Want your Big Typhoon to run 2C cooler in 1 minute?

[davexl]

I dunno about you guys, but I am heading into summer here and want every degree extra I can find.

Well, I just found the EASIEST saving ever. :nod:

When you take the fan off the Big Typhoon, you notice two gaps and some wasted space at the corners. Air being what it is, will take the easiest route, and some misses the heat fins completely. So I plugged these two gaps with small bits of foam - 1 x 3 inches does it nicely. No glue, just stuff it in. This forces ALL the air to go through the heat fins - saving 2 degrees!

(the exciting visual proof)

Further evidence Thermaltake just lucked out on this design... if I can improve it in 1 minute with some foam... sheesh

So let's see, I saved 10C by switching to the Big Typhoon, 6C by cutting a hole in my case side to duct only fresh air into the CPU, 2-3C by upgrading the fan to a Panaflo High speed, and now 2C with some foam.

Thats 20C savings, still on air, and quiet too!

One happy geek here...

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: davexl
I dunno about you guys, but I am heading into summer here and want every degree extra I can find.

Well, I just found the EASIEST saving ever. :nod:

When you take the fan off the Big Typhoon, you notice two gaps and some wasted space at the corners. Air being what it is, will take the easiest route, and some misses the heat fins completely. So I plugged these two gaps with small bits of foam - 1 x 3 inches does it nicely. No glue, just stuff it in. This forces ALL the air to go through the heat fins - saving 2 degrees!

(the exciting visual proof)

Further evidence Thermaltake just lucked out on this design... if I can improve it in 1 minute with some foam... sheesh

So let's see, I saved 10C by switching to the Big Typhoon, 6C by cutting a hole in my case side to duct only fresh air into the CPU, 2-3C by upgrading the fan to a Panaflo High speed, and now 2C with some foam.

Thats 20C savings, still on air, and quiet too!

One happy geek here...

I guess Thermaltake are just going to do what Thermalright did. Make a decent heatsink then introduce an 'improved' version after every high-end enthusiast bought the first one.

This anti-Thermaltake feeling in the forum is ridiculous. You buy a Thermaltake product and trash the company when you find a minor imperfection that improves performance in your case.

Nice modding though. Plenty of Big Typhoon users here to appreciate the useful part of your post.

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: davexl
This anti-Thermaltake feeling in the forum is ridiculous. You buy a Thermaltake product and trash the company when you find a minor imperfection that improves performance in your case.

Nice modding though. Plenty of Big Typhoon users here to appreciate the useful part of your post.

Ummm, ok. I didn't intend to come off as a TT basher - I have been recommending BT to anyone who will listen - as long as they don't mind the long list of irritations. Actually my poor opinion of Thermaltake was formed from personal experience - not this forum - like the poor design of the mounting (not fun to put on a DFI), the generous dB rating of the fan, the rough as guts lapping job on the heatsink, the terrible fan mounting screws... I mean it screams "cheap sh*t"... until you see your temps and smile!

I am totally sold on the Typhoon - despite it's flaws it is the one to beat right now IMHO. Perhaps that is the thing that is annoying - Zalmans are a joy to look at and install and the "quality" is awesome. But it's all about the temps.

But it is not a imperfection, it is a design flaw, (my pet peeve, I admit!) and pretty staggering that a layman like me can look at it and think, gee I bet a lot of air escapes there...

Anyway, lets not get into brand wars, I am just happy I got another 2C and want to share...

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Good tip about an EZ mod davexl. I may get a VapoChill Micro and would consider closing down the hole at the bottom of it's shroud.

I'm here almost everyday and never really noticed ThermalTake being bashed. But i do like ThermalRight products better but whatever works for you in The Land of OZ

Show a bit of a profile so we know who we are talking to. Your linked pic makes you an Aussie, so don't let the Brit Brat get under your skin...:laugh: Just Yank kidding Elcs!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!


...Galvanized

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
I'm here almost everyday and never really noticed ThermalTake being bashed. But i do like ThermalRight products better but whatever works for you in The Land of OZ

Show a bit of a profile so we know who we are talking to. Your linked pic makes you an Aussie, so don't let the Brit Brat get under your skin...:laugh: Just Yank kidding Elcs!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!


...Galvanized

I was keen on Thermalright - I was eyeing a SI-120 but the price here in Oz are shameful - double the Typhoon, and without a fan, so I gave the Typhoon a go and glad I did.

Aussie for sure, but you don't wanna know more. As my wife says, a little bit of mystery is a good thing. Suffice to say Aussies and Kiwis are renowed for doing mods like this with a bit of fencing wire and tape, whereas Americans have a wide choice of specialist products that they could ship to you overnight ;-)

Hmmm, maybe I should be charging for this info ;-0

 

[JEDIYoda]

actually ther the Bif typhoon and the SI 120 and the XP120 as well as the Scythe Ninja and even the Zalman 9500 are all in the same ball park.

In most reviews the Scythe Ninja is by far always coming out #1......even if its only by a degree or 2.

Then the rest are in a virtual tie.

Then if you want fantastic cooling at low RPM`s you have the Zalman 9500.

Yes it is possible to get a degree or 2 out of modding the heatsink but that degree or 2 diffeence is really not that important.

Whats more important is that you have proper airflow throughout your case!

I`m glad that mod works for you!!
Thats what having a computer is all about with that said....
Also once you hit approx 40cfm with the fan you will find that the extra cfm is nice to have but the temps will stay the same - from approx 40cfm going higher.....
Yet if you over clock its nice to have that peice of mind that you have alot more cfm available.

