[SOLVED] How much airflow does Dark Rock Pro 4 need from the Pure Base 500DX fans?

[Wicket Fot]

I have a Be Quiet Pure Base 500DX with the three default fans. I decided to reduce their speed in order to reduce the noise they make, and also in order to slow down the accumulation of dust. The default was 700. Now it's around 525. But somewhere I read that I need to feed DRP 4 with a good airflow.

The DRP 4 is on a non-overclocked i5-11600K.

Idle temps:

Core 0:        +32.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 1:        +30.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 2:        +30.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 3:        +30.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 4:        +29.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 5:        +30.0°C  (high = +100.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +27.8°C  (crit = +105.0°C)

Adapter: PCI adapter
Composite:    +36.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +81.8°C)
                       (crit = +84.8°C)
Sensor 1:     +36.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)
Sensor 2:     +42.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)

I don't think the temps were lower when the fan speed was in the 600s. So it's all good?

EDIT: The Smart Fan mode was disabled by default. I decided to leave it that way because I'm not a big fan of hearing the fans speed up when CPU is under load.

 

[Darkbreeze]

So, those look like idle temps, which are basically irrelevant and unimportant. And besides which, look normal.

What MATTERS is what kind of peak temps you are seeing, while running a CPU stress test or your most demanding games or applications. If your maximum temps are remaining below 80°C under a 100% load, then you are fine. However, it's likely that if you've disabled the fan's ability to increase in speed when temps increase, you may not be remaining within the maximum recommended thermal range.

One thing you may want to check is that the "source" for your case fans is set to "motherboard" or "VRM", and not "CPU" or "GPU" thermal sensor sources. That alone will usually reduce overall noise levels significantly as those sensors react MUCH more slowly than the thermal sensors for the CPU or GPU. I'd make sure to either enable one of the Smart fan mode profiles like silent, normal/standard, etc., OR I'd create a custom profile fan curve that allows the fan speed to increase to 100% if necessary, but only once a certain temperature is reached for the motherboard or VRM thermal sensor.

You CAN leave it at a static RPM like 525rpm, IF it is remaining within the recommended thermal range for the CPU, GPU and VRM readings, but if it is not, you are going to burn something up eventually like that or at the least experience some thermal throttling.

 

[Wicket Fot]

Thanks. Here's what I did.

I have an MSI Z-590-A Pro. I set the temp source to MOS, as I found those are a part of the VRM. I enabled the Smart fan mode and reduced the Level 1 point to 5.16.

 

[Darkbreeze]

And did it get the noise down to where you want it even with Smart fan enabled? Did you take the time to test max thermal response. Instructions on doing it are here, towards the end of the guide. It's the same for overclocked OR not overclocked systems, so works either way:

CPU overclocking guide and tutorial for beginners

Covering the basics If you found your way here it's likely you are looking for help with basic overclocking. Either that or you're a long time overclocker interested in seeing whether I had any eye opening insights that you may have been lacking. Rest assured, I don't. This is only intended as...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Wicket Fot]

I think there is less noise.

Are you directing me to the Testing thermal compliance section of the post?

I'm running Linux, so I was going to check temps during the torture test via

sensors

command.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, that section. While it is ONLY based on MY opinion in that regard, it IS an opinion highly influenced by a number of very reliable influences including things talked about with Igor, of Igors lab

igor´sLAB | PC & Components | Reviews & News

www.igorslab.de

Comp, one of our mods, and the author of the Intel temperature guide:

How To - Intel CPU Temperature Guide

Update: February 9th, 2025 Preface The topic of processor temperatures can be very confusing. Conflicting opinions based on misconceptions concerning terminology, specifications and testing leaves users uncertain of how to properly check cooling performance. This Guide provides an...

forums.tomshardware.com

Crashman, who wrote a great many reviews and articles here, as well as others like rubix_1011 who is as knowledgeable as anybody out there and of course my own many years of personal experience and testing, plus input from a great many others that used to contribute and/or were moderators here like 4Ryan6.