New Build Cooling Suggestions

Bill4 · 05-23-2007, 08:35 PM

Greetings All,
Have recently put together a new computer and as I start to overclock,
I am not happy with the cooling. Before I go mucking about with things,
I'd like to ask for some opinions and potential solutions.

System Specs
Lian Li PC-60 (Fans 120mm front; 120mm Side; 80mm blowhole; 80mm rear)
ASUS P5B Deluxe
Zalman CNPS9700LED
Intel C2D E6600 2.4ghz
Mushkin 4X1Gig (DDR2 800)
XP Pro
Corsair 520HX
Sapphire X1900GT
Raptor 74Gig
Raptor 36Gig

System currently running at 300fsb and DDR2 (600)
I can go higher but things get hot quick!

Temps
Room 25C
Idle Core 43C MB 39
Prime95 Core 55

Am currently pursuing new fans for the case. Would like to find a good balance
between airflow and noise; Suggestion greatly appreciated:
Currently looking at some fan offerings from Frozen CPU
- Noctura
- Silenx

Thoughts.
-Is it possible Zalman seated incorrectly?
-Thermal Paste (I used the stuff included with the Zalman)?
-Air flow in case?
-Is there a better C2D heatsink and fan on the market?
-Is it possible I just want too much on air cooling?

Thanks
Bill

h20-ski · 05-23-2007, 10:17 PM

Before you spend a lot on silent fans. You might want it look at Yate-Loons, they are cheap ie ~$5. Although they are not the highest in quality, they are quiet. The are quieter than Panaflo's L1A and Coolermaster's silent hard drive fans.

Sir Skully · 05-24-2007, 12:00 AM

The heat spreader on the cpu is it mating well with the Zalman cooler? I went through 3 Intel CPU's before I found one that mated with my Zalman. I don't like to lap cpu's, so I buy local. If it(CPU) doesn't mate well, I take it back and exchange for another. I'm running water now and the E6600 I have mates well with the water block.

jrefronc · 05-24-2007, 04:45 PM

Even though you are using Mushkin ram I'm pretty sure the Corsair fan made for Dominator cooling, because it snaps onto to the ram clips and not the ram itself, will clip on over those sticks and give nice air flow directly to your ram. $20 at newegg. Might be a cheap first try at cooling things down.

I have the same cpu and the same cpu fan on the EVGA 680i and I see <40c load temps with my fsb at 1400. Double checking the mating of the 9700 to the cpu and that the thermal paste is applied properly is a good idea.

Good luck!

ctal · 05-24-2007, 08:20 PM

The fact that your CPU temps are only 4 deg C and 16 deg C (idle and load, respectively) greater than your MB idle temp tells me that your main problem is case cooling, not CPU cooling. You can confirm that by measuring with the side panel removed -- all temps will probably go down significantly. Assuming you have no major obstructions to airflow within the case that would account for the problem, you may want to check out some of the Antec fans offered by NewEgg and/or PerformancePC's. They make a nice 80mm fan whose speed is automatically varied in accordance with a temperature sensor it contains (useful for rear & top exhaust fans), and a 120mm fan (for the two intake locations) which has a three-position speed switch dangling from it. I've found this fan to be silent at the low speed setting, around 1200 rpm; quiet at the medium setting, around 1700 rpm; and still reasonable in terms of noise at the high setting, around 2200 rpm iirc, while moving the considerable amount of air one expects of a 120mm fan.

-- Al

Bill4 · 05-28-2007, 11:09 AM

An update.

Waiting on fans and some AS5 to arrive in the mail.
Did some cable work to improve airflow and moved the video card to the
lower slot.
MB temps went down to 31 and stay there even under a load.

Couple more questions:
Where is the MB temp sensor?
What is the performance hit for running the video card in the secondary (lower) slot?

Also, NB is hot to the touch. Has anybody out there put in an active NB cooler?

Thanks
Bill

Vheox · 06-05-2007, 06:01 PM

It seems to me you have a crapload blowing INTO the case, but barely anything coming OUT. Its great to get cool air into the rig, but if you don't get the hot air out even watercooling wont help you...

*SRTDodge05* · 06-05-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vheox

It seems to me you have a crapload blowing INTO the case, but barely anything coming OUT. Its great to get cool air into the rig, but if you don't get the hot air out even watercooling wont help you...

Thats pretty standard now adays, but i like having 120's all around.

h20-ski · 06-06-2007, 10:48 AM

While having tons of fans blowing in is not ideal, the case can only handle so much pressure before the air will find cracks and holes to come out of.

There are active NB coolers although they can run up to $50.
As for performance lose, it depends if the lower slot is a 16X / 8X or a 4X slot electronically. The first two there would not be a real noticeable difference.

