Case Temperatures + Water Cooling Suggestions

[johnz452]

My computer's case temeperature operates around 51C and CPU @ 62C running Primes95 however when I play Warcraft, the CPU can reach up to 68C. Is that too hot for a P4 1.8A?
I'm running a nice Thermaltake HS with a 5000rpm 80mm fan sitting on top of it. I'm not sure if it's the case temperature or what.

Also, I'm considering going water cooling. Anyone have any recommendations for a complete cooling solution? Just the CPU and vid card should be fine. Heck, might not even need the vid card. I'm hoping my Albatron FX 5600 Ultra should be cool enough (no overclocking). Furthermore, about how much would I be looking at for the cooling solution and will I be able to keep it once I upgrade my computer in two or more years?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I'm currently looking at the Koolance PC2-650 case with the appropriate Koolance water blocks. Any comments?

 

[NewBlackDak]

51C is horrible for case temp!!
That's about right for CPU temp in a case that hot.
Two things. There's no such thing as a nice Thermaltake HSF. They all are cheap. No matter how good your CPU HSF are it won't matter if you case is really that hot. Find a way to exhaust some of that hot air.

 

[johnz452]

Oops, I meant Thermalright AX478 HS. I have two 5000rpm 80mm fans blowing out the back and I have two Vantec Stealths 80mm intaking (one in front, one on the side). It's certaintly loud enough. Also, I have rounded cables so air circulation shouldn't be that bad. Any simple ideas on how to cool down the case more. Thanks. =)

Also, about water-cooling, is Koolance worth the price in terms of effectiveness and ease of installation?

 

[Dman877]

Do you live in Iraq? Seriously, my moms POS 30$ enlight case with a single panflo L1A exhausting + a weak psu fan keeps the case temp at 30C. You sure you didn't drop your george foreman grill in there and turn it on or something? 51C is rediculous. Does the air coming out the back of the case feel really hot? Maybe somethings wrong with the sensors...

Might be some sort of pressure problem too, You generally want to match intake with output. Having 2 high speed exhaust fans + a psu fan pulling air out and only having 2 low speed intake fans might cause some whacky pressure situation. Try running it without the stealths. Also, what case is it and how open is the intake area? Does it immediately jump to these temps when you power up? You don't have it sitting in such a way that the intake or exhaust holes are blocked do you?

 

[johnz452]

It's a cheap $40 enermax from newegg (mid-tower). There's about a 6 inch gap between the wall and the back so it should be ok. The case maintains about 44C idle but if I run a cpu intensive program for a long time, the case builds up to 50C+. I could check the sensor but I doubt the cpu sensor is also broken as well since CPU's temp is always about 10C above the case temp.

Oh yes, forgot about my PSU, it has two 80mm fans, one on the bottom pulling air from the cpu area and obviously one in the back to exhaust it out. Are you saying it would be better for me to actually disconnect one of my exhaust fans? I don't think there's too much of a pressure problem since I obvserved the case's front is full of holes and air flows in from those as well (dust lines).

 

[Sokratz]

I personally like my dangerden setup. Wc'ing isn't cheap though if you buy retail and you'll probaly want to kick yourself for buying some sort of kit once you see it all. However, you live and learn. I won't buy another "kit" but rather buy the blocks and perhaps the pump from somewhere and use menards for everything else.

You need to fix your case temps before even bothering with WC'n. At 124F (51C), water tends to get sort of hot too.


Best suggestion I give if you do actually WC is to to get a *big case* and MEASURE, MEASURE, measure again, test the system on for 24hrs (outside of the computer-noting how you will get the sytem *into* the computer once it's setup) powered on, and 24hrs not powered (my system leaked while not on because one of the intakes had a crack).

Sokratz

 

[Tango57]

i think you'd be a good candidate for watercooling since you're also experiencing noise problems with all your case fans. here's a good site i would read up on for Watercooling Q & A. a watercooling setup is not that difficult to do but make sure you read up on the do's and dont's as it's too much to discuss right here. i would also recommend against buying a complete kit. there are not many good kits out there and they cost a lot too. you'll be much happier building one with the parts you choose instead. goodluck with those temps and welcome to the forums!

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: johnz452
It's a cheap $40 enermax from newegg (mid-tower). There's about a 6 inch gap between the wall and the back so it should be ok. The case maintains about 44C idle but if I run a cpu intensive program for a long time, the case builds up to 50C+. I could check the sensor but I doubt the cpu sensor is also broken as well since CPU's temp is always about 10C above the case temp.

Oh yes, forgot about my PSU, it has two 80mm fans, one on the bottom pulling air from the cpu area and obviously one in the back to exhaust it out. Are you saying it would be better for me to actually disconnect one of my exhaust fans? I don't think there's too much of a pressure problem since I obvserved the case's front is full of holes and air flows in from those as well (dust lines).

so your saying the only fans in your case is the psu??? get a couple good fans for intake and exhaust.

 

[fibes]

I would recheck your heatsink to make sure it is properly seated. Also, to get the most accurate CPU temps reading, goto your BIOS.

 

[johnz452]

Originally posted by: johnz452
I have two 5000rpm 80mm fans blowing out the back and I have two Vantec Stealths 80mm intaking (one in front, one on the side). It's certaintly loud enough. Also, I have rounded cables so air circulation shouldn't be that bad. Any simple ideas on how to cool down the case more. Thanks. =)

Originally posted by: johnz452
Oh yes, forgot about my PSU, it has two 80mm fans, one on the bottom pulling air from the cpu area and obviously one in the back to exhaust it out. Are you saying it would be better for me to actually disconnect one of my exhaust fans?

Originally posted by: Falloutboy525
so your saying the only fans in your case is the psu??? get a couple good fans for intake and exhaust.

Actually, I have quite a lot of fans. One of the reason I'm considering going water cooling to reduce noise and frequency of dust maintenance (less fans for water cooling so less dust sucked in).

Originally posted by: fibes
I would recheck your heatsink to make sure it is properly seated. Also, to get the most accurate CPU temps reading, goto your BIOS.

According to my BIOS, it's even hotter since it adjusts the temperatures read by the sensors. O_O
Maybe it's the weather, it's been really hot lately. -_-

Thanks for the guide Tango57. I read most of the stickies in that forum. However, I'm a newbie at water cooling and case modding so most likely I will stick with kits so I don't screw something up and water damage my computer. Anyone have any comments on the Koolance system? So far, I have read great reviews about the PC2-650 but they seem to bought into Koolance that I'm not sure if they are complete unbiased (also, Koolance is expensive but the case + the kit + CPU block is around 300 which isn't completely that bad). I have a friend who proposed the Asetek Waterchill kit which seems cheaper but still $220 without case.

 

[WA261]

Noise is why I went water. =)