A quick question for all you tech heads, from a complete novice. I have an off the shelf P4 3.0Ghz system. The CPU fan (Intel) is amazingly noisy, It sounds like a 747 on takeoff. I was wondering if it is possible to change the fan, not the heatsink unit just the fan, and make it quiter. If this can be done can anybody recommend a make of suitable fan. Please remember don't get to technical on me. I'm a complete novice and I'll cry. PS, The reason I don't want the change the heatsink, is the PC is still under warranty. I don't want to get into removing Thermal pads etc, I was hopeing to just unclip the Intel fan and replace it with something that runs as well but quiter..... I just want to make the machine quiter Many Thanks

The fan has temperature senor built in and it has variable fan speed based on the case temp. The fan is built with the special heatsink mounting and cannot be changed without changing the entire unit. The 3Ghz stock HSF is better than most aftermarket units. Some people prefer making change for the sake of change, I change only for better. If your fan is loud and running over 4500 rpm, try lower or better the case/system temperature by installing case fans. My units are running around 3100 rpm, and the noise level is acceptable.

"Please remember don't get to technical on me. I'm a complete novice and I'll cry." This does not dissuade me from being technical. But it does point out that technical people have the rest of humanity currently at their mercy so its best to be mercifully clear. If your fan is 60mm square that is the problem. All 60mm fans are loud and weak relative to 80mm fans. You might get a 80mm-to-60mm adapter and put on a 80mm fan. That's one solution. You might deliver an intake temperature to your fan that is cooler than it is now. A hole in the side of your case with a duct running to your fan will make a big difference. Ducts are the future.

If you decide to ever change the whole hsf i would get a themaltake spark 7 you can control the speed manualy and it cool way better than the stock hsf.

1st P4 HSF came with 60mm fan, 2nd generation came with 70mm fan, and the latest came with 70mm fan but turns much faster; up to 5500-rpm. The fan is built in with the mounting to retainer. So, the answer to "if it is possible to change the fan, not the heatsink unit just the fan," is no. There is no thermal pad on the new P4 HSF, it comes with thermal paste. "ducts are the future" I totally agree, I use two from Koolsultions.net and it reduces CPU temp by more than 5 Degrees C no matter what kind of HSF I use, from SLK800U to stock Intel. The more efficient the HSF the more heat it dissipates into the case away from the processor, good case ventilation follows.