was a bad idea to build mITX with a GPU. Too late to return anything but the GPU. Hmm...

 

[synphul]

Actually it's not a bad looking build, pretty clean and a nice design for mitx. Personally I'd try one of the aftermarket cooler, the stock coolers really aren't that great (either amd or intel). Even in compact form, most use heatpipes which are much more efficient. Maybe add a couple of 80mm fans at the back. Should make a noticeable difference. Both these fans move decent air and are fairly quiet for 80mm fans.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nexus-case-fan-sp802512h03pwm
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfr8redux1800pwm

 

[rcald2000]

I have no experience with using ITX cases with builds, but I would think that you'd have to be extra cautious when adding any card with a non reference cooler to the case. I completely agree that adding a proper CPU air/water cooler is indicated. At the same time, I can understand the reluctance to add a big cpu cooler, and obstructing the view of the build in such a tight case. It is a nice looking build, by the way and very roomy for an ITX. I recently watched the Linus video below and the case he used is absolutely claustrophobic. I suppose the other option is a bigger case.

Linus - NCASE M1 Mini-ITX PC Case - A Space Saver Without Compromises?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkCQh72ybfg

 

[mr_pepper]

Actually it's not a bad looking build, pretty clean and a nice design for mitx. Personally I'd try one of the aftermarket cooler, the stock coolers really aren't that great (either amd or intel). Even in compact form, most use heatpipes which are much more efficient. Maybe add a couple of 80mm fans at the back. Should make a noticeable difference. Both these fans move decent air and are fairly quiet for 80mm fans.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nexus-case-fan-sp802512h03pwm
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfr8redux1800pwm

I have a couple 80mm fans, just need a fan controller. I'm also considering getting this CPU cooler http://pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-cpu-cooler-cnps5xperforma

Also noticed the entire front panel has a non removable dust filter. This might be preventing good airflow. I'm thinking about ripping it all out. My house is not that dusty.

 

[synphul]

That cooler will fit. So long as it doesn't have to spin the fans full speed it will be pretty quiet, at full speed it gets a bit loud. That's normal because of having a small 92mm fan. For the price it's worth a try. I'm pretty sure it will work better than your stock cooler. Heat pipes are a lot more efficient than a standard chunk of solid metal with a fan attached.

 

[velo3100]

The reason is the gpu. The extra power from it is causing you current cooling system to run at max speed. You always need to upgrade the cooling when a new cpu or gpu is installed.