Cooling advice needed for new PC

[jhammer569]

Here are my selected components:
MB: Asus P5Q-E
CPU: Intel Q9550
GPU: 2 x Sapphire ATI 3650's (I use 3 monitors for trading)
Mem: 2x2gb Corsair XMS2 DHX DDR2 800 (the ones w/ the large heatsinks on them)
Hd: 2 x WD640gb
Power Supply: TBD (probably 650w though)
Case: TBD (after picking all components, will pick case to fit them all)
Soundcard: TBD (may or may not get a Creative card if ASUS P5Q-E inboard isn't good enough)

Usage:
-Trade for a living across 3 monitors
-lots of home video editing
-Occasional dvd viewing
-Basic email/surfing/etc.
-No games

I don't care about having a frigid PC, I just want it to operate cool enough to last for 5 years if necessary. I'm willing to pay extra for less noise, all else being equal.

2 Questions:
-What heatsink/fan should I get for the Q9550? Is the one at the faq in this forum good enough (ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm or the XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm)?

-How many additional fans (besides the CPU fan, power supply fan, and 2 ATI card fans) do I need & where should they be placed? (1 intake in front, 1 exhaust in rear? 2 intakes? No exhaust? etc.)

Thanks!

 

[OverVolt]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129042 is an extremely cool case. Buy 3 more 120mm low rpm fans IMO.

If your bent on 650w, it has a combo deal going on right now. Remember the PSU is on the bottom, I am going to use this case in my next build but haven't gotten my hands on it. Just throwing a suggestion. In terms of fans, I usually just fill the case with low rpm fans. That power supply is modular, so you won't have many excess wires floating around.

EDIT: While trading, don't spill a drink down the 140mm top fan

Also, I haven't built a rig in awhile so I genuinely don't know what is sufficient to cool a quad.

 

[jhammer569]

when you say you will fill the case...how many will you setup for intake and how many exhaust (& positioning of intake vs. exhaust)?

 

[Paperdoc]

I prefer intakes at the front, exhausts at rear, and be VERY sure you have filters on the intakes and that you keep them cleaned. I also prefer to have more intake capacity than exhaust, so my case is under slight pressure to blow air out the leakage holes. Like I said, that air must be filtered (at intake fans) so it keeps dust out of the case.

In planning this, recognize that the CFM spec's are for fans with nothing impeding them. But we place filters on the intake fans, reducing their capacity, and do not do this on exhaust fans. So I'd deliberately put in too much intake fan capacity, counting on the filters to reduce that and get close to balance.

My Antec Sonata II case came with a rear 80 mm exhaust fan and the PSU exhaust fan. It also has an air duct system that directs external air (drawn in from the back) to the CPU cooler; in effect, this makes the CPU cooler an intake fan. So I added one front 120 mm intake fan. In this case, it is mounted to draw air through the front (foam filter in place) over the HDD's, and then into the general case space.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: PaperdocIn planning this, recognize that the CFM spec's are for fans with nothing impeding them. But we place filters on the intake fans, reducing their capacity, and do not do this on exhaust fans. So I'd deliberately put in too much intake fan capacity, counting on the filters to reduce that and get close to balance.

And if you want to do this properly, also remember the PSU fan will serve as an exhaust.

 

[Slugbait]

Your case should be decided before your case fans question. For example, if you get an Armor, the number of additional fans needed would be zero and placement would be null. It's when you go cheap that you need to look at additional cooling, figuring out air flow issues, etc.

You don't mention how much you will overclock, if at all. I've read the stock HSF does nicely for moderate OC...that CPU is one of the coolest-running procs around, aftermarket would probably only be needed for the higher clocks. Might not mean anything for your system, tho'...I've read about some P5Q owners griping they can't overclock this CPU very well on that mobo.

Just get a Toslink cable for your sound system, the onboard will be more than adequate for your needs.

 

[jhammer569]

No overclocking at all.

 

[MarcVenice]

Cool and quiet? P182 all the way mate. With the antec tricools on low, it's inaudible and has very decent cool. My harddrives run really cool, and if you want you can add in another fan on the middle harddrive cage, and have it supply your videocard/motherboard with fresh air. It has dust filters built in, all you do is vacuum clean them once in a while.

Ye, it's not as cheap as a antec 300, it's a LOT quieter though. You COULD replace the antec tricools with better fans, but on low they are pretty good.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Cooler Master 690. Room for 8 fans total, three included. Included fans are dead quiet.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: jhammer569
No overclocking at all.

Great. Then the only aftermarket HSF you should be considering is one that is a lot quieter than stock...otherwise, you're just throwing money away.