Need Cooling Ideas

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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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I have an Antec Lanboy case which only has mounts for two case fans, so have an intake in the front and an exhaust up near the PSU. I'm looking for two things, to lower my CPU temps and to lower my case temps.

While just surfing the net and chatting on IM my CPU is at 45C @ 4963RPM. My HSF is a ThermalTake Volcano 12 with a fan controller in a PCI slot. Ordering some AS5 to help but any other options? I can turn my fan on high but it's extremely loud, maybe a way to reduce noice? But keep in mind that I have a nicely done window case so don't want to cover that up with those foam pads.

Secondly is case temps, granted I have nothing to measure the heat in my case, it's just something that I would like to try to be as cool as possible. So far all I've seen are these PCI cards with 3 fans attached to it and a PCI exhaust fan. Again the issues I would be concerned about would be noise and of course the amount of power they both took. As is I have an Antec 350W Smart Blue PSU, I plan to upgrade to a 440W+ Antec PSU but not anytime soon. So would need something that would take any amounts of massive power.

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cases/Antec_LANBOY/index.html
Link to a site that has several different pic's of my case on several pages to give everyone an idea of what exactly I have.

Thanks for all the advice and tips, this is my first build and having great fun doing it as well as learning more and more along the way.

- Melissa
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Newegg says your case supports 2X120MM fans. Do you have 2 120MM fans mounted already?

Also, what components do you have in your system?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Yeah, have the 2 case fans already, looking for additional cooling.

As for hardware looking for the specifics or just the basic I have an AMD CPU, AGP Vid card, PCI Sound Card, PCI USB Card, 1 HD, 1 Floppy, 1 DVD Drive.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Originally posted by: Cook1
Yeah, have the 2 case fans already, looking for additional cooling.

As for hardware looking for the specifics or just the basic I have an AMD CPU, AGP Vid card, PCI Sound Card, PCI USB Card, 1 HD, 1 Floppy, 1 DVD Drive.
Click to expand...

What models, though? AMD Athlon XP, A64, ect? What videocard as well?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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AMD Athlon XP 2800+
TT Volcano 12 HSF
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro...will be a ChainTech Ti4600 soon
2x512MB w/Heatspreaders
SB Live 5.1
DVD Drive...will be getting a DVDRW soon
Antec 350W Smart Blue

Hrmm, did I miss anything?
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Well, I'd suggest dropping the TT fan. The AS5 should help quite a bit, though. However, if you want the best cooling, you'll have to get a Thermalright or a Zalman.

Also, download MBM5. It should tell you your case temp.

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

If it still doesn't give a reading for you, try taking the side of your case off while the system is running. Watch your CPU temps. If they drop more than 1-2C while it's off, then you have airflow problems in your case. If they stay the same, your case is cool enough.
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Ok, took the side of my case off and now I'm down to 41C, so thus far it has dropped 4C...make that 40.5C now and dropping....

Ok, Airflow problems, how can I fix this one?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Ok, staying at 39C...which is a big drop from the 45C I was at. How can I help the airflow in my case?
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Do you have anything blocking the airflow in your case? Are you sure you have the fans blowing in the right direction?

Tough thinking of what might be wrong. Are you using a thermal pad right now?

EDIT: On the CPU, I mean.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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The duct might be a good idea if the AS5 isn't much of an improvement. I've heard good things about those.

However, Your temps really aren't all that bad. Nothing to worry about unless you're going over 60C @load. The AS5 should help with that. A duct could help your airflow, too. You might also want to experiment with your fans and see what works best. You shouldn't be dropping this much in temps.
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Yeah, I know my temps "aren't that bad" but they could use a lot of improvement. I mean if just taking off the side panel drops them by 6C then I have some room to look for products that can help. I'll get the duct, might as well, if it doesn't help all that much, least it will look pretty sweet :).

Also, see anything in the other two? The PCI fan or exhaust thing? I mean, think either of those would help with airflow or not really?
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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The 3 fan thing will do nothing except swirl hot air around in your case. They aren't bringing fresher air inside or exhausting hot air in any way. So, it's pretty much a gimmick.

A blower would probably be useless for you. I wouldn't think a 9000 could produce enough heat to increase the CPU temps by 6C. It sounds like the problem is that area around the heatsink might not be getting enough fresh air.

EDIT: Does your case have the sideways mounted HDD bay like the one on newegg? That could be a big problem. Those things hurt more than they help.
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Thanks Sonic....getting a Ti4600, nothing as a HUGE vid card that will produce mucho heat, but would you say the same thing again there as with the 9000?
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Well, I had a TI4400. It didn't produce that much heat, IMO. I do have a 120MM fan mounted on my case right next to the vid card area, though.

There's an idea! Have you thougt about modding your side window to accept a fan?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Thought about that and modding the top to put in another case fan....but here's the prob. Me with any sort of saws that are sharper then a butter knife and well...lets just say that the doctor's and nurses at the ER know me by my first name...

So thinking that idea is out.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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I know that problem. :p

But as to my question above, do you have a sideways mounted HDD bay like the pic on newegg, or is it like the one in the review?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Ya know, I'm looking at my cause, the TT HSF is so BIG that I don't think I'd have room to put the duct on....can you reccomend another HSF that isn't so...massive?
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
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Yeah, that's my HSF, and yeah by big meaning that it's close to side, like it passes up my exhaust fan...is that going to be a problem? Problem installing the duct I mean.
 
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Sonic587

Golden Member
May 11, 2004
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Shouldn't be.

If you were to get a new HS, I'd suggest either the Zalman CNPS line or a Thermalright SLK900 or above. The Zalmans will not work with a duct, however. I also have no idea how tall the Thermalright would be with a fan as well.

I think the best thing you can do is check out how the AS5 works first. Then, if you need it, get the duct.
 
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Adn4n

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2004
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Originally posted by: Adn4n
Here are some things you can do to lower temperatures.

1.Use Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste.

2.Remove the finger-protectors from your fans(like on your PSU, it'll improve airflow).

3.Replace your stock heatsink and fan: I can vouch for the Zalman 7000a AlCu. If you have a compatible mobo that is.

4.Organize your wirring. Make sure airflow is not hindered by a concentration of wires. Try and hide wires where they do not hit the air current.

5.Make sure you have the same number of Intake and Exhaust fans. If you have more intake than exhaust fans, then the air will stay in your case longer and will heat up more before it is sucked out. If you have more exhaust than intake fans, you will create a slight vacuum; which leads your exhausts to operate at a lower rpm.


Hope this helps. It lowered my temps from 65C at full load to 48C; I'm idling at 38C.
Click to expand...
 
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Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
6,315
0
86
Originally posted by: Adn4n
Originally posted by: Adn4n
Here are some things you can do to lower temperatures.

1.Use Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste.

2.Remove the finger-protectors from your fans(like on your PSU, it'll improve airflow).

3.Replace your stock heatsink and fan: I can vouch for the Zalman 7000a AlCu. If you have a compatible mobo that is.

4.Organize your wirring. Make sure airflow is not hindered by a concentration of wires. Try and hide wires where they do not hit the air current.

5.Make sure you have the same number of Intake and Exhaust fans. If you have more intake than exhaust fans, then the air will stay in your case longer and will heat up more before it is sucked out. If you have more exhaust than intake fans, you will create a slight vacuum; which leads your exhausts to operate at a lower rpm.


Hope this helps. It lowered my temps from 65C at full load to 48C; I'm idling at 38C.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


1. Getting

2. Talking about the grills?

3. Done, have TT HSF

4. Done, my wire work would make grown men cry it's so organized

5. 1 exhaust, 1 intake
 
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