Improving cooling for my setup?

[duragezic]

I have a mobile Barton 2400+ that I ran at least at 2.2ghz when I first got it. But for the last couple of months I've had to keep it stock since certain games like Guild Wars, HL2, etc would cause it to show instability. I went as high as 1.775 V and still the same.


At stock, I don't have the exact temp, but it is at least 45° and usually greater than 50°. Under load brings it to almost 65° and this is STOCK speeds. That seems pretty toasty to me and why I can't reach any decent overclock.

My HSF: Artic Cooling CS-2L. Yes I know I bought a piece of crap. It is always on Hi speed which is 2800rpm. But it's like all the Socket A performance coolers are still ridiculously priced. If someone could recommend a cheap but better performing one than this junk I'd prolly try that. Or maybe I should try re-applying thermal compound?

Now, is there anything I can do with my case to get better airflow/lower temps.

Two pictures of my case: case1
case2

Lately I've been running with the side panel off like in case1 pic. It got pretty warm in the house so I thought it'd run cooler with the panel off.

But, with the panel on, as seen in case2 pic, I have the leftmost fan to exhaust air and the right one to intake air (since I have no other intake). The spot in the back is exhaust but unforunately only for a 60mm fan so it doesn't feel like it does too much.

Looking at case1 pic, I do have FOUR slots for fans in the front of the computer. But a) I can't figure how out to remove the front panel without reefing on it, and b) the spots seem so blocked that it would never pull air into there to make a difference. I guess the only thing I could try with this is to take the right-most fan I have as intake and switch it to the front. Probably about the same.

edit: Also note the 60mm isn't plugged in in the picture but it is always otherwise. And of course when the side panel is on when the two fans are plugged in and running.

 

[Safeway]

Holy sh!t. A 60mm exhaust?! That is so sad it's funny.

As for the cooler, it is crap. Yes. Go spend $40 on a Zalman and you might be able to get it clocked higher.

SOme people say that the longer you run overclocked, the less it wants to overclock. I don't know if there's truth to that, but whatever. Get better cooling and mod your case to fit a 80mm or 120mm fan.

 

[duragezic]

Ah, that's what I didn't wanna hear.

For $40 it seems like you get so little when for that money I could get a DVD burner or more RAM, etc.. And add a little more to that and I'd have a new CPU.

 

[suszterpatt]

You could try setting both side fans to intake. Btw, is your HSF on suck or blow?

 

[CrispyFried]

I would try both sides as intakes also. In the pic it looks like the CPU HS is partialy clogged with dust.

 

[xenocyd3]

new case, hsf, exhaust

 

[duragezic]

I will switch them to intakes and actually get some readings later on today.

So are most other cases better designed in that their front actually is opened up to intake air?

 

[Remedy]

You're in a pickle of problem.

I can see you have cut out options for fans in the front of the case. What I would do is;

Step 1. Measure out the front of the fan cut outs on that intake part of the chassis. If it measures 120mm total or 118mm minimum. You can easily Buy or borrow a Dremel from someone and cut a 120mm blow hole. Then you would you would gain atleast 70cfm @ 35decibles for positive pressure.

Step 2. Your ATA ribbon cables can be folded in half(like a Sub roll) in an attemp to reduce obstruction. Also, try to slide your Molex cables from the power supply under the edge of the motherboard. It's not much. But, with 70cfm being produced from that 120mm fan. You'd want every cubic foot air you can get out of it. Unobstructed. For Cable Management, take a look at this thread here.

I'm not sure what kind of thermal compound you're using, or if you're using any at all. If you're not using any compound. I believe CompUSA, Radio Shack, MicroCenter sell silver particle based compound. (conductivity?) Should be no more than $2 a packet.

Step 3. The Exhaust fan seems to have another 60mm of space there. With the same Dremel purchased or borrowed. I'd cut another 60mm opening for another 60mm fan.

About the side panel fans. I have no idea who would design a chassis to have 2 fans completely at the bottom of case as if it were early thought of BTX design. But, with the would be 120mm fan mod for the intake. You're bound to have more than enough air in that direction. With that said, you should experiment (after the 120mm mod) with the direction of the flow of the side panel fans. Whether 1 in 1 out method, 2 in, or 2 out.

The whole job shouldn't cost you anymore than $14 to 18.

JMO...

 

[albumleaf]

I'd just drop $170 and pick up a 3200+ Palermo Sempron

 

[albumleaf]

Originally posted by: duragezic
I will switch them to intakes and actually get some readings later on today.

So are most other cases better designed in that their front actually is opened up to intake air?

Yes, most cases are straight in the front, out the back designs.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: albumleaf
I'd just drop $170 and pick up a 3200+ Palermo Sempron

I don't think they make Palermos for socket A.

 

[duragezic]

I dremeled the metal guard on one of the front fan slots. Then I moved one of the side 80mm intake fans to be at the front. Doing this the temp dropped approx 5° C. This seemed pretty significant, and I think the fact the yesterday as much cooler in the house than lately had a lot to do with it. Still it is probably much better this way. I'm going to look into dremeling a top exhaust fan blowhole (I'll put some cheap mesh or something over it) and also dremeling below the 60mm exhaust in back so that I can put 2 60mm exhaust in the back. And if I could ever get the damn hsf off the mobo with breaking the holding mechanism I will reapply thermal compound.


I've been checking HD and FS/FT as well for someone getting rid of a decent Socket A cooler since most everyone is upgrading to 939/A64 these days.