is my computer running to hot??

[denbo]

My computer specs is listed in my profile.

My case is a POWMAX ATX Aluminum Mid-Tower Case with X-Window order on newegg. With a System Exhaust Blower, 1 80mm fan under the power supply, I wish to add one in the charsis fan area but can't figure out how to take off the front cover to add it there, and if it possible since i don't see holes there for the fan to blow in or out.

currently I'm running at about 44C idle or just web brosing nothing heavy, and up to 55C when I'm gamming for a while such as unreal or EQ2. Those temp seem a bit high but im not 100%. Besides water cooling what else can i do to lower the temp of my computer?

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: denbo
My computer specs is listed in my profile.

My case is a POWMAX ATX Aluminum Mid-Tower Case with X-Window order on newegg. With a System Exhaust Blower, 1 80mm fan under the power supply, I wish to add one in the charsis fan area but can't figure out how to take off the front cover to add it there, and if it possible since i don't see holes there for the fan to blow in or out.

currently I'm running at about 44C idle or just web brosing nothing heavy, and up to 55C when I'm gamming for a while such as unreal or EQ2. Those temp seem a bit high but im not 100%. Besides water cooling what else can i do to lower the temp of my computer?

Those temps are not all the bad, though a little on the warm side (more so because it is winter). I would look at either adding fans to your case or getting a different case. As the latter is probably not an option, I would look for some nice big high CFM/ low dB fans. If there are not enough air holes you may have to cut some new ones in. This is not as hard as it sounds, all you really need is a dremmel or even a hammer and nail if you want a cheap and dirty solution.

Water cooling is a bit extreme and should only be undertaken if you understand the risk and have a little experience with modding.

More air flow is always a good thing, but there is a balance between air flow and noise so some compromise must be made. Try cracking the side of your case and see what happens to your temps. If there is a dramatic decrease then airflow is your biggest issue.

-spike

 

[Spike]

Another thing to try besides opening the side is to remove some of those front 5.25 bay covers. That gives you some more flow, it's amazing what a few little openings can do to temps.

I looked at that case online and could not see any good place for a fan up front as it is. There was some report that found one of the best setups (I believe it was for a chieftech) was to have a single exhaust fan and no others. This meant that one fan was pulling the air from all the other open ports. the temps were lower than with all the fans installed...

Something to think about

-spike

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Too bad you chose a socket 478 Prescott and motherboard; the 478-pin Prescott runs hotter than the LGA775 Prescott, according to some good sources.

In addition to Spike's insightful ideas, Take a look at Sentinel's "Foam Board Mod" in a thread that received some attention a week ago.

I cannot judge the effectiveness of your cooler, but I think you want to focus some air on that 478-pin Prescott. If you can get a cooler which allows for a not-too-heavy 120mm fan, I'd say do it. A heatpipe cooler would certainly help.

I'm not sure I agree with Spike's recommendations for a single exhaust and no intake fan. Your cooling solution will be better for denser air, so you should have intake >= exhaust. But I agree that you will benefit from either a different case or a modification of the front panel for a bigger fan -- preferably a high CFM, low-noise 120mm fan. The more air you can move through the case, the cooler the mobo and processor; the more air in CFMs you can throw on the processor, the cooler the processor and surrounding mobo. And the quicker you can get the CPU_HSF exhaust out the back of the case without mixing with interior air, the cooler for everything.

Manufacturers are still designing cases as "marginal" thermal solutions, and they do it with assumptions that the user is not over-clocking his system or pushing it to any limits. If this were not true, CoolerMaster would not have added the Stacker to its line of cases after the WaveMaster was in "1st place" during 2003 but fell to 11th place in 2004.

 

[LouPoir]

Looks OK for a Prescott S478

 

[Toro 45]

Originally posted by: LouPoir
Looks OK for a Prescott S478

Agreed, looks ok for a Prescott. There are much better cpu coolers if you want to spend the money, that would help bring you cpu temp down.

