Member Avatar for shakssage

Hi, need some help on getting a new heat sink fan.

I've currently got a stock amd one which came with my processor, Athlon 64 x2 5200+ (yes, quite old) and it's starting to make a really loud noise when the rpm increases above 4000. It makes this noise due to vibration i'm guessing and it'll be best to replace with an aftermarket one right?

Anyways, i'm not really sure on which cooler to get and I've seen plenty of suggestions for a arctic cooling freezer 7 pro. The problem with this is that the fan would be facing up towards the psu or down towards the gpu. Is this a problem?

Oh, I'm also using a thermaltake soprano supermidi case, so not entirely sure if it'll fit in there?

Thanks.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

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As described, a stock AMD cooler that suddenly starts vibrating and getting loud above ~4000 RPM is usually a mechanical issue (worn bearing, imbalance or a loose mount). Replacing the cooler is a sensible final step, but a few quick checks often save money: power down and unplug, open the case, inspect the fan for dust or wobble, tighten mounting screws/clips, and — if the fan is a sleeve-bearing type — a tiny drop of light oil can sometimes quiet it. Swapping the fan itself (same diameter) is often cheaper than buying a whole new heatsink.

Echoing , the direction a cooler’s fan faces is not inherently fatal to performance; what matters is overall case airflow. A cooler that blows toward a top-mounted PSU or toward the GPU is fine if there’s decent clearance and the case provides cool intake (front/side) and a clear exhaust path (rear/top). It becomes a problem only when the cooler exhaust is boxed against another component or a PSU intake so hot air is recirculated back into the system.

Practical checklist before buying a replacement:

  • Measure internal clearance from the CPU to the nearest obstruction (PSU, side/top) and compare with the cooler’s height spec.
  • Confirm the cooler’s mounting/retention is compatible with the motherboard’s AMD bracket.
  • Check RAM and first-PCIe/GPU clearance (offset fans or low-profile RAM avoid clashes).
  • Prefer larger-diameter fans at lower RPM (or PWM control) and rubber anti-vibration mounts for quieter running.
  • Plan to clean off old thermal paste and apply a fresh, thin layer when re-installing.

Start with the simple fixes (clean, tighten, replace only the fan). If vibration persists, choose a cooler that matches the measured clearance and the case’s airflow strategy, then verify idle/load temperatures after installation to confirm safe cooling.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

your links not working ,so not sure what you meant about the direction of the fan

Member Avatar for shakssage

ah sorry, it was just a link to the arctic cooling freezer 7 pro.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176157

I've measured the inside of my tower and I think it should be fine in terms of size, but the problem is, the fan would be facing towards the psu or the gpu. Is that alright?

I also don't plan on overclocking either.

Thanks.

Edited by shakssage because: n/a
Member Avatar for caperjack

ok,now i understand ,don't see the direction making any difference in performance of the cooler

Member Avatar for shakssage

Sorry, don't quite understand what you mean.

My question basically is if it's a problem for the cooler to be faced towards the psu or the gpu rather than face towards the back/front/side of the case?

If I get the arctic cooler which can be seen on the link, it can only be placed facing the psu or the gpu. Is that ok?

Member Avatar for caperjack

since a fan usually blows towards the cpu ,i don't it hurting what way the cooler faces.
as long as there is cool air coming in the front of the case to blow pass the cpu cooler it should be ok .

Member Avatar for shakssage

Alright. Thanks for your help.

Member Avatar for caperjack

your welcome .good luck

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