A7V, need new case/CPU cooler

[MalfurionStormrage]

Okay, my rig's in the sig and I am building a new computer this weekend (hopefully). My A7V will be retired to the living room as a media center. My current Antec case is huge and is insufficient in the cooling department (49/39 idle 62/50 under load). The cooling of the case is now complimented by a desk fan blowing air directly into the open case (which now makes it 47/35 idle 54/39 under load). I have a Volcano 7+ on the CPU.

I have been looking at the Antec Sonata as a nice case to place all this in. The 380W PSU should be more than sufficient (I am running a generic 300 now), and I like the look of the case. I have heard that the Sonata isn't all that great in the cooling department. Considering that the Athlon Thunderbird was one of the hottest chips ever invented, I would like cooling suggestions for this CPU and then a case to wrap around to pull this heat out. I'd prefer to keep the case budget under $125 and it has to be black (all 120mm case fans would be nice as well considering it's going to be in the living room).

 

[wisdomtooth]

I would try something like a Thermalright SI97.. It's the little brother of the vaunted XP90 and 120 that everybody + dog is using to cool their P4s and A64s.

As far as a case goes, why not try a nice HTPC case if it's going to go in your living room?

 

[MalfurionStormrage]

Thanks for the recommendation of the Thermalright!

As far as the case, I don't really like most of the cases I see for HTPC applications, and I am not sure about the cooling of all that hot air that a Thunderbird produces...

 

[wisdomtooth]

Where there is a will, there is a way. I've seen HTPCs using PresHotts (even worse than your T-Bird) being used in HTPC cases running at case temps less than 35C.

It's just a matter of getting all the right cooling implements (the right PSU, the right vid card cooler, etc.)

 

[xbassman]

Ooh....hot processor in an HTPC is a tough one.
You will probably find that high cfm fans are too loud for this application.

You might want to consider making a foam board mod duct.

Too bad your A7V isn't a little newer. I had an A7V-133 that unofficially supported a Palomino 1600+. It ran @ 44C with a Thermalright AX-7 HS/F. Some of the Tbred's run downright cold.

 

[SilkySmooth]

Actually the original A7V unofficially supports Thoroughbred processors. I have 1700+ running in my A7V running @ 2 GHz which is a ~600 MHz. This is actually conservative compared to others who have reached 2.3~2.4 GHz. I am using this for a HTPC with a Hauppage PVR-250 and it does everything I need it too for this purpose. The only drawback is that this setup does not have enough "juice" to do Hi-Def.

Addressing thermal concerns, I am using an old SK7 with an 80mm fan my idle temps are 45C and load 55C max.

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: SilkySmooth
Actually the original A7V unofficially supports Thoroughbred processors. I have 1700+ running in my A7V running @ 2 GHz which is a ~600 MHz. This is actually conservative compared to others who have reached 2.3~2.4 GHz. I am using this for a HTPC with a Hauppage PVR-250 and it does everything I need it too for this purpose. The only drawback is that this setup does not have enough "juice" to do Hi-Def.

Addressing thermal concerns, I am using an old SK7 with an 80mm fan my idle temps are 45C and load 55C max.

Really!?
Too bad you can't find any of the old unlocked TBred's anymore.
About a year and 1/2 ago I bought a couple of unlocked 1.5v 1800+'s for $50 each.
One of them is @ 2300 mhz and the other @ 2200 mhz. (<50C load w/cheap hs/f)

If the Op could find something like that cooling wouldn't be a problem @ all.

 

[MalfurionStormrage]

I know I can run a different processor in this motherboard. However, I just want to stick with what I have. Once I start adding hardware to this (other than a case) then I will just be buying a nano-ITX board.