3000 XP cooling question.

[imported_zeddex]

Hello, my first post here.

This Friday I went out and bought a new PSU, cooler and case, since I had a cheapo set-up that I was quite tired of. Right now its looking like this.

AMD Ahtlon 3000 XP
Asus A7N8X-Deluxe
1.5 GB Kingston Value RAM
120g Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 S-ATA
Pioneer 111 DVD-RW
Hercules Radeon Pro 9600 (Soon to be upgraded to 7800gs)
Audigy 2
Enermax 465 VE
Zalman AlCU 7000
Chieftec MESH Full Tower E-ATX case

Well, this is a straightforward question. I installed everything in the new case, but I forgot to buy case fans. The chieftec can take 5 x 92 mm fans and a back exhaust 120mm fan. My current CPU temp at full load is 51ºC / ambient is at 36ºC. Idle the temperatures are 47/34. This is with the Zalman at max speed (still very low noise). The Enermax is set to lowest fan speed but it has an auto function too.

I understand I need case fans, I was just in too much of a hurry. First of all, I'd like to know if getting 1 side 92 intake into the hard disk, 1 front 92 intake and one 120mm exhaust will cut it. Second, I have seen Papst fans in my local store, they seem good, I wonder if you guys would recommend them. And last of all, are these current temperatures excessive? Should I be worried or is that OK?

Thanks a lot for any suggestions.

 

[Cruise51]

You could run the computer with the side panel off (if there is enough airflow in the room). Definitly get more fans though. For a case that size 2 92s and 1 120 might be asking for trouble if they have a lower rpm. Your temps arn't that bad for an Athlon XP, but I'd still try to get it down a little. My old Athlon XP usually ran in the high 40s. Regarding the Papst fans... From what I hear they are fairly good quality, but I've never tried them myself.

 

[Zepper]

Welcome to the AT forums.

New Papst fans are generally very expensive. There are lots of used ones out there so be sure what you're getting. Your temps don't look too bad as is. Try just one front fan and one rear fan to begin with. Add the side one later if you think it needs it.

.bh.

 

[imported_zeddex]

Thanks for the replies guys. Regarding the Papst fans, I am buying from a very well reputed Dutch IT chain (Alternate) and I am quite positive its OK, but you're damn right they're expensive. I don't mind splashing out a bit more though, we are still talking about prices in the tens of ?uros. As for the air flow in the room, its quite decent, but this is Spain, we are already getting temperatures of almost 40ºC, and July/August will be even worse.

 

[imported_zeddex]

I'm going to buy the fans this afternoon when I'm out of the office - going with 1 92 and 1 120 right now, then I'll monitor the temps and post them here. Do you guys think I'll gain anything regarding airflow if I also buy some round cables, or is that pointless in a case this big? I will soon install my other 2 HDs and a DVD-ROM, so its gonna start getting messy cable-wise.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: zeddex
I'm going to buy the fans this afternoon when I'm out of the office - going with 1 92 and 1 120 right now, then I'll monitor the temps and post them here. Do you guys think I'll gain anything regarding airflow if I also buy some round cables, or is that pointless in a case this big? I will soon install my other 2 HDs and a DVD-ROM, so its gonna start getting messy cable-wise.

This must be your case?

I can't find any pictures other then the front so I'm not sure exactly how that case is laid out but I would fill all the intake (front) and exhaust (rear) fan mounts. Side panel fans are probably not necessary. Also try to aim for as neutral as possible air flow, you don't want more air going out then going in or vise versa.

Personally I think round cables are a joke, you can do a much better job with some clever folding of the flat IDE cables.

 

[Zepper]

I use round cables where there is no choice but to run them thru the air path in a case. I use flat cables where I can origami them out of the way (don't fold your folds too tightly on the flat cables as wires could get broken - I use double sided foam tape or low-temp hot glue on the inside of the folds to keep them in place).

The MESH is basically an updating of the Matrix case to hold 92mm fans instead of 80mm and, of course, an appearance makeover.

.bh.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I use round cables where there is no choice but to run them thru the air path in a case. I use flat cables where I can origami them out of the way (don't fold your folds too tightly on the flat cables as wires could get broken - I use double sided foam tape or low-temp hot glue on the inside of the folds to keep them in place).

.bh.

If it's to optical drives I usually find it pretty easy. With IDE hard drives it can be a bit trickier, but in a case that big it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[imported_zeddex]

This must be your case?

I can't find any pictures other then the front so I'm not sure exactly how that case is laid out but I would fill all the intake (front) and exhaust (rear) fan mounts. Side panel fans are probably not necessary. Also try to aim for as neutral as possible air flow, you don't want more air going out then going in or vise versa.

Personally I think round cables are a joke, you can do a much better job with some clever folding of the flat IDE cables.

That's the case indeed. The set up is 2 x 92 in the lower part of the front panel, 3 x 92 on the lower right side of the case (if you look at it from the front), which blow directly onto the 6x3.5" bays, and a rear 120mm.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: zeddex

This must be your case?

I can't find any pictures other then the front so I'm not sure exactly how that case is laid out but I would fill all the intake (front) and exhaust (rear) fan mounts. Side panel fans are probably not necessary. Also try to aim for as neutral as possible air flow, you don't want more air going out then going in or vise versa.

Personally I think round cables are a joke, you can do a much better job with some clever folding of the flat IDE cables.

That's the case indeed. The set up is 2 x 92 in the lower part of the front panel, 3 x 92 on the lower right side of the case (if you look at it from the front), which blow directly onto the 6x3.5" bays, and a rear 120mm.

In that case I would just go with the 2x 92mm intakes and the one 120mm exhaust.

 

[imported_zeddex]

My mistake, there are no front intakes, the 2 I mentioned are on the left side blowing right onto the CPU and PCI/AGP slots.

And yeah, I bought the 2x92 and 1x120, but didn't install yet, so don't have temps to report right now. Temperature in Madrid is soaring above 40ºC today in Madrid, and the telly is announcing a big heat wave, so I guess there's my perfect testing environment.

 

[imported_zeddex]

Temps have gone down to 42/30 peak load and 38/27 idle. Not bad at all. The system is louder now but I suppose adding 3 fans, however silent they may be, has to make it louder.

 

[Zepper]

The front intake mounts are built into the HDD cages unless I'm totally mistaken as to what the inside looks like - post a pic.

.bh.