Need some cooling advice for new case setup

sje2081

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2003
10
0
0
I recently bought a new Cooler Master ATC-220 case and Antec TruePower 380 power supply.

I know this case isn't the best for cooling since it had no front intake fan. My CPU (Thunderbird 1400@1466mhz) is running at around 60 degrees (retail HSF), and my case ambient is 40. This really isn't much hotter than my last case, an Enlight that did have an intake. The top of the case near the power supply is pretty hot to the touch though. I am not sure whether its because the Aluminum is transferring the heat so well, or if there is something wrong with my new power supply. The fans on the power supply are working and the system has been stable so far.

Anyway, what can I do short of mutilating my case to get some intake air flow? Should I install some sort of drive bay cooler? I was interested in those Aerogates by Coolermaster...anyone know when they are supposed to be available?

Also, would it be smart to put a case fan on the BASE of my tower and push air up? Since there is no intake, I thought maybe this would help get the air moving up and out of the system a bit better. This case does have a blowhole along with an extra exhaust fan on the top rear.

Appreciate any advice, thanks!
 

GAZZA

Golden Member
Oct 18, 1999
1,987
0
0
Here is a quote from TomsHardware,

The ATC-220-VX1 shares much of the same internal design as the ATC-110. Perhaps the most notable missing feature is the two fans in the front of the case, which are found on the ATC-110. The ATC-220-VX1 uses a "heat rises" strategy that is vented out of the top of the case using an 80mm top mounted fan. This strategy does raise some concern about the overall effective cooling of the ATC-220-VX1 in "hot configurations." While we did not encounter any problems with cooling in our test setup, the lack of front intake does limit the potential cooling of the case.

So it does seem your limited to getting cool air into your system, unless you decide to mod the case like you mentioned.
I think you might stand a better chance of having that one fan at the back sucking air into your case as opposed to exhausting the air since this is the only fan you have available.
Putting fan/s in the base might not be a bad idea too, just make sure you have filters on them as there is bound to be plenty of dust on the floor especially if the case sits on carpet.