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1U or 1.5U Cooling for ITX setup?

Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
I built an HTPC recently and grabbed a low profile cooler from ebay which looks like the typical retail intel cooler.

Upon arrival, there is no copper core, appears to be solid aluminum and the temps are just horrible. Fan runs full speed all the time and is annoyingly loud, system idles in the 40's C and can hit 70+C just running through windows updates and such. I'm looking for something that can perform MUCH better without the excessive noise.

Researching 1U, there doesn't seem to be many options out there for a reasonable price in an active cooler. (I'm horribly cheap, prefer under $20 total if possible.)

I'm guessing 1.5U would yield better options and price, but i'm limited to ~45MM on TOTAL height. Realistically it should probably a bit less so the PSU and HSF don't starve each other for air since they would basically be sitting against each other. I guess I could get a HSF and invert the fan to blow UP into the PSU but i'm not sure how that would affect the cooling capabilities.
 
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😛

i wouldnt post this unless he had the unit. 😛
 
I think this should work pretty well, I was looking at the 1156 version for my Core i5

Copper core and 37mm height

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835220034

I've also seen someone cut the stock fan off the Intel HSF and mount one of the Scythe 12mm thin fans to it. If you do that that should put you under your height constraint.
 
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Gillbot said:
I built an HTPC recently and grabbed a low profile cooler from ebay which looks like the typical retail intel cooler.

Upon arrival, there is no copper core, appears to be solid aluminum and the temps are just horrible. Fan runs full speed all the time and is annoyingly loud, system idles in the 40's C and can hit 70+C just running through windows updates and such.
Click to expand...

IS IT an actual Intel retail box cooler? I don't recall any such issues with the actual tiny Intel coolers when mounted properly and used with the processor with which they are included.

Couple thoughts. Do you have EIST enabled? I would suggest it. Also, enable Smart Fan. The Intel cooler are 4-pin PWM so they should ramp down nicely when idle.
 
Zap said:
IS IT an actual Intel retail box cooler? I don't recall any such issues with the actual tiny Intel coolers when mounted properly and used with the processor with which they are included.

Couple thoughts. Do you have EIST enabled? I would suggest it. Also, enable Smart Fan. The Intel cooler are 4-pin PWM so they should ramp down nicely when idle.
Click to expand...

It is an Intel fan. EIST and Speed Step/Etc. is enabled. The fan is set to run full speed all the time but it still doesn't seem to be cooling well. Temps spike to +75C often during something as simple as windows update.

Yes, I'm sure the sink is seated and the pins are in place, though I'm debating on popping off the pins and getting a backplate just to see if it helps. Though, before I spend $5 on a retail cooler, I might as well get a decent sink to begin with.
 
Is the CPU officially supported by the BIOS? If not, maybe it is getting too much VCORE?
 
I think if you manually set the VCORE, then EIST will be unable to reduce voltage when idle, thus resulting in high idle temps. I know this was true with Sandy Bridge. Unless you are running stuff that keeps the CPU at full speed, I'd recommend allowing EIST to do its job and see if it makes a difference.
 
Zap said:
I think if you manually set the VCORE, then EIST will be unable to reduce voltage when idle, thus resulting in high idle temps. I know this was true with Sandy Bridge. Unless you are running stuff that keeps the CPU at full speed, I'd recommend allowing EIST to do its job and see if it makes a difference.
Click to expand...

Idle temps aren't horrible but minimal load causes temps to climb FAST. As I said, simple windows updates cause 75+C temps. I'm afraid to do anything serious on it for fear it'll go higher.
 
Well, i finally fixed it! I went to a bigger case and a real cooler! 😉

ITX coolers just cant be quiet in such a small space.
 
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