Frostflow fan noise

[jibbitt]

Hi there,

I just received a new AM5 desktop which I wanted to run as quietly as possible. To this end, I went for a Fractal silent case (with 3 quiet fans). As several of the CPU cooling options came with case-attached fan units, I went for an on-heatsink setup, which was ample for cooling purposes for the selected chip. There were no options in the builder that said 'silent' or 'quiet', or an option to keep the stock cooler, so I went with a Frostflow 150. It's really loud - just a general 'whoosh' accompanied by a whine of varying pitch.

This is too much for me, especially for music production. When the CPU fan calms down, the case fans are perfect volume. I've tinkered with the cooling profiles to see what I can do, but it's still leaves a lot to be desired.

My question is this: can I replace the fans on the Frostflow 150 with silent ones of the same size without issue? Is there anything idiosyncratic about the fittings? Is this likely to cause me any problems?

Many thanks!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi there,

I just received a new AM5 desktop which I wanted to run as quietly as possible. To this end, I went for a Fractal silent case (with 3 quiet fans). As several of the CPU cooling options came with case-attached fan units, I went for an on-heatsink setup, which was ample for cooling purposes for the selected chip. There were no options in the builder that said 'silent' or 'quiet', or an option to keep the stock cooler, so I went with a Frostflow 150. It's really loud - just a general 'whoosh' accompanied by a whine of varying pitch.

This is too much for me, especially for music production. When the CPU fan calms down, the case fans are perfect volume. I've tinkered with the cooling profiles to see what I can do, but it's still leaves a lot to be desired.

My question is this: can I replace the fans on the Frostflow 150 with silent ones of the same size without issue? Is there anything idiosyncratic about the fittings? Is this likely to cause me any problems?

Many thanks!

Can you post your full specs from the order page? You can't just fit any cooler to any processor, it has to be powerful enough for the processor and account for the case etc

 

[jibbitt]

Hi SpyderTracks, thanks for your response.

You can't just fit any cooler to any processor

I think there's a little confusion - I'm not talking about replacing the whole cooler unit, I'm talking about modifying the Frostflow 150 by replacing its two fans with new silent ones of equal performance. There just isn't much information elsewhere online about Frostflow brand coolers as they are somewhat of an 'own brand'.

The Ryzen 9 7900 has a TDP of 65W and the Frostflow 150 supports 125W, so as long as I match the fan performance I can't imagine there would be any cooling issues, as long as the fans fit the unit correctly. This is my question - does anyone know of any idiosyncrasies of Frostflow coolers that would prevent me fitting matching fans of another (quieter) brand?

Many thanks.



Case - FRACTAL POP SILENT CASE TG (BLACK)
Processor (CPU) - AMD Ryzen 9 7900 12 Core CPU (4.0GHz-5.4GHz/76MB CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard - GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX: (WIFI 6E, DDR5, USB 3.2) - ARGB Ready!
Processor Cooling - PCS FrostFlow 150 Series High Performance CPU Cooler

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi SpyderTracks, thanks for your response.



I think there's a little confusion - I'm not talking about replacing the whole cooler unit, I'm talking about modifying the Frostflow 150 by replacing its two fans with new silent ones of equal performance. There just isn't much information elsewhere online about Frostflow brand coolers as they are somewhat of an 'own brand'.

The Ryzen 9 7900 has a TDP of 65W and the Frostflow 150 supports 125W, so as long as I match the fan performance I can't imagine there would be any cooling issues, as long as the fans fit the unit correctly. This is my question - does anyone know of any idiosyncrasies of Frostflow coolers that would prevent me fitting matching fans of another (quieter) brand?

Many thanks.



Case - FRACTAL POP SILENT CASE TG (BLACK)
Processor (CPU) - AMD Ryzen 9 7900 12 Core CPU (4.0GHz-5.4GHz/76MB CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard - GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX: (WIFI 6E, DDR5, USB 3.2) - ARGB Ready!
Processor Cooling - PCS FrostFlow 150 Series High Performance CPU Cooler

Can you post the full specs please as they're all important

 

[jibbitt]

Sure:

Case	FRACTAL POP SILENT CASE TG (BLACK)
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 9 7900 12 Core CPU (4.0GHz-5.4GHz/76MB CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard	GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX: (WIFI 6E, DDR5, USB 3.2) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)	64GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 4800MHz (2 x 32GB)
Graphics Card	8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3050 - HDMI, DP, LHR
Graphics Card Support Bracket	NONE (BRACKET INCLUDED AS STANDARD ON 4070 Ti AND ABOVE)
1st M.2 SSD Drive	2TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive	2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive	NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply	CORSAIR 750W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable	1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling	PCS FrostFlow 150 Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste	ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card	ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card	ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card	NOT REQUIRED
USB/Thunderbolt Options	MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System	Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc Single License
Operating System Language	United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media	Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software	FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus	NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser	Microsoft® Edge
Warranty	3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery	STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time	FAST TRACK 5 WORKING DAY DISPATCH
Welcome Book	PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[SpyderTracks]

The cooler isn't sufficient for the processor, the 7900 can put out 140w at full load, that cooler is good for about 65w, that's why it's noisy because the cooler is overloaded.

