Tight Case – Need Cooling Overhaul Help

[Paratus]

I recently rebuilt rig and I’m concerned about the high CPU and Mobo temps.* I’m looking for recommendations on a new CPU cooler, case fans, and fan controller.* Unfortunately my case limits the size of the cooler I can fit.
*
My Rig:
CPU: i7 920 DO at stock
Cooler: Zalman CNPS 9500A with optional 1366 bracket & AS5
Mobo: ASUS P6T v2 Deluxe X58 with optional 40mm x20mm 8.3CFM fan
Case: CM Praetorian T01
Case Fans: 4x CM 80mm x 25mm
GPU: Diamond HD5870 stock
PSU: Corsair TX750 single 120mm fan 750W
RAM: 3x2GB G-SKILL 1333 DDR3
HDs: 1x WD 300GB Velociraptor Boot Drive & 1x WD 500GB Data Drive
Opt: 1x LG SATA Bluray Rom DVD Burner & 1x NEC 3500A PATA DVD Burner
Misc: ATI Theater 550 Pro PCI Capture Card
*
The temps have been much higher than I was expecting:
*
Part** Idle** Gaming (ME1)**Load(P95)
CPU*** 45****** 65********* 78
Mobo** 49**** 59******** 56
GPU*** 47***** *69*********** 50
*
While trying to fix these temps I noticed that I cannot tighten 2 of the 4 screws on the bracket for the Zalman as tight as the other two.* I don’t think it’s making the best contact with the CPU.* For the mobo I added the 40mm fan and it did drop the temps from 64 down to 59 but I still think it’s high. The GPU temps are awesome so far but the card is so long it ends up right against the HD cage between the two intake fans so it’s getting a fair amount air.
*
My case limits the size of the cooler height to 143mm so I can’t use any of the 120mm fan / tower sink combos.* The airflow is setup with the two intake fans pulling air through a thin screen and filter and then blowing it across the HD cage.* There is one fan for exhaust directly behind *the CPU and one other fan exhausting through the top mounted blow hole.
*
I’ve been thinking about the following gear:
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Cooler: CM Hyper N520
Exhaust fan: 1x *Rexus “Panaflow” 80mm 46.9CFM
Case Fans: *3x Rexus “Panaflow” 80mm 39.6CFM
Fan Controller: Scythe “Kaze Server”

I want to use the fan controller to balance the temps vs the fan noise.

Thanks!

 

[Russwinters]

Get a new cooler, zalman coolers can't hang. I used to think they where decent but have found they can't seem to keep temps down low enough.

 

[modestninja]

Is there any reason that a new case isn't part of this discussion? You get much better airflow/noise switching to 120mm fans.

 

[Paratus]

I like my case, it fits well into the space I have for it and I built a stand for it. I can't fit a much larger case under the desk, plus the all important WAF.

 

[Modelworks]

While trying to fix these temps I noticed that I cannot tighten 2 of the 4 screws on the bracket for the Zalman as tight as the other two.* I don’t think it’s making the best contact with the CPU.

Intel specs the torque on the heatsink screws at 9 in/lbs so if you wanted to be sure it was tight enough you could use a screw driver with a torque setting. They aren't cheap though, lowest price I could find was around $30


What happens if you run the case without the side panel attached ?

 

[modestninja]

I like my case, it fits well into the space I have for it and I built a stand for it. I can't fit a much larger case under the desk, plus the all important WAF.

Ok, I know there's no arguing with the WAF since that was why I ended up getting a new case for the computer I'm currently building. The funny thing is that the noisiness of the 80mm fans were what the wife didn't approve of so I managed to get her onboard with a FT02.

Anyway, the comment above about leaving the side panel off (and possibly blowing air in using a house fan) is the best way to test if lack of airflow in the case is causing the problem or if it's more of an issue with the coolers. If it is the issue, I don't really see any way to get better airflow through that case unless you're willing to deal with loud fans.

 

[Paratus]

Well I re-ran some tests. Idle with and without the case side and Prime 95 with and without.

P95 CPU / Mobo / GPU
With 79 / 52 / 44
W/O 73/ 49 / 42

Idle CPU / Mobo / GPU
With 43 / 49 / 44
W/O 38 / 47 / 42

 

[Paratus]

I'm willing to put up with louder fans while gaming, benchmarking, and encoding but I was thinking of using a fan controller with the auto feature so it's quieter when doing office work - WAF again

 

[WoodButcher]

Mod the case. Remove the restrictive fan grills / filters, Cut a 120 or 140 mm fan on the side or bottom as an intake, raise the feet 1/2 an inch or more if you can so it can breath better. See if the front will fit larger fans with a little cutting inside, the front face does not need to be cut larger, just inside where you need room for the fan to fit in the back. Use a few dabs of silicone to "glue" the fans in place.
I'd be looking to mount a radiator for water but that's just me.

