New to cooling...Help

[Lawman02766]

I have just started getting into the cooling area of computers...out of necessity. I have read just about all the posts in Cases and Cooling and would like the Anandtech'ers out there to lend a hand.

My system:

Soyo SY-K7VIA Mobo
T-Bird 800 (not oc'd presently) - Triple fan/HS
256 PC133 memory
Hercules Geforce 2 MX 32MB AGP (PCI slot fan right underneath)
SB Live Value
3com NIC
TDK CDRW
50X CDROM
Maxtor 15 GB HDD - triple fan HDD fan attached
Maxtor 5.7 GB HDD
Generic ATX case
300 W power supply

The system runs fine usually, however here in the Northeast we have already had 3 90+ days and more sure to come. On those days, my system was locking up, although infrequently. I assumed it was heat related and shut it down for awhile. Ran fine after that.

Right now the room that the computer is in is 81 degrees F. Using a program called "Hmonitor", the mobo temp is 29.4 deg. C and the CPU temp is 37.6 deg. C. Both of these with one side of the case open. They go up about 2 deg. C with the side on. Are these temps okay? They would seem to be in my opinion.

Now the question becomes....when the room temp goes up, say to 90 or 100 (the room is a loft in my condo and has a single skylight as a window. A/C is not possible in here.), what measures should I take to cool the system?

I have ordered rounded cables (For air flow and they look cool 😉 ) as well as Artic Silver 2 thermal compound, Golden Orb for the CPU and the Blue Orb for the Video Card.

Considering the impending HOT weather, what would acceptable temps for the mobo and cpu be? And what steps should I take to cool even further?

Any help is appreciated.


Dave

 

[conlan]

Those temps are OK. You forgot to mention your present cooling though , how many fans , what size , what CFM , placement , etc.

 

[Lawman02766]

Thanks for the input. I thought the couple of fans listed in the system desc. was enough detail. The only other fan is the power supply fan.


Any other help is appreciated.


Dave

 

[Fuzzmuncher]

Those temperatures are really pretty good. Your lock-ups amy be due to some other factor. 🙁
Have you noticed that the heat is an exclusive factor? If you need quicker responses, feel free to PM me and I'll try my best to help you. 🙂

 

[conlan]

sorry , i misunderstood. So the slot fan and hard drive cooler are the only fans in the case?? If thats true you'll need to install intake (lower front) and exhaust fans (upper rear) to get the proper flow of air through your case. Hope that helps.

 

[Lawman02766]

Thanks Conlan and Fuzzmuncher!

As for the intake and exhaust fans, what size fan would you recommend for each?

Also, if the temps that I listed are ok now, what about when the room temp goes up? Any big concerns there, assuming that the exhaust/intake fans are installed?

I think the big question for me is, what are UNREASONABLE temps for this system? I don't want to destroy the rig by running it in an unsafe temp. room. (does that make sense? 😀)

Again, thanks for the input.

Dave