If you want a decent air cooler, go for the Noctua NH-D15S

 

[jibbitt]

I agree about Noctua coolers.

This cooler is good for 65W? Why did they put 180W on the build page? That's the only reason I selected that one, comparing the TDPs.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I agree about Noctua coolers.

This cooler is good for 65W? Why did they put 180W on the build page? That's the only reason I selected that one, comparing the TDPs.

View attachment 37251

TDP doesn't mean anything these days unfortunately. Literally nothing, it's just a phantom number pulled out by marketing teams.

 

[sck451]

It looks like a pair of very standard 120mm case fans. I'd expect any other good quality fan would be entirely compatible. Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 fans might be a good option, or the Noctua NF-P12 for a little more.

I'm not sure how much this will reduce the noise or whether the cooler will be sufficient. I wouldn't rule it out, but I wouldn't be sure either. TDP values are meaningless: CPU manufacturers understate them, while cooler manufacturers overstate them. But if it's making noise when first booting, then settling down, it might be just because booting (or indeed opening a DAW or similar) is a CPU-intensive process, and so it needs a little more cooling, but then calms down once it's done with start-up tasks. The first step I'd do, before trying new fans, is to change the fan curve to whatever the quietest one in the BIOS is.

 

[B4zookaw]

I agree that the current cooler is not adequate for a 7900, especially how AM5 CPUs are designed to reach max temp always, they don't operate in the same way as pervious gens. So you need a beefy cooler. I don't think swapping out the existing fans on the cooler will offer sufficient cooling though. A beefy Noctua cooler would be ideal but they are expensive, and might not fit case. I would look at the Peerless Assassin 120 or the Deepcool AK620 as cheaper alternatives that are well reviewed. I'm assuming of course you want to stick with air coolers and not AIOs, AIOs will be the better option for sustained full load use.

Edit: This video is worth a watch too.

 

[sck451]

I agree that the current cooler is not adequate for a 7900, especially how AM5 CPUs are designed to reach max temp always, they don't operate in the same way as pervious gens. So you need a beefy cooler. I don't think swapping out the existing fans on the cooler will offer sufficient cooling though. A beefy Noctua cooler would be ideal but they are expensive, and might not fit case. I would look at the Peerless Assassin 120 or the Deepcool AK620 as cheaper alternatives that are well reviewed. I'm assuming of course you want to stick with air coolers and not AIOs, AIOs will be the better option for sustained full load use.

Edit: This video is worth a watch too.

I think you're wrong about this. It's the 7900, not the 7900X. Under stock settings, it has a maximum power draw of 90W.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I think you're wrong about this. It's the 7900, not the 7900X. Under stock settings, it has a maximum power draw of 90W.

It can pull up to 140 quite happily, depends what load is applied but that's at stock.

Tweaktown reported 106w in their testing under stock, others have reported higher. Most people would run it with PBO applied anyway which can draw up to 180w

AMD 65W Zen 4 Review: Ryzen 7600, 7700, and 7900 CPUs Tested

The new AMD Ryzen 65W processor SKUs open the door to small form factor PC gaming systems built on Zen 4. Here's our look at the new CPUs.

www.tweaktown.com

But even if it's 90w that's still too much for the cooler.

 

[jibbitt]

Thanks for the additional comments.

But if it's making noise when first booting, then settling down, it might be just because booting (or indeed opening a DAW or similar) is a CPU-intensive process, and so it needs a little more cooling, but then calms down once it's done with start-up tasks. The first step I'd do, before trying new fans, is to change the fan curve to whatever the quietest one in the BIOS is.

I have experimented with curves already, and it seems fine so far, cooling wise. My idle temp is sitting around 42° with 44% fan. It has not gone over 75° when it's doing something intense so far. It is, however, making too much noise for me when hitting even 50-60% fan usage.

So, while I expect the occasional more noisy flurry when it's really being pushed, my issue that it's noisy and whining at much lower fan usage levels.

This machine is for work, audio production, graphic design and the occasional game (which are mostly small indies anyway, not the latest FPSs etc.) - it is absolutely not being pushed all the time.

I think you're wrong about this. It's the 7900, not the 7900X. Under stock settings, it has a maximum power draw of 90W.

Yes, this is the exact reason I went with the 7900 and not the X (or a higher X3D).

Most people would run it with PBO applied anyway which can draw up to 180w

I am not running it with PBO.

The cooler isn't sufficient for the processor, the 7900 can put out 140w at full load, that cooler is good for about 65w, that's why it's noisy because the cooler is overloaded.

I agree that the current cooler is not adequate for a 7900

Two people have told me this, and I would like to understand how you have determined this. I am not being facetious or suggesting you're wrong, but I want to understand what information regarding this specific cooler tells you it is insufficient for the CPU. When I purchased it, I used TDP and looked up the performance and spec of the CPU model. Everyone has told me TDP is nonsense (fine, my bad) - so what information are we using to know the actual performance of this specific cooler and its appropriateness for a given processor?