 

[Paratus]

Mod the case. Remove the restrictive fan grills / filters, Cut a 120 or 140 mm fan on the side or bottom as an intake, raise the feet 1/2 an inch or more if you can so it can breath better. See if the front will fit larger fans with a little cutting inside, the front face does not need to be cut larger, just inside where you need room for the fan to fit in the back. Use a few dabs of silicone to "glue" the fans in place.
I'd be looking to mount a radiator for water but that's just me.

Well I'm going to start with a new cpu cooler and some higher CFM Fans.

Does anyone know of a good lower profile cooler for socket 1366? Is that Hyper n520 the best % can fit?

What about decent 80mm fans? Panaflow? Yate Loons?

Plus out of curiosity what tools would I need to mod my aluminum case to add a side fan without it looking ghetto?

 

[996GT2]

Well I'm going to start with a new cpu cooler and some higher CFM Fans.

Does anyone know of a good lower profile cooler for socket 1366? Is that Hyper n520 the best % can fit?

What about decent 80mm fans? Panaflow? Yate Loons?

Plus out of curiosity what tools would I need to mod my aluminum case to add a side fan without it looking ghetto?

The only way to get better airflow using 80mm fans is to switch to higher RPM fans. This results in increased noise.

I have a CM Wave Master, which also uses 80mm fans. My solution was to swap the two 80x25mm front fans with 92x38mm units, and to keep the rear 80mm exhaust but add an additional 120mm fan port on the side.

To make another fan hole, all you need is a drill with a hole-boring bit attached. For a 120mm fan, I would cut the hole slightly smaller since the fan blades themselves are not 120mm in diameter. A 100-110mm diameter hole should suffice. After you bore the hole in the side panel, all that's left to do is drill 4 smaller holes for the fan screws to mount to.

 

[jpk]

I had a Lian Li case similar in size and layout to yours. It was a cooling nightmare. It had three 80mm fans and the case was so tight inside air movement was almost non existant. I thought about modding it but I finall just bought a Cooler Master HAF 922. The 922 has huge fans, 3x220mm and 1x120mm. Much quieter than the three 80mm's that were in the old case. In fact it is hard to tell it is running until you get close to the case.

 

[WoodButcher]

Well I'm going to start with a new cpu cooler and some higher CFM Fans.

Does anyone know of a good lower profile cooler for socket 1366? Is that Hyper n520 the best % can fit?

What about decent 80mm fans? Panaflow? Yate Loons?

Plus out of curiosity what tools would I need to mod my aluminum case to add a side fan without it looking ghetto?

Check the reveiws for the heatsinks, maybe an H50 on the sidepanel or bottom would work for you.
good 80 mm fans = noise, yates make a decent quiet fan, I haven't looked but I'd bet on a Gentle Typhoon, but anyting you put behind those grills will need high rpm and that will make "air noise", a lot of it.

To cut hole use one of these hole saws, clamp the peice you want to cut between two pieces of scrap wood then finish the edge with a file or sandpaper. Google and you'll find many guides on the subject.

 

[Paratus]

The only way to get better airflow using 80mm fans is to switch to higher RPM fans. This results in increased noise.

I have a CM Wave Master, which also uses 80mm fans. My solution was to swap the two 80x25mm front fans with 92x38mm units, and to keep the rear 80mm exhaust but add an additional 120mm fan port on the side.

To make another fan hole, all you need is a drill with a hole-boring bit attached. For a 120mm fan, I would cut the hole slightly smaller since the fan blades themselves are not 120mm in diameter. A 100-110mm diameter hole should suffice. After you bore the hole in the side panel, all that's left to do is drill 4 smaller holes for the fan screws to mount to.

I think your wave master and my praetorian are built off the same chassis. Do you remember what type of 92mm fans you bought?

 

[996GT2]

I think your wave master and my praetorian are built off the same chassis. Do you remember what type of 92mm fans you bought?

I think I bought Dell OEM fans for around $10 each. They're made either by Delta or NMB and are 92x38mm ball bearing units instead of the usual 92x25mm. I used a hot glue gun to affix them to the inside of my case because the 80mm fan holes will not fit a 92mm fan. It's a tight fit, but they fit nicely on my wave master. Also, if you get the non temperature controlled version, they spin pretty fast (3000-4000 RPM) so it will be best to use a fan controller.

I added a 120mm intake fan later on too in the front. The 2x92mm fans are on the bottom section, behind the door.