Any suggestions why this setup isn't cooler?

[Rio Rebel]

I have this case: pics

As you can see, it has 120mm fans for the pulling in cool air and for blowing it out the back. I would think the airflow of this would be fantastic (for clarification - the pics don't show a front 120mm fan, but it accommodates one, which I bought). It also has the 2-fan power supply for even further help in blowing out the hot air.

I use a Volcano 9. I keep it at about 4000rpm's, because I don't see more than 1 degree (C) difference in this and full speed. I use artic silver. My cpu is running above specs, but I have no voltage increase at all.

Problem: I consistently stay at 52-54 C idle, and can get above 56-57 C under load. Shouldn't I be running cooler than this? And my case gets up to the high 30's, even above 40, for the system temp.

Any suggestions? I know there are other hsf combos out there that are better, but THAT much better? I would think this setup should put me in the mid 40's for CPU temps, based on reports from others.

 

[Syborg1211]

Above 40 for you motherboard temp is damn high... How are the temps with the side panel off? What are your ambient room temps?

 

[Texun]

I used an ASUS A7V266C with a Tbird 1.3 in the same case and got 50C idle to 54C loaded with a Volcano 9 and ASIII. Can't remember the case temp but the PC was for a friend of mine so I can't really get a good look at it now. What board\cpu are you using? Also, is the case out in the open where it can breath or is it installed in a location that blocks fresh air?

 

[Rio Rebel]

I had the side off once and didn't see a significant difference (only one side comes off).

I am using an MSI K7N2 (nForce2) running at 200 x 10.5. I haven't seen a noticable difference at any clock speeds (since I'm not changing the voltage, that's not too surprising.)

The computer is not out in the open, but it's not completely pushed into a confined space, either. I may try putting on top of the desk to see if more "fresh" intake helps.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'm open to anything.

 

[OulOat]

If you have the case side off and don't see any difference in temps, that means either the comp is confined to a tiny space or you live in one damn hot room.

 

[Sheriff]

If the Case Side has been removed and there is no difference then I would start from the beginning and reseat the HS/Fan. If that doesn't work then some other choices would be to contact MSI and see if there is a BIOS update, try another HW Monitor, or even use less v's and run the CPU under the spec to see if it runs cooler. Do all this in a well vent room

 

[idea]

I'm using the same case with undervolted Panaflo L1A 125x38mm's (i modded out the piece of crap finger guards, so it's one big hole). I sure do love this thing. I have Athlon 1.33 + GC68 + YS-Tech Variable (set to silent because at full blast it doesn't do much difference). It gets 42c idle, tops out at 50-52c. Mobo never goes above 30, case never above 20. All my cables are neatly arranged. That's all I can tell ya.

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: Sheriff
If the Case Side has been removed and there is no difference then I would start from the beginning and reseat the HS/Fan. If that doesn't work then some other choices would be to contact MSI and see if there is a BIOS update, try another HW Monitor, or even use less v's and run the CPU under the spec to see if it runs cooler. Do all this in a well vent room

Resetting the hsf is useless if the case temp is in the 40's

 

[lumen]

Originally posted by: idea
I'm using the same case with undervolted Panaflo L1A 125x38mm's (i modded out the piece of crap finger guards, so it's one big hole). I sure do love this thing. I have Athlon 1.33 + GC68 + YS-Tech Variable (set to silent because at full blast it doesn't do much difference). It gets 42c idle, tops out at 50-52c. Mobo never goes above 30, case never above 20. All my cables are neatly arranged. That's all I can tell ya.

Your case 'never' gets above 20 celsius? Do you live in a refrigerator, that's roughly 68 fahrenheit! My room -itself- is never even that cool, maybe you just like it a bit cooler... but still, your case should still be a bit warmer than that, unless of course your room is about 60 fahrenheit... are you sure about this temp? Sounds suspect... the others sound about right.

