QUOTE(tk_saturn @ Mar 9 2011, 08:51 PM)
and how exactly do you know that? You have the those temps displayed while gaming do you? The temps vary massively based on room temperature. It makes no sense all at to have a fixed fan speed when room temperature changes so much. There's a reason why these console have variable fan speeds. It would make perfect sense to have a fixed speed if the temperatures were always static, but they aren't.
How do i know? I have tested it numerous times by playing a graphically demanding game for hours then exiting to fsd to check. Guide + y takes me back in about 3 seconds, i can then look at the temps. I check the temps every time i exit a game. Its always under 50. The expensive thermal compound + fan shroud mod must make a good bit of difference also.
Im fully aware that the environmental temps are variable (my house is kind of cold btw). The point is, set to auto the temps will potentially get much higher than they would ever get when the fans are set to 70%. So how can it be dangerous to do so, It will always do a better job than fans running auto.
The only time I have ever heard the fans speed up that fast is on consoles that have a bad connction between the chips and the heatsink or consoles that are extremely dusty/poorly ventilated. Im sure most ppl have the good sense not to keep the console enclosed.
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I have mine set to 55C. While typically the fans sound like they are running at 65% while gaming, on occassion I've heard the fans going at 80%. I also have a rough idea of how hot the console is running while gaming from how loud the fans are.
Stock consoles do ramp up their fans, it's just their threshold is set high. I've had a Falcon before which I had in a cabinet and forgot to open the door for ventaliation a few times, after a while I can hear the sound of a leaf blower. It's clear from the target temps 'sound' is more of a priority and not temperature. Of all the consoles, the Xenons is the most relucant to ramp up despite generating the most heat/ least cooling. But to be fair about them, you do see quite a few people complaining about the noise of stock consoles as it is and any Xenon is likely to make a racket if it were aiming for the same temps a Jasper aims for.
As for changing noise, clean the fans. I find 'dusty' fans make a vibrato wabbling noise like most motors do at certain speeds. Stripping the fans out and cleaning the dust off with a brush seems to help. Then you're just left with 'white noise'.
The majority of the noise that ppl generally complain about is caused by the 12x dvd rom. Ive seen xenons, falcons and jaspers get very warm indeed (possibly as high as 80c) and still remain quiet
I dont dissagree that setting the target temps low is a good way of doing it. I just personally dont like the sound of the fans changing speed. In my case (my console isnt dusty btw) keeping the fans constant works great.