air cooling question

[coolidgus]

finally building gaming rig.will play a few hrs each night about 5 nights a week.
plan to overclock. plan to add second 8800 gtx few months in SLI.
i have a 24 inch monitor Benq
the components are below but i am just not sure which heatsink to use.
i thought i wanted to use the thermalright ultra 120 extreme but i have read and been told by support from thermalright that it may or may not work with my choice of mobo: evga 680i http://www.thermalright.com/a_...t_faq_ultra-120.htm#q3

I then considered the zalman 9700 but their website does not mention its approved for core2 quad cooling.
my question then is which might be the best option for heatsink with my specs below keeping in mind that i plan on overclocking at some point.



case: antec 900

cpu: q6600

video BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOCE GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

motherboard: EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard -


arctic silver 5

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive -

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S

power: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Crossfire Edition) EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail

memory CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

 

[PCTC2]

The Zalman will not be enough. I have the Thermalright Ultra120 on the same motherboard with the same processor in the same case. The Ultra120 touches the SPP/NB heatsink the in the front-back orientation and will not fit with a side-fan in place. I actually have the same memory and drive as well, and the older version of your harddrive. Nice rig.

I have had problems with my eVGA 680i, but I believe it to be related to a busted cap. I don't know, but it has an unacceptable vDroop of 0.5-0.1v.

on a different note, SLI with the 8-series, especially in Vista, is not fixed yet, as drivers are not mature enough, so you might as well wait for the G92's rather than go for 8800GTX SLI.

EDIT: And welcome to AT.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

There is a new Zalman CNPS 8700 LED cooler available now, but I've seen no reviews (although there may be some published). It lists the Core-2-Quad as one of the processors that it "can handle." But this doesn't speak to how much you might overclock the processor.

I'm using a TR-Ultra-120-Exteme, and I sympathize with the possible incompatibilities there.

You might want to look into either the TR-Ultima-90 -- with performance just a shade below the 120-Extreme -- or a Sunbeam Tuniq Tower. I begrudgingly recommend the latter only because its benchtest comparison to the Ultra-120-Extreme gave it "second-place."

But between toy-companies using lead paint, dog-food manufacturers poisoning dogs and a few other recent news developments, Sunbeam is not at the moment one of my favorite companies owing to a fiasco about "truth in advertising" related to its Theta 101 fan controller.

Take a look at the May 4 '07 Anandtech "ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme UPdate" comparison review to see what other choices you might have.

I'm using a Striker mobo with the 680i chipset -- and cooled by a TR Ultra-120-Extreme. I can OC the B3 stepping of the Q6600 to just above 3.2 Ghz without pushing the VCORE beyond about 1.42V, or about 5% over the retail box spec "maximum." The Ultima 90 should get you to at least 3.0+ or 3.1+. In fact, I make these statements as a "conservative" overclocker. some people take more liberties with their voltage settings.

If you have the G0 stepping, it might go noticeably farther.

 

[Zepper]

Hey coolidgus? welcome to the AT forums.

Haven't you visited the Anandtech web site? (click on the big Anandtech at the top of each page.) All the latest HSF reviews there have been done on that eVGA mobo. The new Thermalright Ultima-90 may suit you. Not widely available but http://www.jab-tech.com has it (or did last I checked).

.bh.

 

[fujimitsu]

I used a 9500 on my EVGA 680i in my old antec 900 up until about last week, fits fine. The 9700 is slightly larger but you should be OK.
Also, the 9500 put my e6300 to 100% overclock stable so it should do fine with a reasonable overclock on a q6600.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: fujimitsu
I used a 9500 on my EVGA 680i in my old antec 900 up until about last week, fits fine. The 9700 is slightly larger but you should be OK.
Also, the 9500 put my e6300 to 100% overclock stable so it should do fine with a reasonable overclock on a q6600.

if your not a quad owner. PLEASE dont participate in Quad Threads.

