death metal
05-02-2004, 04:43 PM
Note: This project is nothing breath taking, or exceptional, I'm just bored so I write this stuff up :)...
Background: (To skip the background, just go to 5th paragraph)
I sold my CPU 2.8e to the highest bidder, and also delivered a Dual Channel Kit OCZ PC4000 to the same guy. As promised, the rig works flawlessly at 260FSB. However, the thing that's been bugging my friend is the amount of heat blanketing his room whenever he's playing. Prescott gives off a steady 63c stream of hot air at full load. However, having seen my rig operates at 269FSB, my friend decided to pushed this CPU at this level.
I told my friend that I only did this FSB on benching and not on a regular basis since the CPU is hitting 66c at full load and 59c idle. It turned out that after 3hrs to 4hrs of running playing games, making the room unbearable (at least for me), the rig will become unstable. To check for problem areas, I lend my Hardcano 12 and snuck in the Temp Probes at: CPU, NB, Case, RAM. It turns out that the RAM is hitting 65c++ as well at continous run, the NB is at an all time 58c, and case temp (bottom) is around 45c. I recommend to lessen the FSB to maintain a better temperature but I can't seem to pursuade my friend to go less then 265FSB. Either we lessen the OC or change his SP94 to water cooling ;).
So anyway, I manage to pursuade my friend to settle with 265FSB but the rig is still very very hot and I'm afraid my friend will fry all his ram since it is still operating at such high temperature. We're also experiencing Prime95 problem, halting after about 1hr-2hrs of Torture "Blend" test. Sandra burn-in can't be completed if 3dMarkSE01 is looping and vice versa. However, Sandra burn-in is ok and 3dMarkSe01 is ok if they are both run independently.
I told my friend that we really need a way to cool his stuff, specially for CPU, NB, and RAM. I really think that we should focus on cooling the CPU since it's the one producing the most heat, which I believe is also being absorved by NB and RAM. Unfortunately, we can't find a good delta fan for his SP94, and my friend never wanted water cooling. So I guess we're stuck with SP94 and just focus on NB and RAM.
The Project: A quick and dirty active ram cooler
So having said a long story, we decided to find ways to cool the ram and nb. i remember there are chipset coolers sold for around $4.5, but the thing is, we might need around 2 of these (ram and nb) and that will add up the cost to about $9. Not expensive, but not cheap either, besides, we'll not be able to use the HeatSink and just wanted the fans.
We rummage around some old eletronics and struck "gold"!!! We found this really old "IC coolers" with four small fans (around 40mmx40mm). I went home, brought the fans with me and I stripped all the fans off. My project will first be used on my rig, before using it on my friend's.
DM's test rig:
P4 2.8e@3.5 (can't do stable bench above 254FSB :()
Jet 4
OCZ EL PC4000 2x256Mb
Geil Ultra Platinum 2x256Mb
Asus P4P800
80GB Maxtor
HIS 9600
Ok, now that's settled, here are some pics of the fan.
Figure 1: The small fan
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool000.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool001.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool002.gif
The fans are rated 12v and .19a. It should be good, I told myself. I tested it and all works except for one. So I have 3 fans, which should be ok for my needs. I reckon I'll use two fans for RAM and one for NB. I pulled out some of my tools and proceeded to tie two fans using some wire tire-wraps. I stripped the fan wires of both fans and solder them together. The soldered parts are insulated with packaging tape :)....not pretty but it works.
Figure 2: Soldered Fans
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool003.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool010.gif
I also found a molex connector, and solder this to the fan wires. I also added double sided mounting tapes to the fans.
Figure 3: Molex goodness...
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool004.gif
It is not shown in the picture, but I placed the double sided mounting tapes at the middle, as well as left and right side. This pair will do a good job cooling the rams. Now, onto the NB cooler, the 3rd fan. I stripped the wire and ensure that the 3rd fan is working. However, when I am trying to find a molex connector for this fan, I can't find any spare. So, without much hope, I did a sorry excuse to connect the 3rd fan: I joined it up to the already finished pair.
Figure 4: Yay, 3 fans in one connector. I hope wires don't burn up due to overload!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool005.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool006.gif
To test it, I use a spare PSU, and short the power pins with the 3 fans connected to one of the molex connector. Testing shows that fan works ok :)...no overheating on the connector (soldered locations). Now onto the actual "installation". I sticked the dual fan to the ram, and the single fan to the NB.
Figure 5: Active Cooler "mounted" on ram!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool007.gif
Figure 6: Active Cooler "mounted" on NB!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool008.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool009.gif
Powering on, the noise is, well, good I guess :). Having tested the makeshift active coolers, checked for shorted connectors as well as overheating wires, I ran to my friend's house and installed the cooler.
Well, the thing works as expected, the sticky mounting tape held back and never fell. It sticks to the NB and RAM strongly, and we even tried moving the case around and see if it will fell off. Good thing, it never budge. It is now time to see if it has any effect on OC over all...
Well, what can I say, we manage to shave off around 5c, 7c tops off the RAM temperature and cut off about 3c, 5c tops off the NB temperature. while it didn't help the rig to OC even more, it does help in stability, Prime95 works, passed about 2hrs of test. Sandra Burn-In (10runs) works flawlessly even with 3dMarkSE01 looping continously. At 265FSB, I guess my friend can't ask for more :)....
And I got a good sandwich and bottled water as a prize for a job done ;)....next time, I'll buy some heat shrink to tidy up the solder points...and ask my friend for some electrical supplies :)....
