Next project - cooling improvements [Archive]

Skiz

04-20-2010, 06:01 PM

Now that I may have my SSD problems under control, I'd like to tackle my temperature issues.

I have recently installed a new GPU. I noticed that there was some serious heat coming from the back of the PC so I figured I would do the requisite research. I used a simple tool call System Information for Windows (SIW) and found some pretty high temps, especially for the GPU's. The first pic is with the PC essentially idle. the second is after about 15 minutes of gaming.

http://i43.tinypic.com/bijya0.jpg
------------------------------------------
http://i44.tinypic.com/n33p7n.jpg

The case is a Cooler Master RC 690 and currently has three fans to circulate air. Top (http://i40.tinypic.com/ac8oet.jpg). Side (http://i41.tinypic.com/15d009d.jpg). Rear (http://i39.tinypic.com/24x3v4m.jpg).

There are several other places (http://hi-techreviews.com/reviews_2007/CoolerMaster_690/Page4.htm) for fans if that is a proper solution. Would tossing a couple more fans in there really do the job?

Detale

04-20-2010, 06:32 PM

I should probably know this by now bud, but what are your specs again and whats the budget?

What do you want to run cooler? You could always get a good aftermarket CPU cooler and a few GPU coolers as well. More fans usually help a bit sure but placement is key really.

In this pic:
http://i40.tinypic.com/n3kb2c.jpg

I'm pretty sure you want that fan blowing cool outside air into the case. Intake is just as important as exhaust ;)

Also in this one:
http://i39.tinypic.com/mijvva.jpg

Heat rises as I'm sure you know so you'd want this one blowing out of the case.

You want to try and create a constant flow not just blowing on the components. a general idea is something like this

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/848/coolermastercm690purebl.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/coolermastercm690purebl.jpg/)

With the side panel blowing cool air on the GPU's it should have a deff improvement.

Skiz

04-20-2010, 06:57 PM

Computer specs are in my profile but here they are again:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Kentsfield) [G0] 2.40GHz Socket 775
XFX nForce 780i 3-Way SLI
Corsair 8 GB (800MHz Dual DDR2 RAM)
Two nVIDIA e-GeForce 8800 GTS's in SLI
One GeForce 7900GT
60GB SSD - OCZ Vertex Turbo OCZSSD2
1.6TB total drive space
2 x 19" Dell LCDs

Budget really isn't a factor.

I'd definitely feel like the GPU's need to be cooler as they are hitting over 80° and I'd like for the cores to be cooler as when playing games I am a full 10° over what Intel recommends as a "safe" temp (they recommend not exceeding 60°). They are breaking 70° when gaming.

EDIT: I messed those airflow pics all up by mislabeling them. I edited my original post. Sorry. :pinch:

Detale

04-20-2010, 08:20 PM

Great then the flow looks better ;) Now like I said if you really want to get that thing cooled down you could get a good aftermarket CPU cooler. I take it you're using the stock Intel one? I'm pretty sure the Prolimatech Megahalems (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001) is the top dog of CPU air coolers ATM so I could recommend that one with a decent fan. I'm pretty sure you can go as low as 800 RPM's so it would be pretty quiet.

As far as fans go my personnel favorites are the Scythe S-flex (http://www.frozencpu.com/search.html?mv_profile=keyword_search&mv_session_id=JUFHwUzB&searchspec=s-flex&go.x=0&go.y=0) fans, decent price and really quiet. If your concern isn't to get it super super quiet definitely get these yate loons (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10457/fan-687/Yate_Loon_120mm_x_25mm_Fan_-_Open_Chassis_D12SL-12.html). They're almost as quiet as the scythe but really cheap :)

TBH I'm not really up on the GPU coolers all that well but a Quick read shows this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186016) gets good ratings.

Skiz

04-20-2010, 09:21 PM

I'd like to get the quietest fans I can find.

I think I'm going to start shopping around and fill up all the fan spots with fans. Surely that will get it under control. If not, I may go after something like this (http://www.google.com/products?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS311&q=zalman%209700&ndsp=18&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=if).

tesco

04-21-2010, 01:38 AM

Filling every spot with a fan running at full speed will make your computer sounds like a hair dryer (and heat the room like one).

First of all make sure the fans are in the arrangement detale suggested. Side and front fans should blow air in, and the rear/top fans suck the hot air out.
If your CPU is hitting 70 then you have a problem. Heatsink full of dust? Mess of wires? Or it could just be from the heat given off by the GPUs (heat rises onto the cpu heatsink).

Next steps would be upgrading the heat sinks, which is something I can't help you with as I'm using a huge fanless heat sink on my GPU and stock on my cpu (I didn't need to go any further than my above suggestions, and I'm actually running all fans at 50% or lower speeds to keep my computer quiet).

Rart

04-21-2010, 01:53 AM

Hey Detale:

Do you know what's the difference/what purposes this fan serves compared to the SFlex? I've heard they can be a decent bit quieter.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10027/fan-640/Scythe_Gentle_Typhoon_120mm_x_25mm_Fan_-_500_RPM_D1225C12B1AP-11.html

clocker

04-21-2010, 02:39 AM

Skiz, you're making life difficult by limiting yourself to the fan locations that CoolerMaster randomly chose when designing your case.