Dual cores vs Quad cores = different worlds.


And no a zalwish isnt going to be enough. Zalman BLOWS when it comes to cooling quads.

Tuniq Tower, Ultra120, Ultima 90

Those are what you need to be looking for. Expecially on a well vented case like yours op.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: fujimitsu
I used a 9500 on my EVGA 680i in my old antec 900 up until about last week, fits fine. The 9700 is slightly larger but you should be OK.
Also, the 9500 put my e6300 to 100% overclock stable so it should do fine with a reasonable overclock on a q6600.

if your not a quad owner. PLEASE dont participate in Quad Threads.

Dual cores vs Quad cores = different worlds.


And no a zalwish isnt going to be enough. Zalman BLOWS when it comes to cooling quads.

Tuniq Tower, Ultra120, Ultima 90

Those are what you need to be looking for. Expecially on a well vented case like yours op.

Second to Aigo. I have my 9700 and it was extremely mediocre for my E6400. The 9700 does fit in the Antec 900, but DON'T get it for the Q6600. Get the Ultra120 eXtreme, pre-lapped from SVC.com. it'll work (yes, I forgot AT uses the eVGA 680i for their tests), and it'll be the best air cooler. Make sure you lap your IHS as well.

 

[nZone]

I have Q6600 B3 + Ultra ChillTEC + eVGA 680i SLI A1
It fits perfectly and the cooler chills my Q6600 at the point that it screams for a winter jacket

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: nZone
I have Q6600 B3 + Ultra ChillTEC + eVGA 680i SLI A1
It fits perfectly and the cooler chills my Q6600 at the point that it screams for a winter jacket

uhhh sorry to bust your bubble.

Anandtech has reviews where TEC products get stomped by Thermalright Ultra120 extreme.

And the thermalright uses 0 power, and is still quieter with a high velocity fan.

So no, this forum learned a long time ago thanks to me, that TEC's are absolute crap unless your talking about a 260W + TEC directly on the CPU.


Also, your TEC product would get masacared by an "true" entry lvl water kit.

True entry water does NOT include ZALMAN, THERMALTAKE, KOOLANCE, XSPC, AQUA Computers, GIGABYTE.

Those kits are all crap, and more belong in the "lets rice out my rig so it has watercooling yet get stomped by a real watercooling setup."

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: nZone
I have Q6600 B3 + Ultra ChillTEC + eVGA 680i SLI A1
It fits perfectly and the cooler chills my Q6600 at the point that it screams for a winter jacket

uhhh sorry to bust your bubble.

Anandtech has reviews where TEC products get stomped by Thermalright Ultra120 extreme.

And the thermalright uses 0 power, and is still quieter with a high velocity fan.

So no, this forum learned a long time ago thanks to me, that TEC's are absolute crap unless your talking about a 260W + TEC directly on the CPU.


Also, your TEC product would get masacared by an "true" entry lvl water kit.

True entry water does NOT include ZALMAN, THERMALTAKE, KOOLANCE, XSPC, AQUA Computers, GIGABYTE.

Those kits are all crap, and more belong in the "lets rice out my rig so it has watercooling yet get stomped by a real watercooling setup."

How about 25C on idle, and load never pass 30C? On idle, it's actually 1-2C lower than my room temperature, I am even afraid it could get condensation. And no, I don't use the temperature from the control box. The control box shows 23C on idle.

And the thermalright uses 0 power, and is still quieter with a high velocity fan.

Ok, thermalright + high velocity fan = 0 power. Amazing!

Quiet? There is this word "mod". Cut the fan wire, replace the fan of your choice. Now there is quietness

How about I tell you that the Corsair HX620W fan is actually louder than my Chilltec do you believe that?

By the way, no overclocking here. Just plan stock.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: nZone

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: nZone
I have Q6600 B3 + Ultra ChillTEC + eVGA 680i SLI A1
It fits perfectly and the cooler chills my Q6600 at the point that it screams for a winter jacket

uhhh sorry to bust your bubble.

