Need Better CPU cooling - Help

[DieselMeathook]

I recently built this new computer:
A7A266 Mobo
1.3G AMD
(2) 40G IBM 7200 RPM HD
Asus GF3
512 DDRAM
120mm Panaflow front intake fan
90mm Sunon fan mounted in back blowing ducted air straight to the CPU area on Mobo.

The POS HSF I originally installed had it running unstable at 58 - 64C. I replaced this with a Thermalright SK-6 HS with a Sunon 26CFM fan (used Artic Silver). That brought the Temps down to 47 - 50C UNTIL summer hit us. It is now running marginally stable at 53C. Typically it is running 20 - 21C hotter than case temp.

Any recommendations on HS fans that will fit the SK-6 and give better CPU cooling or other suggestions would be appreciated.

I am thinking of biting the Delta 38CFM bullet. (Its gotta be quieter than the room fan currently blowing into the case).

Geez - Its up to 56C now, its 10PM, and I haven't even been gaming.

 

[mechBgon]

I notice that you have two intake fans fighting eachother, the 120 on the front and the 90 on the back. Maybe having them work together, one intake and one exhaust, would help a bit.

As far as the heatsink fan, the next-faster fan after the Sunon 26cfm and the YSTech 27cfm would usually be the Delta 38cfm, at least at the usual online cooling stores. You can scope out GiZzO's Fan Page, 60mm fans for a real wealth of fan info.

Usually, if the CPU is running hot relative to the case temperature, despite having a quality heatsink with a good fan, you would conclude that there is something wrong with the thermal interface between the heatsink and the CPU slug. Could there be a gouge, nick or deformity in the base of the heatsink? Or some of that "thermal bubble gum" stuff left over? Or perhaps the clip is not exerting as much pressure as usual, and the shock pads on the corners of the CPU are keeping the heatsink from making good contact? Just some brainstorms there, good luck!

 

[DieselMeathook]

That is true, the two fans could be fighting each other (the theory was lots of cool air in, positive air pressure, hot air would be forced out through the other holes in the back as well as the misc cracks. However, I have been running it without the case side on and with a house fan blowing into the case so case temp isnt much higher than room temp (right now room temp is 83F, Mobo is 89F)

When I installed the SK6 I never put the pad on (thermal bubble gum???) and cleaned both the HS and die with alcohol very well. I saw no visible scratches in either. I also verified a good contact with the artic silver prior to clipping it down. You make a good point about the shock pads and/or a surface deformity. I don't know what I could do about either of those problems if they exist though.

I have been looking at some fan adapters (60mm to 80mm) but they all require to be screwed to the HS (my SK6 doesnt have holes) so I guess thats out.

All roads are leading to the Delta38 it seems without replacing the HSF with something else. Maybe the delta could be my "summer fan". Maybe I could get a really long Monitor, keyboard, and mouse cords and put the case in my sons room (he's really loud too). "Hey son!!!!.........Take out B&W and put in the Giants CD."

Its now 11PM and the temp is back down to 53C. Guess I will have to game late at night in the summer. To heck with work in the morning.

Thanks for your brainstormin Mechbgon.

Anybody else have any ideas before I damage my hearing and/or sanity?

 

[mechBgon]

Whereabouts do you live, by the way? Must stay hot a while there!

 

[SpeedTrap]

time to drill a blowhole on top

 

[mstudd]

Sounds like an exhaust fan in the top of the case would work for you, lots of hot air and nowhere to go.
A bad contact between the Heatsink and die sounds possible with those temps, remove the HSF and check that you have an even contact pattern in your thermal paste.

 

[salman327]

Yup have to agree, time to get some exhaust fans to take that hot air out. Your pushing in wayyy to many cfm's than your case can barely take out. Positive pressure is relatively good, but your cooler air stays in your case way too long, and eventually grows warmer. Try to remove anything that would get in the way of airflow. If all else fails, you can get the delta 30cfm fan from kdcomputers.com

 

[DieselMeathook]

Thanks for all the good tips. I never found the delta 30CFM before. Maybe that will buy me couple more degrees C. Does anybody have experience with the noise of this Delta compared to the 38?

