Quote from IlikeElfenLied:
Junior Member
?You guys make me feel like an idiot with all your fancy fan names and water cooling mumbo jumbo.... I know barely anything about computers and I was just wondering how you guys became computer geniuses, I don?t know the dramatic difference between air and water-cooling but I do know that bad things can happen with water. Is water really that much better than fans??
When it comes to computer experience, hands-on is the greatest teacher. Reading the preponderance of books, periodicals, magazines and the like, while it makes you an expert in data collecting, actual hands-on is the best. ?Knowledge is good, but experience is better?. I prefer air-cooling because it?s cheaper and you don?t have to be a rocket scientist to do it.
If one can follow steps, one can learn easily. This way, you can move smoothly through the learning stage and gain valuable experiences. It?s just a method that can be adjusted anytime to fit your style. You can do anything you set your mind to, whether you?re male or female. So let?s get going!
Are you aware that AMD CPU?s run cooler than Intels? Click on this link for the
CPU Maximum Operating Temps
I have an old P4 workstation and its CPU temps were around 55C, and I thought that was normal.
I like to start with a well designed-built computer case. I?ve researched many cases before I settled on this brand, so save yourself the time and bother and go with Lian-Li. My choices are mine, again I?ve done the research so I have my preferences. My background rigs are 3 LLs with ASUS mobos and Yate Loon 80mm/120mm fans.
The
LL PC-7B +2 and
Newegg is a lower-priced entry but it was easy to pick.
It comes with two 120mm case fans and the positioning of the front intake fan before the harddrives was a genius of a design. What?s a better way to cool your harddrives. Imagine ambient air swirling around, through and about one?s harddrives. No money spent for hdd coolers. Imagine money saved for other things.
I suggest adding two more
YLs 120mm for side intake and another for top exhaust. Position the side intake to cover the heatsink and chipset for best results.
I got my
80mm off eBay The guy?s shipping gets cheaper as you purchase more. Comes from Germany and its fast.
Get a
110mm-hole saw here. It?s a little smaller than the 120mm, but you?ll see later why it?s the perfect cutout. Get some
screens
to cover the holes and they?re your choice again.
I use a
slot fan to pull warm air from my GPU. I don?t have a particular reason but I?ve been doing it for a long time and its doesn?t hurt the airflow. I think it even might help it. Your choice again.
Here?s another money saver. I still use my generic HSF that came with the AMDs. Add a little Arctic Silver 5 and that?s it. Now the money saved can go to buying one highly rated PSUs. You can?t get anything better than this solidly priced
Power Supply
I?ve the v3.0, that I got on eBay priced @ $145 to Hawaii. It?s really quiet.
My rigs are quiet and cool. My results are as follows.
21C/28C summer ambient. Nites are cool and days are humidity hot.
32C/38C CPU working
26C/33C mobo temps
37C/45C CPUs @ load
I use a Craftsman IR thermometer to take accurate temp readings, but the ASUS PC Probe software come within <.5C of actual. When it comes to reading voltage, it?s pretty close. My multimeter says the PSU rail +12Vsoftware reading is off by <1V. Otherwise it is OK. Checks first, don?t be sorry later!
I can?t give you too much about water-cooling. I bought a water cooling system a while back and it?s still stored in my locker. I get the shudders still, if the water should ever leak. Murphy?s law again, and that?s why I decided to stick with air-cooling.
My air-cooling with case, fans, screens, Seasonic PSU with 110mm hole-saw for under $300. A case with all materials for around $150 and all it takes is a little mechanical ability and common sense. It?s worth the money for the experience factor at least. Simplicity is the key factor. No matter what anybody says, it works for me. I?m using the cases right now, and the readings give me time to allocate my time to other things, I enjoy doing.
Maybe this is too complicated for you? You can always lay-out the big bucks for another method. Nevertheless, it?s still your choice. Or, if you took the time to read this, you can respond by saying, ?Verrrrry interesting?!
pkme2
