Source of heat?

[Insomniator]

So summer is almost here and ambient temps in my room can be 80F+ without the AC on of course. The problem is that i can handle the heat but it seems my computer is not so capable. I was just wondering if there are any tricks or upgrades I could make to help. Its only going to get hotter and I don't want to have to have my AC on to use the computer.

Antec P182
Q9550 @3.4 (Corsair H50) Auto volts
9600GSO 768 SLI

Now my load temps on the CPU are 71C... just at the thermal spec and a little high from what I've seen.

Are the video cards probably pouring too much heat into the case?

Would a better case help? I have one antec tricool intake in the front, one intake in the back (over the rad) and one exhaust out the top.

I understand an overclocked computer can't be too quiet but I feel like adding more fans (for push pull on the rad perhaps) would make it really more loud than it needs to be...

I could just turn the CPU to stock settings but I feel like it wouldn't make such a big difference...

 

[Zap]

Just bite the bullet and set the CPU to stock clocks and enable SpeedStep (EIST). At stock clocks the CPU should be able to handle quite high temperatures.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Core 2 Quads tend to push out a lot of heat. With that said, the P182 isn't the best case for air flow / thermal management. Would a better case help? Yes. Would it be revolutionary? Maybe, but probably not.

Going from my P182 SE to my new Silverstone FT02 netted me something like a 10C drop in load temps on my processor, and 20C drop in temps on my graphics card. Considering that the cable management tends to be better and the case is significantly quieter, it was worth it for me, but $200+ is a steep price to pay for what may amount to no change in your situation.

I would remove the overclock and try swapping out the fans for something better. To go the cheap route, consider Yate Loon mediums, or if you want to spend some cash on high quality fans, grab some Scythe GentleTyphoons ~1450 RPM.

 

[MagickMan]

I have the Scythe GT 1450s in push/pull on my H50 and they do a hell of a job. Full Linpack load at 3.8GHz (stock core volts) I barely hit 57C @23C ambient.

 

[Insomniator]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

10 and 20C drops are pretty significant but I don't want to spend 200 bucks on a new case... I always knew that the airflow in the p18x was terrible and with the H50 rad sucking air in from the back it isn't getting any better. Maybe if I can find a decent flowing case for ~$100 I'll jump.

I'll have to look into some GT's. I read elsewhere that Antec rates their Tricools very generously and that GT's or Yate Loons would be quieter and push more air at the same time. I would not have thought this by comparing the specs. Can anyone confirm this? EDIT NM found the topic on Anand about this exact question...

And finally... I guess I will just set it back to stock until I figure this out. SC2 doesn't require any overclock anyway.

 

[yh125d]

You have two fairly hot GPUs, a hot quad, really high ambients, an exhaust fan doubling as CPU fan (the H50) and a case with not so great ventilation. You're gonna have higher than normal temps. You either need faster fans, lower ambients, or a different case.


And it doesn't take $200 to get a good, well vented case

 

[Schmide]

I always knew that the airflow in the p18x was terrible and with the H50 rad sucking air in from the back it isn't getting any better.

Southpark Kyle's Mom's voice "What What What What?"

You're breaking the air flow rules of your case and probably causing air circulation from your top fan to your H50, not to mention sucking in all the hot air coming up from your PSU exhaust fan.

In general, in through the front/bottom/left side, out through the back/top/right side. Messing with this leads to problems.

 

[deimos3428]

You're breaking the air flow rules of your case and probably causing air circulation from your top fan to your H50, not to mention sucking in all the hot air coming up from your PSU exhaust fan.

Not entirely his fault as Corsair actually recommends the radiator fan be used as intake. Many people on the internet disagree with Corsair on this one, self included.

 

[Insomniator]

Not entirely his fault as Corsair actually recommends the radiator fan be used as intake. Many people on the internet disagree with Corsair on this one, self included.

Yes I took that from corsair and have read a number of sources online suggesting to keep it as intake.

I think tonight I will add a fan and do push pull as exhaust. that would be 2 intake fans (front, front bottom) and the top and rad as exhaust.

 

[modestninja]

One thing you could do to verify that the airflow in the case is an issue is to take the side off of the case and have a house fan blow air into it. If your temps drop significantly, then it's an airflow issue and you can go from there.

 

[MagickMan]

I use my 120mm rear vent as an intake w/ my H50, but at the same time I modded my case to have a top mounted 120MM exhaust. Works like a dream.

 

[Insomniator]

hmmm temps went up a few degrees with push pull intake..

they went down ~8 degrees with a housefan blowing on the open case...

 

[deimos3428]

By installing the H50 as intake you remove an exhaust fan in the process. Which is fine if you have sufficient exhaust elsewhere but if not you get heat building up in the case. (Going to push-pull only intensifies the problem, if it exists.) You've verified that the current setup has an airflow issue with modestninja's test, though I find it surprising the remaining tricool in the roof isn't sufficient, assuming it is set to High.

Anyway, try reversing the fans to an exhaust configuration before spending money on better fans, etc.

 

[Insomniator]

Actually I meant to say push pull exhaust, with the top fan being exhaust also. Tried setting the top from high to low (fearing it might pulling some pressure away from the rad) and got basically the same result. I may try intake tomorrow but I feel like there would not be enough exhaust at that point. 3 120mm in and 1 120mm out..?

