Weird cooling problem...

[DaQuteness]

Hello,

Guys i have a weird problem... this is my sistem:

Q6600 G0 SLACR w/ Tuniq Tower 120 @ 3.4GHz, 1.28V
MSI P35 Neo2-FR
Corsair TWIN2X DDR2-800 DHX Cooled 5-5-5-15 (2GB @ DDR945)
Gainward BLISS 8800GT 1024MB
Seagate 400GB 16MB Buffer SATA2
Antec SonataIII case w/ Antec EarthWatts 500 PSU

The problem is this: Last week, i had 35/35/32/32 in CoreTemp at 3.4GHz... Now, it boomed up to 42/42/38/38... The CPU is flat, in case you should ask, I've had the oportunity to check it with a laser micrometer at a professional facility. HSF is the same, so these things rule out.

Is the case the problem? i mean... it's been getting warmer outside so this must be influencing it but i'm not sure how much. I have the extra cooler mounted... useless, since it seats behind the hdd, i even keep it open so it can draw air from outside... no use though.

I've been thinking and the only problem i could come out with was airflow... it's not enough i think. If this is the problem... can you help me? i mean, i'm trying to find some solutions, i don't want to ditch the case, it was kinda expensive. If i eventually DO get another one, i was thinking of the Antec900 case. P180 was the first choice but i'm not taking any chances... 900 has 6 mountable fans, that MUST be enough. To be honest though, i never thought that the case can do so much of a difference, that's why i picked this one.

 

[WoodButcher]

Run w/ the side open and a household fan blowing in, if your temps drop dramatically you have an airflow problem within the case. Wire management, cutting away restrictive fan guards, removing filters, blocking side vents, ducting and upgrading fans are all good ways to help solve this. A picture of the inards of your case would help us to make better, more detailed suggestions.

 

[error8]

You still have good temperatures so I don't know why are you so concerned. The increase your are experience must be because of the rising temperatures from outside. In my opinion just add a couple of fans to your case and do a better job in cable management like WoodButcher said.

 

[DaQuteness]

I AM running with the side open, and fan blowing air in, unfortunately i don't have a fan around so i put a 120mm Antec Tricool set on High to blow on it. Thing is, this case sucks at airflow, and i recently discovered that... I was thinking of making myself one of those HSPC Tech Stands. Since you're a splinter head like me, you know how easy it is to make one. Plus, it's extremely versatile, i can place the coolers wherever i want.

 

[DaQuteness]

Originally posted by: error8
You still have good temperatures so I don't know why are you so concerned. The increase your are experience must be because of the rising temperatures from outside. In my opinion just add a couple of fans to your case and do a better job in cable management like WoodButcher said.

That's just the problem, SonataIII doesn't really allow extra fans, i'm surprised i got 2 to fit there. As i said earlier, I'm thinking of switching to a HSPC bench. EDIT: Or get an Antec 1200

 

[WoodButcher]

Can you direct the air so it does the most work for you? My cases are better than a bench.
For that sonata cut out that rear grill to start, tape over the vent below it, air comes in this and out the rear fan doing nothing, in and out before it cools anything. How many hard drives do you have? If your only using one take out the HD cage, put the HD in the lower 3.5 external bay to catch air from the front 120 mm fan. Oh yeah,,, cut in a front 120 where the HD cage was. You should be able to get this venting from behind the bezel, mount the fan on the inside of the chassis frame. I'm not sure cause I'm only looking at pics from newegg.

How did you get a second fan in btw? back of the HD or is there a place for it? what size?

Check out the mods in the case gallery thread for ideas. I have an old Toshiba that is similar in size to the Sonata, smaller actually, it doesn't fit a 120 in the back.

 

[DaQuteness]

I've been modding and building cases from scratch for 3 years now and there's no way i'm cutting this case Firstly, it has a very good air filter right where you tell me to drill a vent hole (edit: overlooked the fact that it can be mounted behind the filter. If so, is it absoultely necessary to cut the front bezel? I think it can suck up enough air through the airvents). Secondly, this cage won't come off, it's riveted in 12 places, 6 up, 6 down, besides that it's very user-friendly. I've been thinking about removing it too, but placing a fan over there simply won't help. I give you credit for the back vent though, never thought of that. One more example of "you never know..." I was thinking of a front 120mm fan in the 3 5.25" bays but then my dvd goes bye bye... any ideas? Also thinking of cutting the top, maybe this would help, but i'd rather make it an intake if i'm adding one down near the hdd, this will help the airflow without making any turbulence. Antec BigBoy 200mm should do

Here are some photos to show you what i'm dealing with:
1 - Front removed
2 - HDD Cage

 

[DaQuteness]

i made a small mod to the case right now I moved the fan up from where it should have been, it's now standing behind the external bays. It's in line with the Tuniq and the exhaust fan. Also covered the vent area near the pci bays. Seems my temps droped down 2C from 42/42/38/38 to 39/39/35/35. And that with a just a simple move of the fan...

THAT'S IT!! I've had enoguh! Tomorrow i'm entering Easter Holiday anyway, I'm building myself a new rig. Woodbutcher, mind if i send PM's? I'm still a rookie in all this, even after 3 years of doing mods. A little help never hurts. There might be things we can teach each other, even though i fear i have much to learn.

SEE YA IN THE CASE GALLERY!! Btw, thanks for the link.

 

[WoodButcher]

3 yrs modding? funny, that is about as long as I've been hacking PC's. Spent most of my like hacking up the rest of my work I thought it time to get some payback on my PC, addictice, isn't it?
How about a 120mm square duct at the bottom of that HD cage, front to back of the cage, inside it? mount the fan in the center of it midway between the HD rails so they won't interfere as much w/ the airflow. This way you save the cage, still have 1 or 2 hard drives and the fan uses the front filter. Top or side fans most often add more noise than performance. Bottom front to top rear is the general rule of thumb for best airflow, cutting into the bottom for an intake would be better.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

just random:
check task manager and make sure u don't have anything using your cpu cycles while you're recording those temps.. (it might be a process that you're unaware of)

recording temps are tough. room temps must be identical, room/case airflow needs to be identical, system processes must be identical.

 

[DaQuteness]

Look... i moved up a fan by 2-3 inches and i suddenly got temps lowered by 4C. I went home and i took the computer here with me, and since this is more of a mountain area, my temps suddenly DROPPED DOWN TO 32/32/28/28! with open case. it eventually warmed up to a stable 32/32/30/30 so there you have it... airflow problem, big one! however, something else bugs me... room temp isn't higher than 17C here and even so, with open case, my Aux shows 28-29C in Everest... any ideas what's wrong? Whatever the problem is, i'm still building a new case, just need some things, then i'll start building it. Besides, i have a very thoroughly selected set of applications installed, no more, no less. Basicly, the temps just kept rising together with the ambient. It's not a matter of hidden programs, trust me, that was the first thing i started looking for.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Aux could be PWM or just placed too close to the southbridge, it's really common.