 

[nick1985]

please dont tell me you are using a powmax PSU

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck
I'm not sure I agree with Spike's recommendations for a single exhaust and no intake fan. Your cooling solution will be better for denser air, so you should have intake >= exhaust. But I agree that you will benefit from either a different case or a modification of the front panel for a bigger fan -- preferably a high CFM, low-noise 120mm fan. The more air you can move through the case, the cooler the mobo and processor; the more air in CFMs you can throw on the processor, the cooler the processor and surrounding mobo. And the quicker you can get the CPU_HSF exhaust out the back of the case without mixing with interior air, the cooler for everything.

This was based on a review I read where they tried every combination of fans and found the best cooling was a single exhaust fan with all the other fan spots just open. From my experience with exhaust >= intake I had lower temps then when I have them equal or the intake more. Now this might be skewed as my intake pushes more air than my exhaust at the same voltage (enermax 120mm vs panaflo 120mm), but thats just what I have found.

-spike

 

[akira34]

Ok, who says intel processors run cooler than AMD??? My idle/light load temps (at this very moment, running iTunes playing Astro-Creep 2000) is 34C. With nothing running, it dips down to 30-31C. Alas, I've become obsessed with getting my system silent AND running cool... I've got it cool, now I want it to be silent (again). IF I go for quiet under the current configuration, my processor temps go up to about 40C under light load/idle...

 

[xbassman]

Come on Akira....You have totally an unfair temp advantage with your Lian Li case.

To the Op
You will probably never get great temps with the case you are using.
My wife has one that is similar and her temps are good using 4 Panaflo L1A case fans. All the stck fan holes are drilled out and replaced with wire grills and I cut an opening on the bottom side of the faceplate for freer intake airflow.

Using that case you would probably overheat if you decided to try running a DC project like UD or Folding@Home (they keep CPU usage @100%)

I would start by buying the best Thermalright heatsink you can get your hands on. (That will fit your mobo anyway) Then unless you want to mod the crap outa your case, purchase a case with good airflow.

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: denbo
My computer specs is listed in my profile.

My case is a POWMAX ATX Aluminum Mid-Tower Case with X-Window order on newegg. With a System Exhaust Blower, 1 80mm fan under the power supply, I wish to add one in the charsis fan area but can't figure out how to take off the front cover to add it there, and if it possible since i don't see holes there for the fan to blow in or out.

currently I'm running at about 44C idle or just web brosing nothing heavy, and up to 55C when I'm gamming for a while such as unreal or EQ2. Those temp seem a bit high but im not 100%. Besides water cooling what else can i do to lower the temp of my computer?

Search and Ye Shall Receive!

Your temps are just fine.

 

[akira34]

Hey xbassman how can I have an unfair advantage?? I only have two case fans, and just venting the 6800's hot air out the back (like so many are doing these days). I still want to get my temps lower though... not sure if that can happen, but I'm looking into it...

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: akira34
Hey xbassman how can I have an unfair advantage?? I only have two case fans, and just venting the 6800's hot air out the back (like so many are doing these days). I still want to get my temps lower though... not sure if that can happen, but I'm looking into it...

haha....Your case is definately superior in every aspect. (especially cooling!)
His case in it's stock form only has 2-80mm fans with a spot for a 3rd for a front intake.
Although that still doesn't change the fact that your AMD is a cooler running processor anyway. (hehe I remember the day when I never thought that was possible 🙂 )

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: xbassman

Originally posted by: akira34
Hey xbassman how can I have an unfair advantage?? I only have two case fans, and just venting the 6800's hot air out the back (like so many are doing these days). I still want to get my temps lower though... not sure if that can happen, but I'm looking into it...

haha....Your case is definately superior in every aspect. (especially cooling!)
His case in it's stock form only has 2-80mm fans with a spot for a 3rd for a front intake.
Although that still doesn't change the fact that your AMD is a cooler running processor anyway. (hehe I remember the day when I never thought that was possible 🙂 )

You mean not all aluminum cases are created equal?? :shocked: So spending what I did on the V1100b was a good thing? :shocked: Just f'ing with ya... I know the Lian-Li case I have kicks ass, that's why I purchased it... Looks great too... 😀

I think my Athlon64 is running fairly cool, even for the Athlon64 754 pin line. I know of a few people with the 3000+ and 3200+ that don't run as cool as mine does now... 😀 I also remember the days when people with AMD chips had wet dreams about running as cool as the same generation intel chips... I never had such a problem... heh