I put it back to stock for now, get 40 idle and 55 load of course!

 

[Insomniator]

Wow switching it to intake dropped load temps by ~5C.

 

[Schmide]

Wow switching it to intake dropped load temps by ~5C.

Switching the top fan or the radiator?

 

[Insomniator]

Switching the top fan or the radiator?

Radiator to intake, top fan right above it remains exhaust. Seems to pull the air right up out of the case...

 

[deimos3428]

Actually I meant to say push pull exhaust, with the top fan being exhaust also.

Well, that's another story then.

All things being equal, an exhaust configuration will result in higher CPU temps because you're putting warmer air through the radiator. As you observed, you went up a couple of degrees moving to an exhaust configuration -- but you've also eliminated the possibility of heat build-up.

I don't know if you checked, but your other temps (ie. disk, motherboard, GPU) should be a bit lower, as you're no longer exhausting heat from the CPU into the case. That's a good thing.

With the desk fan blowing on the open case, you're getting the best of both worlds -- no CPU heat in the case, and tons of airflow on the other components. So you see a dramatic drop in temps, but most people don't want to leave their computer open like that. (It's fun though, when you're just navel-gazing at temps...I do it too.)

Don't worry about too much exhaust, as that's generally a good thing. You want your case to suck -- literally. Negative pressure inside the case pulls cool air through every available vent. If you have enough negative pressure you don't even require an intake fan, though they are useful for spot cooling the drives.

edit: I see you've switched it back to intake. That's fine, neither configuration works for everyone...do what works for you. You'll get lower CPU temps with intake, and higher non-CPU temps.

 

[Insomniator]

Well, that's another story then.

All things being equal, an exhaust configuration will result in higher CPU temps because you're putting warmer air through the radiator. As you observed, you went up a couple of degrees moving to an exhaust configuration -- but you've also eliminated the possibility of heat build-up.

I don't know if you checked, but your other temps (ie. disk, motherboard, GPU) should be a bit lower, as you're no longer exhausting heat from the CPU into the case. That's a good thing.

With the desk fan blowing on the open case, you're getting the best of both worlds -- no CPU heat in the case, and tons of airflow on the other components. So you see a dramatic drop in temps, but most people don't want to leave their computer open like that. (It's fun though, when you're just navel-gazing at temps...I do it too.)

Don't worry about too much exhaust, as that's generally a good thing. You want your case to suck -- literally. Negative pressure inside the case pulls cool air through every available vent. If you have enough negative pressure you don't even require an intake fan, though they are useful for spot cooling the drives.

edit: I see you've switched it back to intake. That's fine, neither configuration works for everyone...do what works for you. You'll get lower CPU temps with intake, and higher non-CPU temps.

Yeah, at stock the temps are fine regardless so its not a huge deal. I am tempted to pick up a cosmos or stacker 832 refurb from cooler master though....

 

[Modelworks]

Remove the side panel - works and its cheap
I do that with my workstation even though it can run fine with it attached, I can leave the side panel off the case, run it cooler and use less fans that cause noise.

 

[modestninja]

Remove the side panel - works and its cheap
I do that with my workstation even though it can run fine with it attached, I can leave the side panel off the case, run it cooler and use less fans that cause noise.

The biggest problems that I see with this is the extra dust and noise. My leaving case open makes it way louder and is an easy path for dust.

 

[bobross419]

Remove the side panel - works and its cheap
I do that with my workstation even though it can run fine with it attached, I can leave the side panel off the case, run it cooler and use less fans that cause noise.

Every one of these threads someone has this suggestion. Apparently these people don't have pets or children that will get in the case... lol

 

[Modelworks]

Every one of these threads someone has this suggestion. Apparently these people don't have pets or children that will get in the case... lol

I leave the side open and have the tower on a small platform to raise it about 1 ft off the floor. The side that is open is about 8 inches from the side of the desk so someone would have to squeeze in there to touch something.

They really need to start making cases wider, that would alleviate a lot of this. Fans work poorly when the output is directly against something, they need space to allow the pressure at the blades to diffuse.

 

[Insomniator]

Yeah I want to buy this http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?products_id=111 But my room is the dustiest piece of crap ever and I feel like vented side panels would be a disaster.

 

[Russwinters]

What intakes are you using on that case?

You should consider modding the case to make use of some more robust intake fans.

They don't have to sound like vacuum cleaners to push good air.

I am not sure about the 182, but you should be able to fit some Ultra Kaze fans in your front intakes, just get the 2000RPM version, they are actually quieter then a Tricool 120mm on max, but push 88CFM with much higher static pressure, which will help since your using the air filters.

To me it seems like your case is not exchanging the air nearly quickly enough.

Once you have fixed that problem, then you can switch back to a push/pull exhaust config for your H50 and get even better results.

People have said that using the same ultra kazes are amazing

do like 25mm fan attached to the back grill exhausting, radiator, then Scythe Ultra Kaze to push air through the radiator.

Also, you could get a HDD bay cooler so that you can move your HDD up to the 5.25 inch bays; which will allow better airflow from the other fans. You can add a scythe kama bay with another 120mm fan to push air through the hdd as well, this should cool things down nicely, and you can keep it very quiet with a good choice of fans.