simple fan question (or is it...)

[Spike]

I just built a pc for my bro with a nice epox board and a XP 2400+ in it. (I went with a slower cpu even though the board and ram are for 333 fsb as that lets him upgrade later for cheap and it costs less right now). Anyway, that retail AMD fan is not cutting it. Combined with the fact that the dumb case only has 60mm spots for inflow and outflow except for the 80mm cut into the side means that the cpu gets nice and toasty (low 50's I think). I am gonna order some AS 3 as I only have 2 and a new heatsink/fan for him but I am not sure what to do. I love my Alpha PAL8045 with my ys-tech as it cools my xp1800+ nicely but it is a bit big and pricey for my brother to deal with. I would rather get him something in the $20 range that clips in instead of bolting in. Any ideas what to go for? I would perfer one with a 80mm as that gives me alot more choice in fan options if I need to change it.

Thanks fort he help,

-spike

 

[mindwreck]

sk-7

very nice heatsink for that price. cool very well too.

 

[stevennoland]

Dear Spike,

Dump the case for a better one. I would recommend a Lian_li PC60 or PC65. Good cases. I have two PC75's.

Steve

 

[Spike]

Ok, I was curious so I just checked my system and I am running at 51 C idle... that does not really make any sense. here is my setup... I have a Enermax CS-3051L-B3A case with 4 80mm case fans in it. All are the antec blue or tri-led fans that push 34cfm @ 30dBA. The 80mm on my Alpha is a ys-tech mid range model. I don't remember the stats but as I recall it's dBA was less than 36.

The computer is pretty noisy with all the fans (my powersupply is a enermax I bought seperate from the case with dual fans in it as well) but my temps are still way high. Any ideas why this is the case? I'm not sure how accurate the probe on my ECS K7S5A is, but it is kinda worrying me that the temps are even around there. Thanks for the help

-spike

EDIT: the placement of the fans are as follows: 80mm blowhole, two 80mm exhaust on back. 80mm intake over cpu

 

[Spike]

great idea to dump the case and get a lian-li except for that annoying thing about cost. you see, the case we got for him was $40 with a 350 watt which is siginifigantly cheaper than the lian-li's. I would love to get him one but he is on a budget. Thanks for the advice on the sk-7, I will look into that.

-spike

p.s. what fan do you guys reccomend for him? I like my ys-tech but it is kinda noisy. Maybe a panaflo?

 

[Cerb]

Forget Lian-Li!
A cheap Foxconn case will do better! Get a case w/ no PSU.
Just get a cheap case that you can put a decent fan in (1 80mm 20+CFM exhaist fan makes all the difference). It will be about as cheap as the heatsink. I have an SK-7 and can tell you, in my situation, the case temps have not changed. On a hot day I can still overheat because the case has insufficient airflow.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: Cerb
Forget Lian-Li!
A cheap Foxconn case will do better! Get a case w/ no PSU.
Just get a cheap case that you can put a decent fan in. It will be about as cheap as the heatsink. I have an SK-7 and can tell you, in my situation, the case temps have not changed. On a hot day I can still overheat because the case has insufficient airflow.

I know that a cheap case means doomsday on the comp, but the case is purchased and the computer up and running. a new case is not an option at this point. I all-ready told him on hot days he will probably have to open the side of the case up and worst case place a large house fan blowing into the case. In a year or so I will get him a new case with a better setup. I am still curious what fan to get for the sk-7 and why my case is so hot. thanks again for all the help so far

-spike

 

[pspada]

low 50c is not seriously bad for that chip. I have one that runs at about the same temp, and has no problems atall, using the stock hsf.

Or you could get a Thermalright SLK-700 with TMD fan for $27. However be aware that you will need to clean the surface of the heatsink, as the tape leaves sticky gunk behind.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: Cerb
Forget Lian-Li!
A cheap Foxconn case will do better! Get a case w/ no PSU.
Just get a cheap case that you can put a decent fan in. It will be about as cheap as the heatsink. I have an SK-7 and can tell you, in my situation, the case temps have not changed. On a hot day I can still overheat because the case has insufficient airflow.

I know that a cheap case means doomsday on the comp, but the case is purchased and the computer up and running. a new case is not an option at this point. I all-ready told him on hot days he will probably have to open the side of the case up and worst case place a large house fan blowing into the case. In a year or so I will get him a new case with a better setup. I am still curious what fan to get for the sk-7 and why my case is so hot. thanks again for all the help so far

-spike

Three things can make the case hot:
1) Hot day
2) Low flow
3) Hot air sucked back in and used to cool the components

If you think it is #3, try taping closed any rear opennings, like a fan grill.

