Big Problem with Cooling

[sdaccord01]

Hi, I have tried many things to cool my case and it is a Coolermaster ATC-220VX1. I have no front intake, which poses a big problem I think, but I have exhaust fans on the top and a panaflo L1 fan as an exhaust on the back. I have recently put a Thermalright SLK-900U with a 92mm Panaflo H1 fan as well as the Zalman ZM80C-HP video card heatsink with the optional fan bracket, so I have spent a lot of money this summer trying to cool off my system. Here's the thing: When I run 3DMark 2001se, it exits the program, but when I open the side panel up I don't get that problem. Should I install a side fan? Any advice is appreciated

 

[nowareman]

I found a review of the Coolermaster ATC 220 at 3DExtreme.org.

"The top of the Coolermaster ATC-220 sports a 80mm case fan. This stock 80mm case fan is the only source of intake for the Coolermaster ATC-220. The grill on top acts like a dust trap also and keeps the amount of dust to a minimum within the case."



Sure enough the only intake on this case is the top 80mm intake fan. With a filter restricting airflow. Looks like a recipe for negative case pressure and maybe recycling hot exhaust air.

I think installing a side panel case fan would definitely help. The only exhaust fan that comes with the case is another 80mm. Plus the exhaust fan on your PSU. Whatever size exhaust fan was on my PSU I'd install the same size in the side panel. That should pretty much balance air in with air out and help your case air flow.

My advice would be to install it as low and to the front of the case as you can wherever there is enough room.

Get some air in that case. Why would Coolermaster design a case with only one air intake, filtered and on top? They should have at least made a passive intake vent in the front. Maybe they were concerned with looks but performance counts too and no front intake isn't a good idea IMO.

 

[Davegod]

eh? blowhole should always be exhausting hot air surely?

If there is a fan bay around the 3 1/4" area I'd put an intake there. If not, put an intake on the side panel.

As a general rule of thumb this is probably how I'd prioritise fan installation positions (assuming youre looking into the side of an open case):

0. psu exhaust fan
1. intake in lower-right corner
2. exhaust in top left corner
3. intake in lower-right corner
4. exhaust in top left corner
5. intake door panel
6. exhaust top blowhole

note main thing though is exhaust then intake then exhaust, and exhaust goes around the top left area and intake around the lower-right corner, ish!

 

[Davegod]

bleh, google doesnt have much reviews of that case, not from the usual, more trusted suspects anyway. maybe not too surprising since the cooling is (imo, from this quick look) so poor. the 3dextreme doesnt seem a great review imho, always highly suspect of any perfect 10 scores, or quotes from the marketing given in "pro's" while irrelevant "cons" are listed.

 

[beatle]

I'm a fan of Coolermaster cases, but not this one. With no intakes (Dave's right, top blowhole is an exhaust) your exhaust fans aren't doing as good of a job as they could. Side fans work wonders on temperatures, dropping them through the floor sometimes. Since the case has feet, you could opt to cut a hole in the bottom of the case and mount an intake there. This would likely alleviate the heat somewhat, and would be a little stealthier than a side intake, albeit not as effective.