GPU Cooling Option

[erik8ant]

I want to cool my Asus GTX 670 by using side intake fan but my case don't have side intake panel. Is there other way to cool my GPU?

 

[lehtv]

I'm confused why you need to cool it better. The DirectCu II cooler is already excellent. What are your GPU temperatures?

What is your case? A side intake is never required to adequately cool a single graphics card, but there could be other ways to improve the airflow.

 

[erik8ant]

Assuming it is the DirectCu II 2GB, I'm confused why you need to cool it better. The DCII cooler is already excellent. What are your GPU temperatures?

What is your case? A side intake is never required to adequately cool a single graphics card, but there could be other ways to improve the airflow.

My GPU temp can go up to 80C. My case is Xigmatek Asgard 382.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Single cars hitting 80c? That seems a tad bit high. Manually change your fan speed profile to something more aggressive.

 

[lehtv]

80C is quite high for a DirectCu II card... Have you checked your GPU fans are working correctly, i.e. both are spinning?

The Asgard 382 has one fan by default. Do you have any additional fans installed yet? Your GPU would benefit from a front 120mm intake and 140mm top exhaust.

You can use MSI afterburner to change the fan profile manually if you don't mind it being slightly noisier.

Another thing you can consider is changing the thermal paste. You'd need a precision screwdriver for taking off and installing the cooler, thermal paste removal liquid, a non-linting cloth for wiping off the paste, and additional paste like NT-H1.

 

[erik8ant]

80C is quite high for a DirectCu II card... Have you checked your GPU fans are working correctly, i.e. both are spinning?

The Asgard 382 has one fan by default. Do you have any additional fans installed yet? Your GPU would benefit from a front 120mm intake and 140mm top exhaust.

You can use MSI afterburner to change the fan profile manually if you don't mind it being slightly noisier.

Another thing you can consider is changing the thermal paste. You'd need a precision screwdriver for taking off and installing the cooler, thermal paste removal liquid, a non-linting cloth for wiping off the paste, and additional paste like NT-H1.

Ya the fan is spinning correctly. No I just have exhaust fan installed by default. My GPU is positioned at the same line with my HDD. If I install a front intake fan, can it cool both?

 

[lehtv]

Yes, it will blow air over the GPU as well. Hard disks don't consume enough power to let off heat that you'd ever notice affecting the GPU. I'd recommend also installing a 140mm top fan if you want optimal results.

 

[erik8ant]

Yes, it will blow air over the GPU as well. Hard disks don't consume enough power to let off heat that you'd ever notice affecting the GPU. I'd recommend also installing a 140mm top fan if you want optimal results.

My HDD always stays around 45C. Can front fan cools GPU well? Isn't top fan serve as exhaust not intake?

 

[lehtv]

My HDD always stays around 45C

Not very surprising, a 7200RPM drive with no fan nearby will run pretty hot. But it doesn't mean it lets off much heat at all (which is exactly why it runs as hot as it does - all the heat stays in).

What is your room temperature by the way?

In comparison, my 5400RPM drives run at 24C and 30C when doing nothing (the hotter one is directly above the other). I have a 120mm intake fan in front of them and room temperature is about 23C.

Can front fan cools GPU well? Isn't top fan serve as exhaust not intake?

As I said, yes the GPU will benefit from the front intake. Said it third time now.

The top fan indeed is an exhaust. Exhaust airflow is the more important part of cooling, after all it gets rid of the hot air. This is why most cases with only one fan have it set as a rear exhaust instead of a front intake. Intake airflow is there just to actively provide the case with fresh air instead of relying wholly on negative air pressure

 

[erik8ant]

Not very surprising, a 7200RPM drive with no fan nearby will run pretty hot. But it doesn't mean it lets off much heat at all (which is exactly why it runs as hot as it does - all the heat stays in).

What is your room temperature by the way?

In comparison, my 5400RPM drives run at 24C and 30C when doing nothing (the hotter one is directly above the other). I have a 120mm intake fan in front of them and room temperature is about 23C.

As I said, yes the GPU will benefit from the front intake. Said it third time now.

The top fan indeed is an exhaust. Exhaust airflow is the more important part of cooling, after all it gets rid of the hot air. This is why most cases with only one fan have it set as a rear exhaust instead of a front intake. Intake airflow is there just to actively provide the case with fresh air instead of relying wholly on negative air pressure

I don't know my room temp because I don't have thermometer. Do I need top fan even I leave my top exhaust blank? If not I buy an front fan then is enough. What front intake fan should I buy? Arctic F12 PWM or Silverstone Air Penetrator?

 

[lehtv]

Do I need top fan even I leave my top exhaust blank?

Technically you don't need any additional fans. You just need to turn up the GPU fan profile a bit.

But if you want to know which fan will make more difference to temperatures, I'm not entirely sure... I'd guess that a 140mm top fan will improve temperatures more than the intake but I could be wrong.

What front intake fan should I buy? Arctic F12 PWM or Silverstone Air Penetrator?

Neither. The AP is a bit expensive and you shouldn't use a PWM fan as a case fan. Do you have the F12 1300 RPM available, or a similar low cost ~1000RPM fan?

 

[erik8ant]

Technically you don't need any additional fans. You just need to turn up the GPU fan profile a bit.

But if you want to know which fan will make more difference to temperatures, I'm not entirely sure... I'd guess that a 140mm top fan will improve temperatures more than the intake but I could be wrong.

Neither. The AP is a bit expensive and you shouldn't use a PWM fan as a case fan. Do you have the F12 1300 RPM available, or a similar low cost ~1000RPM fan?

Isn't AP can cool at one direction different from other fans that cool all directions? Why not PWM?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Isn't AP can cool at one direction different from other fans that cool all directions? Why not PWM?

Pwm uses the CPU sensors, unlike the GPU temp sensors.