Anandtech has reviews where TEC products get stomped by Thermalright Ultra120 extreme.

And the thermalright uses 0 power, and is still quieter with a high velocity fan.

So no, this forum learned a long time ago thanks to me, that TEC's are absolute crap unless your talking about a 260W + TEC directly on the CPU.


Also, your TEC product would get masacared by an "true" entry lvl water kit.

True entry water does NOT include ZALMAN, THERMALTAKE, KOOLANCE, XSPC, AQUA Computers, GIGABYTE.

Those kits are all crap, and more belong in the "lets rice out my rig so it has watercooling yet get stomped by a real watercooling setup."

How about 25C on idle, and load never pass 30C? On idle, it's actually 1-2C lower than my room temperature, I am even afraid it could get condensation. And no, I don't use the temperature from the control box. The control box shows 23C on idle.

And the thermalright uses 0 power, and is still quieter with a high velocity fan.

Ok, thermalright + high velocity fan = 0 power. Amazing!

Quiet? There is this word "mod". Cut the fan wire, replace the fan of your choice. Now there is quietness

How about I tell you that the Corsair HX620W fan is actually louder than my Chilltec do you believe that?

By the way, no overclocking here. Just plan stock.

im assuming your talking about this product.

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=662

Laws of physics states that its impossible for you to go below ambient temps unless you put a great deal amount of energy. Here is the reason why.

1. That unit employs a 60W TEC downvolted. Now Your processor, a Quadcore emits around 95-110W TDP o nstock settings. G0 vs B3.

Now, your sink can only take it down so far, also if your temps are below ambient your heat pipe sink will actually RAISE the temps on your overall unit.

So, your completely going against one of our laws on thermodynamics.

There is absolutely no way this unit could bring down a 95W TDP processor below ambient. Its just not possible.

 

[nZone]

That's the cooler. There is no reason for me to fabricate the results. There is no benefit for me from doing that nor I'm trying to promote anything. I just recommend from my experience with having used the Ultra ChillTEC, Q6600 B3, and eVGA 680i SLI A1. One of the thing with TEC is that it works best when there is good air flow. I do not have a lot of fans in my case. I have 1 120mm at 12v rear, 2 92mm at 5v front, 1 120mm inside Corsair HX620W PSU, 1 92mm CPU cooler (silenx), 1 pci slot cooler beneath the GTX, and the GTX fan operates in automatic mode. My case is Zalman Z-Machine GT-1000.

As of this writing, my temperature as follow:
CPU=25C; System=33C; GPU=64C (8800GTX)
Room Temp: 27.5C; Temp inside case=27.5C, ChillTEC control box=23C

The device used to measure room temp and inside the case temp is a portable device bought from Brookstone store. The process was putting the device outside for 15 minutes and then place it inside the case near the GTX for another 15 minutes. The temperature from both inside and outside for the most part are the same. Note that I said "for the most part"; occasionally inside the case the temp dipped up to 0.2C cooler than the outside temp. I know it seems strange, at first I thought the thermometer screwed up, but when I took the thermometer outside the case the temp indeed increased. There must be something unique about the GT-1000 case, I've used a lot cases and out of those cases the temp inside the case was at least 5C warmer than the room temp.

If I put another 92mm fan at the hot side of the ChillTEC to help speed up the heat removal, the cpu get a little bit more cooler. I removed it for fear of condensation.
I'll snap some pictures some day when I have the money to buy a decent digital camera.

 

[coolidgus]

"[/quote] Get the Ultra120 eXtreme, pre-lapped from SVC.com. it'll work (yes, I forgot AT uses the eVGA 680i for their tests), and it'll be the best air cooler. Make sure you lap your IHS as well.[/quote]"

sweet. prelapped ultra 120. done deal. just saved me about six hrs of extra work.