Cheap effective cooling

[kwarkers]

Im having some problems at the moment keeping my cpu and system temps down. Due to summer and a lack of a/c my comp room gets pretty hot, thus resulting in my system temps going up. And if i try play any games, throw on another 10c. Mobo temps have been getting into mid to high 40's.
Any info or links concerning cheap effictive cooling would be very helpfull.

 

[JEDIYoda]

theres 2 ways to go.....
1 way is have multiple fan intakes and only ONE exhaust.....

The other way it to make your self a shroud to direct the coolest are directly to you CPU instead of the air being drawn into your case and having to find its own way!!

Good Luck!!

 

[kwarkers]

One other thing i forgot to mention is my case: Cooler Master Centurion V, which has a clear side window, so cutting holes and putting some fans in is no problem.
Another question, if i do get a few fans... should i get a controller?

 

[kwarkers]

What are ideal positions for fans?

 

[otogrim]

Well its almost winter time, so save some money then go with water next summer

 

[kwarkers]

I might be close to winter where you are, but down under in Australia its startin to heat up

 

[suszterpatt]

Do you have any fans in already?

 

[kwarkers]

Yeah i have two stock case fans: a 120mm exhaust fan and a 80mm intake. My CPU did have a Thermaltake Sonic Tower but that was one of my mates "spares", so the CPU just has stock heatsink and fan.

 

[suszterpatt]

Well, a new CPU cooler might help. Something like the Sonic Tower would be good to move hot air horizontally away from the CPU and to the exhaust/PSU fan. Making room for another 120mm intake would probably help too.

 

[kwarkers]

Well i have a clear side window on my case, i perfectly happy to cut into that so i can wedge a nice 120mm fan. Do you have any suggestions were i should put a 120mm fan?

 

[suszterpatt]

Above the CPU/vid card would probably be the best choice.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Above the CPU/vid card would probably be the best choice.

Actually the best choice is to line up the hole you are going to cut in order to install a 120 mm intake fan exactly looking into the case--straight on with the heatsink.....

Thus the first thing the cool air does is hit your heatsink.

Good Luck!!

 

[kwarkers]

OK, thanks for your help! Do you think i should only add 1x120mm fan or should i go all out and turn my box into a fan farm???

 

[JEDIYoda]

Kwackers....


One thing at a time......
then proceed on....
also depending on what brand fan you have you need to consider the noise issue....
personally becuase I like the LED Blue theme I have going inside my case...
I use the Coolermaster brand fans.....they are on par with the quietest gans around!!
You won`t need to displace a whole lot of air....the coolermaster fans will do an adequate job!

Air Flow: 42.734 cfm
Color: Transparent
Compatibility: Case
Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
Noise Level: 22 dBA
They are cheaper through NewEgg....$7.95

I would tell you there another brand or 2 but one of them you cannot get in the states so that won`t help you!!

Good luck!!

Take your time and do a neat job!!

 

[kwarkers]

Well im looking at a SilentX 120mm Blue LED fan, noise rating of 14dBA...

 

[suszterpatt]

Originally posted by: kwarkers
OK, thanks for your help! Do you think i should only add 1x120mm fan or should i go all out and turn my box into a fan farm???

One should be enough. If you're unsure about it, you could try finding a fan that's larger than 120mm.

 

[kwarkers]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
theres 2 ways to go.....
1 way is have multiple fan intakes and only ONE exhaust.....

JEDIyoda, could u explain the theory behind havin only ONE exhaust fan...

 

[H0witzer]

A suggestion for placement of exhaust fans would be one on the side, pretty much inline with the CPU to draw as much of the heat from that as possible, and the other would be on the top. Since heat rises and most of your heat at the top of the case is usually from the PSU one in front of the PSU is always a good choice.

I currently run a 80mm fan on the top of the case and a 120mm on the side. I use a fan controller and it really does work nice. I can crank it way down when not doing anything intensive, and up when I game. Does it make a difference in the MB heat? Yes usually a few degrees C.

My personal opinion is it is more important to draw heat out rather than just blowing air in, and my girlfriend says that when it comes to hot air... I should know.

;-)

 

[kwarkers]

Is it smart to have more than one exhaust fan???

 

[JEDIYoda]

Nooooooooooooooo......you don`t want the side fan to be an exhaust fan,,,not at all.....Noooooo!!!

I have found that positive airflowing into the Case is the only way to go....


also you want your CPU fan to be blowing air onto the heatsink and onto the CPU....

Which is probably(I hope) the way you have things set up!
in which case you do NOT want your side fan to be pulling air out and thus you have a push pull effect which is not a good thing!!

You want your side fan to be blowing cool air onto your CPU fan.....

Also if you have 1--120 mm fan in the back of the case as an exhaust fan you will have created a very positive environment for good airflow as well as a cool CPU!!

I running temps right now in the mid 20c range.....

Good Luck!!

 

[suszterpatt]

Originally posted by: kwarkers
Is it smart to have more than one exhaust fan???

It will help you get rid of hot air faster, assuming that you put it in the right place. A lot of hot air can get trapped in the topmost section of cases, so having an exhaust at the top of the case is an option. You may also want to experiment with those PCI fan cards that you can put right next to the vid card to push its hot air out on the spot.

 

[JEDIYoda]

alot of hot air does not get trpped in the upper paret of the case unless you don`t have proper airlfow!!

The proper airflow should be from the bottom front of the cae to the upper rear back panel of the case.


With possibly a few intake fans along the3 way...say on the side panel as well as the upper top of the case....

It has been proven by several people on these and other forums that in actuality having an upper exhaust top fan makes no difference in your CPU temps.

Where it makes a diference supposedly is if your memory is over in that area and you over clock alot like I do and that fan is an intake fan.

A good 120 mm fan will be able to handle anything that is in your case that needs to be eshaust oriented!

But with that said.....I blocked my upper fan and instead I use this to blow air onto my memory-- http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/JEDI_Yoda/005a.jpg

After doing extensive tests....thus is what worked.

Also by having an upper exhaust fan you will be mis directing the air from the bottom of the case away from the CPU......

My temps speak for themselves as to whether I know what I am doing.
Especially with the present p4 chip that I have and especially since I am currently overclocked to 3.8 with and idle of 27c and a 100% load temp of 39c.

 

[kwarkers]

Thanks JEDIyoda, got any recomendations on a CPU fan/heatsink???

 

[Agnostos Insania]

You can pay me to stand by the case.

(I'm a pretty cool guy)

 

[JEDIYoda]

I have several top of the line heatsinks...

Any of the ThermalrRight Heatsinks are super...
The XP90 copper as well as the XP120 as wellas the SI 120.....
I am currently using the XP 120 and I would recommend the SI 120 which is equal to or better than the XP 120...also there are no clearance issues with the SI 120.
http://www.jab-tech.com/ThermalRight-SI-97A-pr-2999.html

http://www.thermalright.com/product_default.htm

I would purchase iether a Coolermaster 120 mm fan if you go with the SI 120 or maybe a Thermaltake with the speed controller....
If you purchase the Therltake fan you will need to use the speed controller to quiet it down.....