Again nice mod!

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
actually ther the Bif typhoon and the SI 120 and the XP120 as well as the Scythe Ninja and even the Zalman 9500 are all in the same ball park.

In most reviews the Scythe Ninja is by far always coming out #1......even if its only by a degree or 2.

Then the rest are in a virtual tie.

Then if you want fantastic cooling at low RPM`s you have the Zalman 9500.

Yes it is possible to get a degree or 2 out of modding the heatsink but that degree or 2 diffeence is really not that important.

Whats more important is that you have proper airflow throughout your case!

I`m glad that mod works for you!!
Thats what having a computer is all about with that said....
Also once you hit approx 40cfm with the fan you will find that the extra cfm is nice to have but the temps will stay the same - from approx 40cfm going higher.....
Yet if you over clock its nice to have that peice of mind that you have alot more cfm available.

Again nice mod!

Thanks!

1 or 2 degrees by themselves do not mean that much, I agree, but they do add up. I have about 10-12 in savings from airflow and mods. And remember I had a 9500 for a fews days, and wasn't impressed - Typhoon did 10C better in my case.

I run an X2, and really need to keep it under 50-55C. Given that I have no AC in my room, I really need to think about 40-42C load temps at 20C room temp as my target if I want enough headroom for summer - when my average room temps would be 25-32C.

I take your point about CFMs and diminishing returns, in my case, I do get a benefit over 40 cfm - but only about 3 degrees at 114cfm!

The Panaflo High Speed (103cfm) is a great mix of quiet and powerful.

Panaflo High:
103cfm - at 35% rpm = 40C (v.quiet, less than HDD noise)
103cfm - at 55% rpm = 39C (quiet, bit more than HDD noise)
103cfm - at 100% = 38C (bearable when my room fan is on)

Panaflo Ultra high:
114cfm - at 100% = 36.5C (too noisy for me)

This puts the 2C from my foam mod on the Typhoon into context - it is the difference between medium noisy and near silent!

So I could not agree more - you can do more with proper airflow than just throwing CFM at the problem.

 

[MDE]

Nice work! I'd do it on my BT but I don't want to shut my computer down and affect my F@H stats. My X2 3800+ is running at 2.7GHz and hovering around 60-63C in a P180 (top fan blowing onto the BT, rear fan exhausting).

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: MDE
Nice work! I'd do it on my BT but I don't want to shut my computer down and affect my F@H stats. My X2 3800+ is running at 2.7GHz and hovering around 60-63C in a P180 (top fan blowing onto the BT, rear fan exhausting).

Thanks. Thats a lot of heat - what voltage? Is it stable at that temp?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: davexl

Originally posted by: MDE
Nice work! I'd do it on my BT but I don't want to shut my computer down and affect my F@H stats. My X2 3800+ is running at 2.7GHz and hovering around 60-63C in a P180 (top fan blowing onto the BT, rear fan exhausting).

Thanks. Thats a lot of heat - what voltage? Is it stable at that temp?

It hovers between 1.48V and 1.50V, but it is stable running Folding@Home 24\7.

 

[w00t]

I dont know about you but if you think a panaflo high is not loud than you need to check your hearing i can hear mine right now with my headphones on ( no audio playing)

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: w00t
I dont know about you but if you think a panaflo high is not loud than you need to check your hearing i can hear mine right now with my headphones on ( no audio playing)

RPM control is a wonderful thing.

At 40% RPM - which is where it is set on most days, it is quieter than my hard drives. On hot days, it is at 70-100% RPM, which is less noise that the room fan cooling me ;-)

It's not silent, but it is a great balance of power without insane noise at low RPM.

 

[Skott]

Well, just because you can improve something through modding (even if its something simple as plugging a gap) doesnt mean the product is bad. The Tt BT has gotten alot of good press/reviews and quite a few people use it so obviously its a good product. Tt must have left the gap there for some reason. Anyway its a good tip. Just make sure that foam doesnt pop out. That wouldnt be good. ;-)

 

[davexl]

Originally posted by: Skott
Well, just because you can improve something through modding (even if its something simple as plugging a gap) doesnt mean the product is bad. The Tt BT has gotten alot of good press/reviews and quite a few people use it so obviously its a good product. Tt must have left the gap there for some reason. Anyway its a good tip. Just make sure that foam doesnt pop out. That wouldnt be good. ;-)

I don't think it is bad. I think it is great as is, but with plugging the gaps and lapping it is 3-4C better, which is awesome.

I have been struggling to think of a reason - and nothing really comes to mind apart from allowing more cool air to the motherboard - but firstly, it has no measurable effect, and secondly no attempt has been made to direct it - it looks to me that it is a byproduct of the way they arranged the heatpipes. It is an oversight IMHO.

Anyway, I'm happy for the 3-4 extra degrees, 'twas a hot day today ;-)

 

[imported_koop]

Originally posted by: davexl
The Panaflo High Speed (103cfm) is a great mix of quiet and powerful.

Hey davexl! Thanks for the tip, got my holes plugged and will be installing my new Typhoon for the first time in about an hour. I have a Panaflo Medium speed (~80 CFM) I was going to use but I was afraid of hanging that much weight on the end of the Typhoon...it has to be almost twice the weight of the stock fan. Any problems or concerns on your end? Using it in a case with the mobo vertical?