If you want more cooling for the GPU then get a fan right on that fucker...use any means necessary.
Zip ties, velcro, silicon, whatever, the point being to get as much airflow as possible directly on the heat source.

You needn't be concerned about where this fan(s) will get it's air or where it goes, the case is so full of holes that it'll get what it needs.

You can peruse the CM marketing swill regarding "case airflow"...but only as an exercise in fantasy- the chances of air moving through the case in anything remotely resembling their arrows are about as good as a unicorn winning the Derby.

Detale

04-21-2010, 03:02 AM

Out of curiosity Skizo why go with those coolers. There are far superior ones out there.

@Rart. the GT fans are great as well I had the 92mm versions in my tj-07 build. Honestly I cant tell which one is quieter, they're both DAMN good fans though. They are just a different fan blade design.

Skiz

04-21-2010, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the replies; lot's of good info there.

I've tried pin-pointing the source of the heat a bit better so I can limit or better arrange the fans I get and currently have.

*The PSU is fine and barely even warm to the touch.
*I put my hand on the hard drives and they are nice and cool.
*RAM is pretty warm.
*GPUs are hot. They are exhausting a lot of heat out the back of the case and making the metal exterior moderately hot as well. About the same as the RAM feels.
*I touched this part (http://i43.tinypic.com/2hzsm1.jpg) by the cooling fan and it was hot. Not like frighteningly hot, but just hot enough that I couldn't keep my finger on it.

Now, I have one stock 1500 RPM fan that is mounted right up against the GPUs. (pic (http://i41.tinypic.com/97mvy1.jpg)) When the case is closed, it can't be more than an inch away. It is blowing at 100% so I don't know what else to do for the GPU's. I don't know if another fan above the current one would do anything. Maybe a faster fan to replace the current one?

The only other thought is to somehow mount one directly above the other intake fan and tilt it forward at a 45 degree angle so it blows right down onto the GPUs.

Putting a GPU cooler on there is out of the question. With 3 cards sandwiched together, I couldn't stick a greased needle in there.

As for the CPU area, I don't know what else to do other than replace the heat sink.

Out of curiosity Skizo why go with those coolers. There are far superior ones out there.

It was just a general idea of what I was referring to. Not saying that brand or model.

Detale

04-21-2010, 06:55 AM

The warmest part you reffered to is the North Bridge
http://i43.tinypic.com/2hzsm1.jpg

They usually do get quite hot as well. They sell aftermarket coolers for that as well. Are you saying you always had a fan blowing on the GPU's or did you just do that now?

Skiz

04-21-2010, 07:57 AM

It's always been there.

Detale

04-21-2010, 01:21 PM

Im surprised that you were getting those temps with a fan blowing right on them. I guess it's that the cards (3 right?) are very close together.Hmmmm you could get a fan blowing more than 1500 RPM's but it would be loud, I mean real loud. If this doesn't bother you I have a bunch of San Ace (http://www.petrastechshop.com/12x38sadesan.html) fans I don't use anymore if you want them. I got them a while ago. I didn't pay nearly as much as on petras. I think they were $8 or so. These things are LOUD but powerful as hell man. 2600RPM moving 102.5 CFM. Let me know, maybe I can finally mail you something.

Skiz

04-28-2010, 04:27 AM

Thanks a ton, but for the moment I'll hold off on that fan. The current setup isn't real loud, but the last thing I want is an increase in noise.

I've been doing some poking around and I think I'm gonna spring for one of these (http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-h50-cpu-cooler-review/). Anyone care to shoot that down?

Detale

04-28-2010, 01:59 PM

Oh no you didn't!

Skiz

04-29-2010, 05:29 PM

I did. I tewtally went there and back.

It seems like a better idea than the added fans. It should produce less noise ("35db") and give me all the cooling I need. Right?

After that, I'll need to sort something out for the GPUs.

Detale

04-29-2010, 06:16 PM

Honestly the H50 isn't any better than one of the current top dog air coolers bud. Also I thought the point here was to cool your GPU's and overall case temps. The H50 will only cool your CPU dude. You will probably still need to add a fan or two.

Something else I thought of just now. You may want to do something first before buying any extra coolers. make sure the stock heatsinks are making contact sometimes they aren't seated properly. Also you could replace the stock thermal paste with some good stuff like Arctic silver 5. I say that because you can get it in radio shack now and just try it before anything else. it should help quite a bit I think.

Skiz

04-29-2010, 06:46 PM

Honestly the H50 isn't any better than one of the current top dog air coolers bud. Also I thought the point here was to cool your GPU's and overall case temps. The H50 will only cool your CPU dude. You will probably still need to add a fan or two.

I don't need it to be better than an air cooler, I just need it to work. The problem is that the CPU is getting too hot and the GPUs. The maximum safe temp Intel lists for my processor is 62C and I'm running almost 10 degrees over that while gaming.