Background: (To skip the background, just go to 5th paragraph)
I sold my CPU 2.8e to the highest bidder, and also delivered a Dual Channel Kit OCZ PC4000 to the same guy. As promised, the rig works flawlessly at 260FSB. However, the thing that's been bugging my friend is the amount of heat blanketing his room whenever he's playing. Prescott gives off a steady 63c stream of hot air at full load. However, having seen my rig operates at 269FSB, my friend decided to pushed this CPU at this level.
I told my friend that I only did this FSB on benching and not on a regular basis since the CPU is hitting 66c at full load and 59c idle. It turned out that after 3hrs to 4hrs of running playing games, making the room unbearable (at least for me), the rig will become unstable. To check for problem areas, I lend my Hardcano 12 and snuck in the Temp Probes at: CPU, NB, Case, RAM. It turns out that the RAM is hitting 65c++ as well at continous run, the NB is at an all time 58c, and case temp (bottom) is around 45c. I recommend to lessen the FSB to maintain a better temperature but I can't seem to pursuade my friend to go less then 265FSB. Either we lessen the OC or change his SP94 to water cooling ;).
So anyway, I manage to pursuade my friend to settle with 265FSB but the rig is still very very hot and I'm afraid my friend will fry all his ram since it is still operating at such high temperature. We're also experiencing Prime95 problem, halting after about 1hr-2hrs of Torture "Blend" test. Sandra burn-in can't be completed if 3dMarkSE01 is looping and vice versa. However, Sandra burn-in is ok and 3dMarkSe01 is ok if they are both run independently.
I told my friend that we really need a way to cool his stuff, specially for CPU, NB, and RAM. I really think that we should focus on cooling the CPU since it's the one producing the most heat, which I believe is also being absorved by NB and RAM. Unfortunately, we can't find a good delta fan for his SP94, and my friend never wanted water cooling. So I guess we're stuck with SP94 and just focus on NB and RAM.
The Project: A quick and dirty active ram cooler
So having said a long story, we decided to find ways to cool the ram and nb. i remember there are chipset coolers sold for around $4.5, but the thing is, we might need around 2 of these (ram and nb) and that will add up the cost to about $9. Not expensive, but not cheap either, besides, we'll not be able to use the HeatSink and just wanted the fans.
We rummage around some old eletronics and struck "gold"!!! We found this really old "IC coolers" with four small fans (around 40mmx40mm). I went home, brought the fans with me and I stripped all the fans off. My project will first be used on my rig, before using it on my friend's.
DM's test rig:
P4 2.8e@3.5 (can't do stable bench above 254FSB :()
Jet 4
OCZ EL PC4000 2x256Mb
Geil Ultra Platinum 2x256Mb
Asus P4P800
80GB Maxtor
HIS 9600
Ok, now that's settled, here are some pics of the fan.
Figure 1: The small fan
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool000.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool001.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool002.gif
The fans are rated 12v and .19a. It should be good, I told myself. I tested it and all works except for one. So I have 3 fans, which should be ok for my needs. I reckon I'll use two fans for RAM and one for NB. I pulled out some of my tools and proceeded to tie two fans using some wire tire-wraps. I stripped the fan wires of both fans and solder them together. The soldered parts are insulated with packaging tape :)....not pretty but it works.
Figure 2: Soldered Fans
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool003.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool010.gif
I also found a molex connector, and solder this to the fan wires. I also added double sided mounting tapes to the fans.
Figure 3: Molex goodness...
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool004.gif
It is not shown in the picture, but I placed the double sided mounting tapes at the middle, as well as left and right side. This pair will do a good job cooling the rams. Now, onto the NB cooler, the 3rd fan. I stripped the wire and ensure that the 3rd fan is working. However, when I am trying to find a molex connector for this fan, I can't find any spare. So, without much hope, I did a sorry excuse to connect the 3rd fan: I joined it up to the already finished pair.
Figure 4: Yay, 3 fans in one connector. I hope wires don't burn up due to overload!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool005.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool006.gif
To test it, I use a spare PSU, and short the power pins with the 3 fans connected to one of the molex connector. Testing shows that fan works ok :)...no overheating on the connector (soldered locations). Now onto the actual "installation". I sticked the dual fan to the ram, and the single fan to the NB.
Figure 5: Active Cooler "mounted" on ram!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool007.gif
Figure 6: Active Cooler "mounted" on NB!!!
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool008.gif
http://www.sleektech.nl/~dm/tempoc/ramnbcool/ramnbcool009.gif
Powering on, the noise is, well, good I guess :). Having tested the makeshift active coolers, checked for shorted connectors as well as overheating wires, I ran to my friend's house and installed the cooler.
Well, the thing works as expected, the sticky mounting tape held back and never fell. It sticks to the NB and RAM strongly, and we even tried moving the case around and see if it will fell off. Good thing, it never budge. It is now time to see if it has any effect on OC over all...
Well, what can I say, we manage to shave off around 5c, 7c tops off the RAM temperature and cut off about 3c, 5c tops off the NB temperature. while it didn't help the rig to OC even more, it does help in stability, Prime95 works, passed about 2hrs of test. Sandra Burn-In (10runs) works flawlessly even with 3dMarkSE01 looping continously. At 265FSB, I guess my friend can't ask for more :)....
And I got a good sandwich and bottled water as a prize for a job done ;)....next time, I'll buy some heat shrink to tidy up the solder points...and ask my friend for some electrical supplies :)....