Need some Heatsink Suggestions

[phaxmohdem]

First off, I'm not a professional overclocker or anything. I've done my fair share of it and know the basics though.

I have spent the evening overclocking my aging FX-51 processor to see what it is truely capable of. I had atempted this before wihtout much success, however with some new RAM I installed, I was able to finaly push it past the 2400MHz mark with 100% stability. This is fine, that was my goal, however temps are a little high for my liking at my current speed (11.5 x 209 = ~2403.5MHz).

Idle my temps are in thelow to mid 40's and at full load they will top out at around 64C. I would like to get the load temp under the 60 number preferably low to mid 50's if possible.

Currently I have on it a Thermaltake Silentboost K8 All Copper cooler, with arctic silver 2 paste in between (I have some Arctic Silver 5 laying around would that make a huge difference?) IT is housed in an Antec P160 case with good airflow, 2x 120mm fans, front/back, and open air custom side window.

What would your suggestions be for an upgrade to my rig to meet my goal of low to mid 50's temp wise under load?

 

[Rustler]

What mobo do you have I am getting a SK8N, and what memory are you running on that rig.

If you lapp that silent boost to 2000 grit it will preform real well with a adjustable fan.

 

[phaxmohdem]

I am running the SK8N and am running 2GB (2x 1GB) of 'GigaRAM' PC3200 ECC 3-3-3-8 RAM ( http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820221007 )

What do you mean lapp to 2000 grit? sandpaper? So a better fan on top would do the trick?

 

[Rustler]

yep I have one Silent boost with the stock fan on my DFI system with a 3200 Venice @ 2500Mhz and it cools excellent. The base on those HSFs are not bad but not excellent if you start with 600 grit and make sure the base is flat you can go to 1000 grit wet/dry and then 1500 and finally 2000 in a circular motion until you have a mirror finish and that HSF will kick some butt with a stock fan or you can get adjustable fan and do even better.

DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D,
A64 3200 Venice @ 2500Mhz 250X10
MSI X800pro, Silent Boost Lapped
Maxtor 6Y120MO and 6Y160MO SATA HDs
Corsair 2x512-XMS-4000PRO v3.1
Vantec 520 Stealth PSU


I got a FX51 in a trade for sub 100 bucks invested.
I just picked up a SK8N for 75.

What I want to do is the SLI Mod to my DFI board.

 

[phaxmohdem]

OK so I went out today, got me a thermaltake variable speed fan that will go upto 4800 RPM and push through 75CFM of air (the old stock fan pushed 27CFM) I also bought some 800, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper and made a mirror like you suggested, and I applied the Arctic Silver 5 Grease as directed on their website. With the new fan at the old speed of 2700RPM The noise level was the same, but so was the heat level nothing changed at all. Same overclock, got mid 40's for idle temps and 64 as the topped out full load for an hour temp. I was a little dissapointed with this since I put all the effort into polishing the bottom of the HS and the better thermal grease. I upped the fan speed to 3500 RPM where it is noticably louder, but still bearable, and it lowered my full load temp to around 58C which isn't too bad I guess. Idle temps are still around the same maybe a degree or two lower.

So bottom line for modding my Silent Boost HS, polishing and better paste = no gain. New fan = slightly lower temps but more noise

I would still appreciate any suggestions on a good overclocking HS/fan combo. PErhaps even an inexpensive water cooling kit could work.

 

[l Xes l]

get a xp90-c...