My Cyrix supplied heatsink/fan sounds like a jet engine. Is this normal?
A. Yes this is normal and it also is a common complaint. The comparison to a jet engine is of course an exaggeration. The Cyrix supplied heatsink/fan rotates three times faster than most standard heatsink/fans to help reduce heat. As a result, it makes a loud whining noise and can cause a significant amount of vibration if it is not mounted securely. The Cyrix heatsink/fan is also a sleeve-bearing fan rather than a ball-bearing fan. Sleeve-bearing fans are more common, inherently noisier, and do not last as long as a result of their cheaper design. Many people have given high marks to the heatsink/fans made by PC Power & Cooling which can be obtained for a very reasonable $25.00. These heatsink/fans consist of a long-life, ball-bearing mini-fan integrated into die-cast heat sink. Custom features include deep-ribbed air channels and contoured fins for efficient heat transfer, mounting posts for distortion-free fan alignment, and a unique bi-directional fan shroud for maximum air velocit
