Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)
Charliec, I switched to a video card with no fan and my Dimension 4500 is
therefore quieter than before, but still the noisiest rattletrap I have
owned.
I say rattletrap because the round plastic inserts in the case aren't
secure, and buzz or resonate with vibration from the fans. The same is true
for the top of the case; often if I tap it with my fingernail, it will quiet
for a while. The case design, which still is used in current models, is
atrocious. Perhaps production methods have improved its implementation in
the last two years, perhaps not.
As for persons who say here, and elsewhere, their Dell Dimension is "whisper
quiet" - I have come to believe that 1) they have a hearing disability, or
2) the machines are in rooms with wall to wall carpets and heavy drapes on
the windows, or 3) this is their first computer - i.e. they never have owned
a quieter one. Perceived noise is subjective, but actual noise measured and
published by Dell shows their machines are progressively noisier as new
models are introduced.
Anyway, here's a link to a description the fastest good video card I can
find which fits the AGP slot in your machine and which also requires no fan
or other special cooling device. Because the temperature inside the case
may be affected by this card, it can cause the case or processor fan (the
one under the green shroud) to run faster, but that should still be less
noisy than a separate fan on the video card:
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?Part_Number=256-A8-N307-TX
and:
http://www.evga.com/products/pdf/n307.pdf
The above model is just like my card but with twice the memory (my card is
the same but with 128 MB of memory not 256 MB). Note the memory is 128 bit;
that is important as many of the FX5200 cards, including many other evga
brand cards, and including the ones Dell sold, have only 64 bit memory and
therefore don't perform as well.
You can confirm that it has no fan by writing to evga at Sales@eVGA.com
(illustrations are not always correct) like I did before I bought the
earlier version.
As you can see, I recommend nVidia over ATS; I have purchased and returned a
couple of ATS cards because they did not perform as advertised, and because
the latest drivers available from ATS at the time had conflicts or problems
with my other software and hardware. I have never had such problems with
nVidia drivers.
- Don
"Charliec" <charliec@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
news:a51hl0pv33o473c86uvte605ogm40e58v3@4ax.com...
> >"Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote:
>
>>Which is a REALLY loud card. I switched the fan for an Arctic cooler and
>>it
>>is much quieter, but it takes an extra slot.
>
> Did you keep the ATI Radeon Card? And just added the Arctic cooler? I
> assume you removed the fan from the Radeon card? Where did you find info
> on the Arctic cooler (maybe I can take a look at it online?). I'm ready
> to
> try anything!
> Charlie
>
>>
>>Tom
>>"Charliec" <charliec@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
>>news:ue4fl0tlrgtrkgs8cnjme00ljq3mqd6mlu@4ax.com...
>>> >"WSZsr" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>My 8400 is whisper quiet. For the same reason I selected the P4 3.0 I
>>>>went
>>>>with the 800SE video card knowing that it would run cooler and quieter
>>>>than
>>>>the 800XT. What video card do you have?
>>>
>>> I have the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR Card.
>>
>
> ******************************************************
> Charliec
Charliec, I switched to a video card with no fan and my Dimension 4500 is
therefore quieter than before, but still the noisiest rattletrap I have
owned.
I say rattletrap because the round plastic inserts in the case aren't
secure, and buzz or resonate with vibration from the fans. The same is true
for the top of the case; often if I tap it with my fingernail, it will quiet
for a while. The case design, which still is used in current models, is
atrocious. Perhaps production methods have improved its implementation in
the last two years, perhaps not.
As for persons who say here, and elsewhere, their Dell Dimension is "whisper
quiet" - I have come to believe that 1) they have a hearing disability, or
2) the machines are in rooms with wall to wall carpets and heavy drapes on
the windows, or 3) this is their first computer - i.e. they never have owned
a quieter one. Perceived noise is subjective, but actual noise measured and
published by Dell shows their machines are progressively noisier as new
models are introduced.
Anyway, here's a link to a description the fastest good video card I can
find which fits the AGP slot in your machine and which also requires no fan
or other special cooling device. Because the temperature inside the case
may be affected by this card, it can cause the case or processor fan (the
one under the green shroud) to run faster, but that should still be less
noisy than a separate fan on the video card:
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?Part_Number=256-A8-N307-TX
and:
http://www.evga.com/products/pdf/n307.pdf
The above model is just like my card but with twice the memory (my card is
the same but with 128 MB of memory not 256 MB). Note the memory is 128 bit;
that is important as many of the FX5200 cards, including many other evga
brand cards, and including the ones Dell sold, have only 64 bit memory and
therefore don't perform as well.
You can confirm that it has no fan by writing to evga at Sales@eVGA.com
(illustrations are not always correct) like I did before I bought the
earlier version.
As you can see, I recommend nVidia over ATS; I have purchased and returned a
couple of ATS cards because they did not perform as advertised, and because
the latest drivers available from ATS at the time had conflicts or problems
with my other software and hardware. I have never had such problems with
nVidia drivers.
- Don
"Charliec" <charliec@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
news:a51hl0pv33o473c86uvte605ogm40e58v3@4ax.com...
> >"Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote:
>
>>Which is a REALLY loud card. I switched the fan for an Arctic cooler and
>>it
>>is much quieter, but it takes an extra slot.
>
> Did you keep the ATI Radeon Card? And just added the Arctic cooler? I
> assume you removed the fan from the Radeon card? Where did you find info
> on the Arctic cooler (maybe I can take a look at it online?). I'm ready
> to
> try anything!
> Charlie
>
>>
>>Tom
>>"Charliec" <charliec@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
>>news:ue4fl0tlrgtrkgs8cnjme00ljq3mqd6mlu@4ax.com...
>>> >"WSZsr" <nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>My 8400 is whisper quiet. For the same reason I selected the P4 3.0 I
>>>>went
>>>>with the 800SE video card knowing that it would run cooler and quieter
>>>>than
>>>>the 800XT. What video card do you have?
>>>
>>> I have the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB DDR Card.
>>
>
> ******************************************************
> Charliec
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