 

[Sheriff]

Resetting the hsf is useless if the case temp is in the 40's

maybe not for the MoBo but it could help the CPU temps, seen stranger things happen and that's why I added the other suggestions not just the quote you left!

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: Sheriff

Resetting the hsf is useless if the case temp is in the 40's

maybe not for the MoBo but it could help the CPU temps, seen stranger things happen and that's why I added the other suggestions not just the quote you left!

Take a look at his CPU temps. A 3 degree rise from idle to full indicates excellent CPU cooling (don't above 57, 100,000 is above 57, give exact number). If the case temp is lowered, so will the CPU temps. So Rio Rebel, either lower your room temp or relocate your case to a more open location (I thought I implied that with my first post).

 

[idea]

Originally posted by: lumen

Originally posted by: idea
I'm using the same case with undervolted Panaflo L1A 125x38mm's (i modded out the piece of crap finger guards, so it's one big hole). I sure do love this thing. I have Athlon 1.33 + GC68 + YS-Tech Variable (set to silent because at full blast it doesn't do much difference). It gets 42c idle, tops out at 50-52c. Mobo never goes above 30, case never above 20. All my cables are neatly arranged. That's all I can tell ya.

Your case 'never' gets above 20 celsius? Do you live in a refrigerator, that's roughly 68 fahrenheit! My room -itself- is never even that cool, maybe you just like it a bit cooler... but still, your case should still be a bit warmer than that, unless of course your room is about 60 fahrenheit... are you sure about this temp? Sounds suspect... the others sound about right.

Well what I'm doing is quoting my speed monitoring program, and of course as everyone says, those are never 100% accurate. I actually have a thermostat in this room, and I read it as a notch below 70, so it probably is correct.

 

[Sheriff]

I agree with you OulOat BTA I updated my Abit's read strange (via MM and Winbond HD) and and when I updated the BIOS all was well.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Well, I moved the case and apparently that helped. My system temps seem to stay around 38-40 now (haven't tested long enough to be sure, but that seemed to have helped.)

From looking at the case and feeling the air flow with my hand, I think another problem is that I'm not getting as much of the intake air to the cpu as I'd like. The way the case is designed, a good part of the air from the intake fan is blocked by the hard drives, and my video card (GF4 4400) blocks much of the air that gets through. I thought I had created a good flow, but now that I look closer I think the bulk of the air pushed in is not making it to the cpu (especially since the center of the fan is not where the most push is taking place.)

I'm going to look into a modified duct solution to see if I can direct more air toward the cpu.

Thanks for the tips - even though I didn't think it was a problem, apparently moving the case to the top of the desk helped to some degree.

 

[lumen]

Ahh, well if your room temp is 70, then I guarentee the interior of the case is a bit higher Not really important, just thought it sounded odd, and it is!

 

[brucehao]

Try reversing both of the 120mm fans, using the rear (less obstructed fan) as an intake and the front fan as an exhaust. This may creaite a bit of positive pressure within the case and give you better inflow.

Just a thought and worth a try. Good luck.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Hmm. I thought about that. The reason I didn't is because the power supply is immediately above it blowing out, so the air flow wouldn't be as linear. But it's worth a try - I would think this would put more fresh air on the CPU than it's getting now.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Well, this definitely helped.

The combination of putting the computer on top of the desk, and switching the flow of the fans (so that the rear fan blows in, right next to the cpu) has lowered the temperatures somewhat. My only problem left is that the system temp gets a little high, because the front fan is too restricted to blow out the hot air sufficiently. I might mod the case to relieve that air flow restriction, or I might change the fans back and create a duct of some sort. Right now, I have the front face of the case off to help the front fan, and it makes a real difference, so it looks like a mod might be in order.

By the way, the temps now look like 48-50 C idle for the CPU, no higher than 52 under load. The system is staying around 30-32 with the cpu idle, and up to 36 or 37 with the cpu under load and after the heat has built up for a while.

Thanks for the tips, guys. You really helped.