Vheox · 06-06-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h20-ski

While having tons of fans blowing in is not ideal, the case can only handle so much pressure before the air will find cracks and holes to come out of.

I agree, I'm just saying that in my opinion, that restricts air flow, and thus hinders cooling.

h20-ski · 06-06-2007, 06:29 PM

Agreed, the optimum would be to have as much going in as out.

Vheox · 06-06-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h20-ski

Agreed, the optimum would be to have as much going in as out.

Right.

05-23-2007, 10:17 PM	#2
h20-ski Forget Wakeboarding Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	Before you spend a lot on silent fans. You might want it look at Yate-Loons, they are cheap ie ~$5. Although they are not the highest in quality, they are quiet. The are quieter than Panaflo's L1A and Coolermaster's silent hard drive fans. __________________
(Offline)

05-24-2007, 12:00 AM	#3
Sir Skully ABX KNIGHT EXEMPLAR Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA-GA Posts: 25,972	The heat spreader on the cpu is it mating well with the Zalman cooler? I went through 3 Intel CPU's before I found one that mated with my Zalman. I don't like to lap cpu's, so I buy local. If it(CPU) doesn't mate well, I take it back and exchange for another. I'm running water now and the E6600 I have mates well with the water block. __________________ .....................................................................................................................
(Offline)

05-24-2007, 04:45 PM	#4
jrefronc OpenMindsAreConservative Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: RaleighWood Posts: 121	Even though you are using Mushkin ram I'm pretty sure the Corsair fan made for Dominator cooling, because it snaps onto to the ram clips and not the ram itself, will clip on over those sticks and give nice air flow directly to your ram. $20 at newegg. Might be a cheap first try at cooling things down. I have the same cpu and the same cpu fan on the EVGA 680i and I see <40c load temps with my fsb at 1400. Double checking the mating of the 9700 to the cpu and that the thermal paste is applied properly is a good idea. Good luck! __________________ "Good work is the key to good fortune." EVGA 680i -- C2D e6600 -- 4 GB Corsair Dominator pc2 8500 -- Geforce 8800gts(g92) -- Raptor 150 -- Sony DVD R/W/Ram -- PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W -- Zalman 9700led -- Ultra Alumninus Blue -- Antec Stealth 120mm Case Fans (2) -- Sceptre 20.1" LCD 1680x1050 -- WinXP Pro SP3
(Offline)

05-24-2007, 08:20 PM	#5
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,315	The fact that your CPU temps are only 4 deg C and 16 deg C (idle and load, respectively) greater than your MB idle temp tells me that your main problem is case cooling, not CPU cooling. You can confirm that by measuring with the side panel removed -- all temps will probably go down significantly. Assuming you have no major obstructions to airflow within the case that would account for the problem, you may want to check out some of the Antec fans offered by NewEgg and/or PerformancePC's. They make a nice 80mm fan whose speed is automatically varied in accordance with a temperature sensor it contains (useful for rear & top exhaust fans), and a 120mm fan (for the two intake locations) which has a three-position speed switch dangling from it. I've found this fan to be silent at the low speed setting, around 1200 rpm; quiet at the medium setting, around 1700 rpm; and still reasonable in terms of noise at the high setting, around 2200 rpm iirc, while moving the considerable amount of air one expects of a 120mm fan. -- Al
(Offline)

05-28-2007, 11:09 AM	#6
Bill4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 84	An update. Waiting on fans and some AS5 to arrive in the mail. Did some cable work to improve airflow and moved the video card to the lower slot. MB temps went down to 31 and stay there even under a load. Couple more questions: Where is the MB temp sensor? What is the performance hit for running the video card in the secondary (lower) slot? Also, NB is hot to the touch. Has anybody out there put in an active NB cooler? Thanks Bill
(Offline)

06-05-2007, 06:01 PM	#7
Vheox MS Live Meeting Support Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,467	It seems to me you have a crapload blowing INTO the case, but barely anything coming OUT. Its great to get cool air into the rig, but if you don't get the hot air out even watercooling wont help you... __________________
(Offline)

06-06-2007, 10:48 AM	#9
h20-ski Forget Wakeboarding Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	While having tons of fans blowing in is not ideal, the case can only handle so much pressure before the air will find cracks and holes to come out of. There are active NB coolers although they can run up to $50. As for performance lose, it depends if the lower slot is a 16X / 8X or a 4X slot electronically. The first two there would not be a real noticeable difference.
(Offline)

06-06-2007, 06:29 PM	#11
h20-ski Forget Wakeboarding Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	Agreed, the optimum would be to have as much going in as out.
(Offline)

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