Advice on case cooling.

[Lifixs]

My case is a Rosewill Conqueror and after adding on a Radeon HD 4870 to my rig I have noticed a significant increase in my CPU temp's. Its enough to make previously obtainable overclocks dangerously high.

Specs on rig:
Athlon 64 X2 5000 Brisbane OC to 2.99 GHz on stock fan/heatsink.
6GB DDR2 800
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5



Picture of case:
Rosewill Conqueror

A 120mm fan on the side window is the only change I have made to the cooling of the case other then a fan controller.

What can I change in my cooling solution to get the most benefit? I'm willing to do a bit of case modding if necessary.

The front and exhaust fans could be better in my opinion but I don't know enough to say it would really make a difference to replace them.

Thank You

 

[Infrnl]

How do you have the side fans blowing? May be able to add a fan or 2 to the top. also you would thing that the heat produced by your 4870 would be blowing most of it out of the back.

I have also noticed on one of my cases that If I use the side fans for exhaust it keeps the inside of the case cooler. you may want to monitor temps and play with how the fans are uses (intake/exhaust).

other than that you will need to wait for people with more experience. may be the fans themselves too; may need fans that move more air.

 

[Lifixs]

The side fan is blowing in-wards, but its almost directly over the CPU. When I first installed the side fan I noticed a distinct improvement in temps.

It feels like there's warm air between the card and CPU, right around the chip set.


Picture's of the interior of my case.

 

[Zepper]

I'd experiment with the rear venting. Determine which way the air is flowing thru that venting and block it off if it's the wrong way (BTW, the wrong way is IN). I have a suspicion that that venting just short-circuits the rear fan (meaning air comes in thru that venting and right out thru the rear fan). I use clear tape to block off that venting on my case. Perhaps one of those Antec spot cooling fans or a Zalman bracket fan could help with the hot spots. If I understand it correctly, the Conqueror has two HDD cages each with its own fan. I'd put my drives in one of them and leave the other with just a fan for intake air. Maybe a stronger exhaust fan could help as well. The general flow pattern in the case should be made synergistic with the flow thru the CPU cooler. Fans at cross-purposes (like a side fan) seldom help much (I'd probably block off the side venting as well, unless I could prove it was actually contributing positively). Superfluous venting just tends to subvert any possibility of a rational cooling plan.

.bh.

 

[WoodButcher]

Zepper is absolutely right. The side fan would do the most good if it were ducted to the cpu. Kill the extraneous vents, lower side panel, back panel and the slots. Also clean up the birds nest of wire putting your HDs up and the bottom clear for air to the vid card.

 

[Lifixs]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Can anyone recommenced me a good site to buy a duct from?

 

[yh125d]

Probably the best change you could do is get a better than stock heatsink, and maybe a higher CFM fan for your side panel. Putting your highest CFM fan on the side blowing down on your motherboard can make a world of difference, especially in hot ait pockets around NB/ram

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: Lifixs
Thanks for the advice guys.

Can anyone recommenced me a good site to buy a duct from?

Make one first to see if it is worth spending the money. Use flat cardstock like a file folder and scotch tape.

 

[Lifixs]

My highest CFM fan is on the side. (63.85)

I have taped up all the vents without fans to see if that makes a difference.

Before adding the card I would never go over 58C on load while clocking to 3.1 GHz.
After adding the card my temps hover around 60C on load while clocking to 2.99 GHz. (This is after taping up the vents.)

Update:

After making a basic duct focused directly on the CPU I can say my temps are nearly the same. It now sticks at 59C so about a degree of improvement.

I really think the problem is located around the chip set, how can I test to see if this is it?

I would like to rectify the reason behind the increase before buying a new heat sink to just offset it.

 

[WoodButcher]

Next I would try removing the the tape from the back pci slots, hell, remove the covers. If you have room and an old 80mm fan you could zip tie it in place of the bottom slot covers.

You suspect the NB? What is the MB temp? Have you checked the voltages? are the normal for your rig?

Also, I know it isn't generally considered an exhaust as fans go but is your psu dust free? The PSU at one time was the only exhaust for many PC.

 

[Lifixs]

After removing the tape and tidying cables a bit my temp got up to 63C before I was inclined to stop prime 95. (Just to be on the safe side.)

All voltages seem to be within nominal ranges.

As kind of a side note for some reason when I turn the GPU fan on 100% my CPU temp increases 1C.