I know fuck all about cooling so I'm learning as I go here with my research but everything I post gets shot down. :cry:

Something else I thought of just now. You may want to do something first before buying any extra coolers. make sure the stock heatsinks are making contact sometimes they aren't seated properly. Also you could replace the stock thermal paste with some good stuff like Arctic silver 5. I say that because you can get it in radio shack now and just try it before anything else. it should help quite a bit I think.

I don't know how comfortable I am doing that. I've never tinkered with that sort of stuffs before. I'd feel fine about it on another PC but this is my only internets. :ermm:

Detale

04-29-2010, 06:57 PM

LOL, dude you're a smart guy. It's usually either a few pins or screws. Wipe off the old and spread on the new. :)

clocker

04-29-2010, 07:31 PM

I don't know how comfortable I am doing that. I've never tinkered with that sort of stuffs before. I'd feel fine about it on another PC but this is my only internets. :ermm:
If you're nervous about redoing the TIM, how are you going to install a waterblock?

Skiz

04-29-2010, 08:08 PM

Detale

04-30-2010, 07:22 AM

Skiz

04-30-2010, 06:30 PM

I was under the impression this wouldn't require additional paste. It states it comes with a "thin layer of thermal paste" already on the copper base. Does that mean I don't need to add any? This guy doesn't (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDvcgPAK3BI). :unsure:

Not saying you fellas are wrong or anything as you certainly know more than I, but just talking it out.

Detale

05-01-2010, 05:39 AM

No you don't need any, but usually the stuff that comes on the block already is crap. My advice is get yourself an aftermarket one. My fav is still Arctic silver 5

Skiz

01-13-2011, 11:28 PM

Alright, I got a Corsair H50 a couple weeks ago and I finally had some real time to sit down and get this done.

I went out and bought another fan (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/4275/fan-236/SilenX_120x120x25mm_-_14dBA_-_72CFM_iXtrema_Pro_Fan_with_Fluid_Dynamic_Bearings_IXP-74-14.html) and some thermal paste (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129001). Temps appear to be WAY down now. Compared to my first post, the temps are down ~15 - 22 degrees while idle and down ~21 - 31 degrees after around 15 minutes of gaming. Even while playing Black Ops for about a half hour with SIW running in the background, the highest recorded temp on any core was 40 degrees. :)

Can post pics if anyone cares.

clocker

01-14-2011, 12:01 AM

Please do, we're very visually oriented.

Skiz

01-14-2011, 02:45 AM

Here you go. :)

clocker

01-14-2011, 03:53 AM

Nice, I think that's an interesting approach to watercooling.
Now, what about the vid cards?

When Detale starts hinting about water and the RAM, just ignore him...

Detale

01-15-2011, 06:26 AM

See I knew you had it in you bud. The pics look great on my iPod touch ( where I'm viewing from ATM) how hard would you say that was? Seriously I know you could do a build from scratch

Skiz

01-19-2011, 09:27 AM

It was easy. It took quite a bit of time though as I had no access to the back of my motherboard, so everything had to come out just so I could mount the bracket on the backside. Kind of a pain, but it let me get inside and clean everything a bit.

I may try watercooling on the next PC I decide to build. It'll be a while though as this thing is still screamin fast.

The most irritating thing I do as far as maintenance is clean out the loads of dust that get in there in short amounts of time. Buying compressed air has gone beyond annoying, and the only air compressor I own is too big to bring inside for such a job. Has anyone ever tried out any of the 120mm air filters? I also don't like blowing it all over the place as it just ends up on the desk or something anyhow, only to eventually make its way back down to the PC I presume. :dabs:

Detale

01-19-2011, 10:28 PM

In this pic:
http://i40.tinypic.com/n3kb2c.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/mijvva.jpg

...

Looks like they reassigned the address of my initial pics :O

On most of the new cases of any quality they have the mobo tray cut out behind the CPU so you can change the CPU cooler of choice without having to remove the whole Mobo bud.

I use these DEMCiflex filters (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8823/ffi-29/DEMCiflex_120mm_Magnetic_Fan_Dust_Filter_-_Black_-_Steel_Aluminum_Plastic_Chassis.html). They work great. I rinse em off once a week and love them. They're magnetic so there's no issue installing unless you have an aluminum case, even then they come with a mounting option I think it's a magnetic sticker so they will adhere to the case.

Skiz

01-22-2011, 06:29 PM

On most of the new cases of any quality they have the mobo tray cut out behind the CPU so you can change the CPU cooler of choice without having to remove the whole Mobo bud.

Not mine. (http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=2908) :no:

I use these DEMCiflex filters (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8823/ffi-29/DEMCiflex_120mm_Magnetic_Fan_Dust_Filter_-_Black_-_Steel_Aluminum_Plastic_Chassis.html). They work great. I rinse em off once a week and love them. They're magnetic so there's no issue installing unless you have an aluminum case, even then they come with a mounting option I think it's a magnetic sticker so they will adhere to the case.

I'll grab a couple. :smilie4: