Cooling issues, looking for a mid-range HSF (socket A)

[Brule]

I have a crappy 60mm speeze HSF on my 2600+ (t-bred), other system specs include a shuttle AN35N, ti4400, and X-dremer II case.(80mm case fans: two in, two out) Case temp varies from 30-40 C, CPU from 40 to 55 C, rarely higher to 60. Whenever the temp goes about 52 or so it starts to become more unstable, crashing much more often. Games seem to crash and MBM reports temps of 55 on exit. The BIOS seems to agree. I plan on improving the case fan situation, but have two more pressing issues.

First and most importantly, I'm looking for a better HSF. I am running this at stock speeds and voltage, but the room temps may vary. Noise isn't a major issue, I can easily stand the 6000 RPM fan now, a bit more won't hurt. Most HSF's are made either for major performance or silience. I just need a solid HSF that's better than stock. While cost is an issue (otherwise I'd grab a new SLK-???) but solid performance is the main concern.

The PSU is a generic Turbolink 350W. Voltages seem pretty stable, 12 V can drop low from time to time. I replaced it with an older Antec PP-352X expecting better performance and cooling with its extra fan on the bottem. When I installed the Antec there were marginal benefits powerwise, but my temps jumped from 45 idle to over 55, crashing often. I just stuck the Turbolink back in and it's at 49C now, seems to be closer to normal. I find this very odd, maybe the Antec fans didn't kick on right? (I couldn't really see but know it is supposed to react to different temps)

Any help is appreciated, and suggestions on a solid HSF would be great. I've looked into a cheaper Zalman or Thermalright but they seem overly complex and costly for my use. Thermaltake seems to have mixed reviews on the boards. I have also tried a Falconrock but found its performance lacking, since I don't need to low noise it doesn't seem like a good fit. Are there any brands that may not be as well known but better suited to my use?

 

[rogue1979]

They're a little older now, but I have been using Thermaltake TR2-M2's for awhile and they do the job right. I have three of them running overclocked Athlons and Bartons, rarely hitting the low 50's under extreme load on a hot day, with the 3 speed fan control set on medium, very quiet.

 

[Arcanedeath]

I belive this would be a good solution for you it cools similarly / slighty worse than the SLK800 but is much cheaper and costs a mere $15.99 @ SVC Thermalright ALX-800 pair this up w/ your fan of choice (it takes up to 80mm fans) and you should be sitting pretty. Fyi this is a hybrid copper / alu heatsink but still does very well.

 

[Brule]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
I belive this would be a good solution for you it cools similarly / slighty worse than the SLK800 but is much cheaper and costs a mere $15.99 @ SVC Thermalright ALX-800 pair this up w/ your fan of choice (it takes up to 80mm fans) and you should be sitting pretty. Fyi this is a hybrid copper / alu heatsink but still does very well.

Thanks, that looks interesting. One is now on its way after a little research. Any certain fan(s) that work best with one of these? I'd be new to buying a heatsink seperate, but this is the kind of setup I'm looking for.

EDIT: I should note a fan besides a tornado or delta FFB0812EHE. I will try one of those but if the noise is that bad would a 80x80x25 fan work? Thanks.

 

[Bill Kunert]

Take a look at the TR2TT TR2 M4 at NewEgg. Cost is $11 and it has a variable speed, twin ball bearing, squirrel cage blower. I'm running at 44deg C idle and 54deg C full load on a 2600XP+ mobile at 204 X 12.5. If you get one remove the copper insert and replace the improperly applied thermal compound with some good AS-5. Dropped my temps by 5deg C. An excellent cooler for the money. TR2TT is an offshoot of Thermaltake.
Regards
Bill

 

[Brule]

Originally posted by: Bill Kunert
Take a look at the TR2TT TR2 M4 at NewEgg. Cost is $11 and it has a variable speed, twin ball bearing, squirrel cage blower. I'm running at 44deg C idle and 54deg C full load on a 2600XP+ mobile at 204 X 12.5. If you get one remove the copper insert and replace the improperly applied thermal compound with some good AS-5. Dropped my temps by 5deg C. An excellent cooler for the money. TR2TT is an offshoot of Thermaltake.
Regards
Bill

Interesting design for sure, very low CFM but good reviews. I think I'm going with a thermalright for now, it's not much more and should be healthy for the CPU. However this would be great for a second computer, if the quality was good. I've seen the TT exhaust blowers before but not mounted like this.

 

[Sonic587]

I have a ALX-800 and I love it. Keeps my AXP-M@2.5GHz w/1.725V @45C under prime 95

I suggest the Panaflo H1B. It's pretty quiet(dead silent if you ajust it with speedfan) and pushes out 40CFM. I'm using it right now.

http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/product.php?productid=2004&cat=79&page=1

At the moment I'm running 9X200FSB w/1.35V until I upgrade my PSU. Net surfing Temps are 30C case/30C Diode/31C socket.

 

[Cerb]

According to SPCR, anything as low as a Panaflo L 80mm will do a good job on the ALX-800. I'm recommend the M, but I'm a quiet freak, and only recommend an M because you say you don't care about quiet (else it'd be a recommendation of L @7v or 5v ). You should definitely get a Panaflo, though. For anything under insane noise levels, the Panaflos give better cooling than most other fans for the noise they make.

My one piece of advice: get a screwdriver that fits into the slit on the socket clip. With the right size one (can't recall right now, but under 1/4"), the clip TR uses will be the easiest there is to use.

 

[Brule]

Pefect luck on my part, I just ordered the SLK-800 and SVC places the SLK-900(A) on sale for $20. I don't think they've shipped it out yet, any reason to stick with the AL/CU hybrid when I could go all copper? (weight is the only factor I see right now)

Thanks for the replies, I wear headphones most of the time so noise isn't as big of an issue. My future hearing loss on the other hand....

 

[Brule]

Wow, the ALX-800 arrived today. Stuck a Delta FFB0812EHE on it, sounds like a vaccum cleaner sucking up gravel. It's sitting near a window AC unit, so with the case closed and placed under a desk (plenty of air flow) the noise isn't as bad.

Temps dropped from 50 C idle, 55+ C under load to 32 C idle, 38 C after an hour of extensive UT2003. The heatsink was easier to put on than the generic speeze or Falconrock, but a bit more difficult than a stock AMD HSF. The fan just snapped into place, a little common sense was all that was needed to install everything.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm very impressed with the performance, but still have a SLK-900(A) in reserve if I feel like abusing the CPU. The amount of random crashes has dropped to nil, and I thought any temps below 60 would be fine, guess I was wrong.

 

[JeffreyY]

ALX-800 rules! Though I'm thinking about playing with a slower fan. I have the U1A and it's 38dB I believe. I wonder how much hotter it would be with the H instead.

BTW, what's the difference between the H1A and H1B?

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyY
ALX-800 rules! Though I'm thinking about playing with a slower fan. I have the U1A and it's 38dB I believe. I wonder how much hotter it would be with the H instead.

BTW, what's the difference between the H1A and H1B?

47dBA actually for the U1A. Instead of buying a new fan you should use a controller. That U1A runs pretty quiet @ 7v. But an H1A is about 34dBA, L1A is 24dBA I am not sure about the M1A (I don't have any)
I am using a Nexus 3.5" controller for my HS/F and 3 of my case fans. when I put my freshly modded power supply back in, I am going to give it a go at controlling my 3 remaining case fans. Right now my loudest fan is the 40mm in my Vantec Iceberg Copper. It is coming off and a Zalman nb47j passive heatsink is going in it's place.

BTW- while testing, my power supply the fans I put in are silent! (Panaflo H1A rear, Globe 92mm led bottom)
I went ahead and used the the thermally controlled circuitry for silent operation instead of bypassing it, so they are probably getting about 5v unless temps go up, then they will ramp up rpms accordingly.

<edit>H1B= rpm monitoring
looks like it is listing 32dBA now.....