 

[B4zookaw]

So I'd rate a cooler on three metrics:

1. Thermal performance
2. Acoustic performance
3. Price

So you can get coolers (and case fans) that can brute force their way to the top of benchmark charts if measured by thermal performance alone, but this is often at the expense of noise. So a truly great cooler will not only cool the CPU, but do so at a lower noise level. And this is where the likes of Noctua coolers are king, but they do less well in the third metric, price.

In the case of the Frostflow, it's probably doing an adequate job on the first metric, but as you can see/hear yourself, failing on the second. So I think a different air cooler that has a good balance of all three metrics would be the ones I linked to above.

 

[B4zookaw]

I think you're wrong about this. It's the 7900, not the 7900X. Under stock settings, it has a maximum power draw of 90W.

Yes, you're correct, but it will still push as much power (and therefore temps) as it can to get the best performance. This is how the AM5 CPUs work. So having a better cooler will allow it to run at lower noise level, and still keep temps in check.

 

[jibbitt]

So I'd rate a cooler on three metrics:

1. Thermal performance
2. Acoustic performance
3. Price

So you can get coolers (and case fans) that can brute force their way to the top of benchmark charts if measured by thermal performance alone, but this is often at the expense of noise. So a truly great cooler will not only cool the CPU, but do so at a lower noise level. And this is where the likes of Noctua coolers are king, but they do less well in the third metric, price.

In the case of the Frostflow, it's probably doing an adequate job on the first metric, but as you can see/hear yourself, failing on the second. So I think a different air cooler that has a good balance of all three metrics would be the ones I linked to above.

Right, I understand the benchmarking approach and the metrics involved, but two people have told me that the Frostflow 150, specifically, is not sufficient (one even telling me a number - 65w). As its a PCS own brand type scenario, there is no detailed information online about this cooler, I have not seen it in any benchmarks and searches come up dry.

So, while I understand people are able to advise on recommended coolers (for which information is readily available), I am interested in what specific information tells you the Frostflow 150 is not adequate (because the info is not readily available by my understanding). Again, not challenging anyone, I just want to know what specific information people are using to ascertain this.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Right, I understand the benchmarking approach and the metrics involved, but two people have told me that the Frostflow 150, specifically, is not sufficient (one even telling me a number - 65w). As its a PCS own brand type scenario, there is no detailed information online about this cooler, I have not seen it in any benchmarks and searches come up dry.

So, while I understand people are able to advise on recommended coolers (for which information is readily available), I am interested in what specific information tells you the Frostflow 150 is not adequate (because the info is not readily available by my understanding). Again, not challenging anyone, I just want to know what specific information people are using to ascertain this.

Benchmarking. We’ve been through it a number of times on this cooler.

You can run benches with Prime95 or Cinebench R23 to see the results yourself.

 

[sck451]

I think people in this thread are being too quick to dismiss the cooler as insufficient and in need of replacement. I've seen nothing of what @jibbitt has said to make it sound like there are any thermal problems. If there are, that's the time to replace it. That's the same for any upgrade: do it when there's a problem that needs fixing, not before. I'd check the temperatures you're getting (Hwinfo64 is the best way to do this) and unless they're really high, you're probably fine for now.

The problem described is one of a noisy fan. I'd much rather recommend spending £15-20 on a couple of new fans than three or four times that on a new cooler that may well just not be necessary.

 

[jibbitt]

I think people in this thread are being too quick to dismiss the cooler as insufficient and in need of replacement. I've seen nothing of what @jibbitt has said to make it sound like there are any thermal problems. If there are, that's the time to replace it. That's the same for any upgrade: do it when there's a problem that needs fixing, not before. I'd check the temperatures you're getting (Hwinfo64 is the best way to do this) and unless they're really high, you're probably fine for now.

The problem described is one of a noisy fan. I'd much rather recommend spending £15-20 on a couple of new fans than three or four times that on a new cooler that may well just not be necessary.

Thank you for focusing on my issue. I was just running a (albeit not incredibly demanding) game in 4k with RTX at locked 60fps and the temperature peaked around 55°.

I think I've partially solved my issue with custom curves, though. I will look at new fans in the near future (as this is a loud cooler at 50%+ usage).

I realised that the curve presets I was playing with were way overzealous for this (highly efficient) chip. It wants to run cool. The fans weren't really doing much past a certain point. Setting up a custom curve and keeping things below 40% fan engagement under 60° means I'm not getting annoying noise when I'm just meandering around Windows - this was the use case where I felt it was unacceptable to be kicking out so much racket.

It's currently running cool and quiet, so unless I am missing something significant, the cooler seems sufficient for now (notwithstanding the desire for quieter fans when it does kick up). I'm really not as worried about noise when I'm pushing it (gaming etc.), as this is short-term and not as sensitive as music production, or constant as general Windows stuff. No thermal problems whatsoever so far.

Thanks for everyone's responses, especially you, @sck451, for actually focusing on the crux of my issue and providing some decent suggestions.