The blowhole idea is a great Idea too. Problem is I am either too busy or too lazy (I can't decide) to tear the 'puter down one more time to do the mod. Maybe I will turn the 92mm Fan around in the back to blow air out instead to see if that helps.

New question: Should I continue to use the duct/shroud that directs air to the CPU from this back fan (so it sucks air away from that area) or just chuck the shroud altogether?

Guess I could experiment but that goes back to the lazy thing again

BTW - I live in Seattle, we are getting our 3 weeks of summer right now. - Go Mariner Allstars

 

[tcamste]

i hope i didnt miss this in the post.. but...did u check to see if the fan is blowing ONTO the heatsink? I had mine blowing away from my sk6, after going thru all that hassle of getting the heatsink on. those little clips are tuff to find

Michael S

 

[sshibilski]

I've been having the same problem lately! I have checked, checked and rechecked the HSF installation with both the Coolermaster HSF that I originally bought with the computer, and the all-copper Blizzard HSF unit. In all cases I noticed that the AS2 left an even layer on both the HSF and the processor die. The processor even left an imprint of the wording on the top of the die on my HSF in all cases.

I have used three different fans, ranging from the stock coolermaster fan (low cfm), the Sanyo-Denki (med cfm) and the Delta black lable (high cfm).

My results show me that the marinal gain the Delta provides is not worth the extra noise.

Right now my case temps are about 22-23 C and my onboard temp probes (gigabyte board) for the CPU core of a 1.2GHz are at about 48-49 idle and about 56-57 full load gaming. All of this is at stock speed and voltage.

Right now I am using the coolermaster HS with the Sanyo-Denki fan. The reson for this is the mounting clip. The mounting clip for the coolermaster provides pressure directly on top of the CPU core, where the Blizzard does not. This seems to make a difference.

Just my $0.02

 

[heffe734]

If you got the cash...then go for one of the best...Swiftech mc-462a...80 bucks...cools like no other.

 

[ramz]

Dropped my CPU temp from 44-45C to 38-39C no load and 48-50C to 40-41C with load, using the SK6 and Delta BL fan (which is loud as hell)...I think my computer is about to taxi down the runway....

 

[DieselMeathook]

Is the Delta BL you mention the 30 CFM, 38 CFM or the 41 CFM fan that you are using with your SK6. I would really like to get my temps down to what you are running with your 1.3.

 

[salman327]

the Delta BL (Black Label) is a 38 cfm fan.

 

[ramz]

It's a 38, and it's loud!!!!, but it's worth it since my temps are down!; I can sacrifice the noise.

 

[DieselMeathook]

I went ahead and ordered both the Delta 30 and Delta 38 to experiment with (noise vs cooling). If I have to use the 38 then I guess I can always crank up the 400 Watt Klipsch's, wife and next door neighbors permitting of course.

If that doesn't work then maybe I will go with the swiftech. This is my first AMD processor and I am finding it odd that I already have more money into trying to cool that darn processor than the CPU cost in the first place. (So far - 2 Heat Sinks, 4 60mm fans (including the 2 Deltas on order), A new case with a larger volume, and new front and rear case fans. If I do have to get the Swiftech then I am right up there with the P1.7G cost.

On the bright side, I was able to build another computer for the kids with all the spare parts

Its a P3 750, no cooling problems, but it don't perform like my AMD though.

 

[Marine]

With all those spare HSFs laying around, goose up that 750! Using the SK-6 and ASII I just got one to run Windows at 1000MHz and stable in QIIItimedemo at 962! I don't mind the 38cfm delta too much, but I did take a low profile retail Intel fan from a PIII/1000, cut the side clips off, then took the long set of legs that come with the SK-6, cut them down to fit and bent hooks to hold the fan tightly on the SK-6. Much quieter and no appreciable difference in cooling.

 

[NesuD]

lose the shroud and have that rear fan exhaust. the air in the case needs to change out faster to keep the case temps down.