* * * Alpha PAL simple mod * * *

[THUGSROOK]

for alpha pal users that have the fan blowing down on the HS.....

remove the aluminum shroud and mount the fan directly on the HS ~ its worth 1 to 2*C full load.
(the shroud is like a 10mm standoff for the fan)



i also ran a 2nd test~
this time insted of removing the aluminum shroud, i modded it so it sits flush and isnt a standoff.....
.....nope ~ its better w/o the shroud completely.

 

[Mikki]

As long as you're on the subject, it'd be cool to see everyone do the blow/suck test with their Alpha and report in....

 

[THUGSROOK]

a couple members of the ATOCC have already tried this mod ~ here is their results.......

Originally posted by: LastRide
*IDLE* Shroud *ON*-----------------*IDLE* Shroud *OFF*
CPU 37C---- Sys. 27C-----------------CPU 36/37C---Sys. 26C

*LOAD* Shroud *ON*----------------*LOAD* Shroud *OFF*
CPU 52/53C----Sys.33C------------*CPU 51.50/52C---Sys. 32C

Here are the final results.I was monitoring the temps for half an hour at load and Idle with shroud on and off.There is a difference of 1C all around .Its better than nothing.Using Winbond Hardware Doctor included with Abit Mobo's and using an Abit IT7 Max2 V2 mobo.

Originally posted by: Mangler
A little different here...but on my ALPHA PAL 8045....I noted a 1 degree drop in system and CPU core when removing the AL shroud.

my results were also similar.
thx for the testing guys

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: Mikki
As long as you're on the subject, it'd be cool to see everyone do the blow/suck test with their Alpha and report in....

that test will depend on airflow thru their case ~ but if you own an alpha you should run that test.

 

[THUGSROOK]

this info was taking over PJ's Alpha PAL 8942 vs Swiftech 4000 thread so id thought id give it a thread of its own.

sorry PJ

 

[LastRide]

I use an Antec 1080B case with 2 rear Panaflo "LOW" 80mm L1A,same on the door and in the front below for a total of 4 L1A's.Just thought I would give people an idea what I have for case cooling.I don't have a fan right now on the northbridge as I am trying to see how to mount my Vantec Iceberg copper cooler without having to use Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive.I tried the drawing and blowing with the fan on the heatsink and the results were better with it blowing directly on the heatsink.

 

[jpetermann]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK
this info was taking over PJ's Alpha PAL 8942 vs Swiftech 4000 thread so id thought id give it a thread of its own.

sorry PJ

No problem Thugs... it was good info...

PJ

 

[dbwillis]

Ill try it tonight...thanks!

(would having the fan raised off the heatsink maybe 10mm or so be better?, no round hole shroud, just raised)

 

[THUGSROOK]

i didnt try that dbwillis ~ LUK if that works

(the 10mm standoff didnt do anything when testing with the shroud but maybe that was the shrouds fault)

 

[oldfart]

I think the idea of the shroud in a "pull" airflow is to draw air in from the bottom of the HS closer to the base. Without it, more air would be drawn from higher up on the HS. The 10mm space in theory is to help lose that "airflow hole" in the middle created by the fan motor. This is all theory. Practice is another story.

 

[Duvie]

I thought the manufacturers sguggestion for optimal performance in the guide that came with the hsf said to pull air or suck the air off of the heatsink....I have tested this suggested method and blowing air onto theory and it had 1-2c better reading blowing onto the hsf but the temps for my chipset rose and I was concerned the scouring of the heat off of the hsf was going onto the underside of my vid card and my ram dimms....

 

[oldfart]

The way my case is, the rear exhaust fan lines up fairly well to pull the hot air from the CPU HS out of the case. I'd rather pull that hot air out instead of forcing it out of the bottom of the HS towards the NB, ram and other components. To really test this right, you would need temp probes in various locations on the mobo and case. I did try reversing it and the CPU temp did seem to drop by maybe .5 - 1C, but that is not enough to make we want to do it because of the reasons above. I may be totally off on this, but as usual, just MHO.

 

[THUGSROOK]

it all depends on case airflow......

if you have intakes fans or ducts in your side panel ~ "pulling" is not an option!

 

[DoctorBooze]

Was fiddling with my set-up this weekend. I've a Thunderbird 1333, Alpha PAL8045, Enermax 365xx. Previously I only had one fan, a Papst 8412NGL, the silent 19CFM fan, blowing on the HS, and the system ran warm (38C system, 60-63C CPU, under SETI@home). I turned the fan round, and the CPU dropped a couple of C. I put in another fan (no name but moderately quiet) as an extractor right under the PSU, and temps are down 7-8C all round. I turned the CPU fan round again (back to blowing) and the CPU temp went up again. That didn't last long! Anyway, have now started OC'ing a bit (143MHz instead of 134MHz) and temps are still cool.

 

[THUGSROOK]

 

[LastRide]