For a fan, any decent 80mm will do.
Enermax adjustable 80mm should be plenty. Or a Panaflo L1A, or YS-tech adjustable...

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: pspada
low 50c is not seriously bad for that chip. I have one that runs at about the same temp, and has no problems atall, using the stock hsf.

Or you could get a Thermalright SLK-700 with TMD fan for $27. However be aware that you will need to clean the surface of the heatsink, as the tape leaves sticky gunk behind.

I'm curious, are you talking about a xp2400+ or a 1800+. if it's normal for the 2400+ to be running at above 50 c then what the heck is wrong with my comp running at that same temp, with better airflow, and a better heat sync? Does the 2400+ run that much cooler than the 1800+? Thanks for the help. I know about having to get rid of that pos tape crap on the hsf, when I get the as 3 in the mail I will scrub that crap and apply the good stuff. thanks

-Spike

 

[Cerb]

1800+ COULD be a Palomino. Hotter.
2400+ WILL be a TBred. A bit cooler.
...however, even w/ the stock HSF, I'd call 50 a bit high, except in the hottest summer days.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: Cerb
1800+ COULD be a Palomino. Hotter.
2400+ WILL be a TBred. A bit cooler.
...however, even w/ the stock HSF, I'd call 50 a bit high, except in the hottest summer days.

the 1800 is the palomino core. the 2400+ is the Thoroughbred. the 50 c days where reached when the outside temp was 90-98 F. The inside temp was a bit cooler (70's) but not by that much. my 1800+ still hits above 50 c idle with the alpha hsf when the inside temp is in the 70's f.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: Cerb
1800+ COULD be a Palomino. Hotter.
2400+ WILL be a TBred. A bit cooler.
...however, even w/ the stock HSF, I'd call 50 a bit high, except in the hottest summer days.

the 1800 is the palomino core. the 2400+ is the Thoroughbred. the 50 c days where reached when the outside temp was 90-98 F. The inside temp was a bit cooler (70's) but not by that much. my 1800+ still hits above 50 c idle with the alpha hsf when the inside temp is in the 70's f.

I assume the case temp is high as well? I can't imagine it being that high w/o the temps being somehting like....
Ambient: 28C
Case: 40C
CPU: 50C
...I can't imagine a PAL8045 with even a meeger fan being at fault for those kinds of temperatures. A retail HSF should barely make 50C with decent case airflow, and that's on a day when the AC can't keep the house below 80F.

The only other explanation would of course be that you're reading the diode temp (but that's somewhat doubtful--you'd think mobo makers would have jumped right on once the XPs got them).

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm having good results with the Coolermaster copper heatsink with the blower fan on it (Aero 7+) It comes with a controller to turn the fan up or down and is mountable on the front of the case in a 3.5" bay or the rear of the case in one of the card slots. I think it cost me around $29.95 at Fry's. You can also get the Aero 7 Lite which is basically the same unit but aluminum instead of copper (about $15 cheaper too). Newegg.com has both of these. Just make sure you aren't installing it in a mini-tower case as those have the power supply mounted next to the motherboard and these are quite tall.

 

[mechBgon]

Motherboards are all calibrated differently. You can have the same actual CPU temperature, and five different motherboards will give you five different estimates of it. They could vary by as much as 30C (no, I'm not kidding) and it doesn't mean anything. 50C is quite acceptable.

Be aware that the stock thermal pad on an AMD retail heatsink is a ONE-use item. If you install the heatsink and fire up the CPU, it "melts to fit" the gap between the CPU and heatsink... once. If you then remove the heatsink, you'll need to scrape it off and use high-quality thermal grease from there on.

If you want better cooling anyway, the SK-7 is a good value. Here are a couple pics showing how to seat it properly, since it can slide back & forth on its clip: pic 1 and pic 2

 

[0roo0roo]

doesn't matter unless you overclock. and buying nice coolers is not a great idea unless your feeding it fresh air. if your going to spend on a nice cooler, start cutting holes in your case.

 

[Spike]

thanks for all the reply's. In my brothers case I am going to get him the sk-7 with some mid-level fan (mid range db and cfm balance). As for my situation I am going to just ignore the temps for now as the ECS K7S5A has not always been very accurate in reading the temps on the CPU. BTW, the other two temps are always 25 and 35ish according to cpu cool. Anyway, again, thanks for the help. Someday I will figure a way to get more air into my case.

-spike