I could use some suggestions on airflow/cooling

[Direfox]

Hiya! This is my first post here but have been lurking for a few days reading up on stuff ;) Anyway, I have built quite a few computers for myself and friends, but it has been a couple years, and heat wasn't near as much of an issue as it is now. I completed my computer with the parts I researched out to be the best bang for the buck and I'm really happy with my system except for the heat problems I have been having, anyway, here is the completed computer..............

Antec SLK3700 (120mm exhaust, 350 PSU) plus a 120 pusher in the front
ABIT IS7 mobo
2.8c with a Zalman CNPS7000a heat sink/fan
9800 Pro flashed to XT with Zalman GPU cooler plus optional 80mm fan
120 Samsung SATA drive (sitting right in front and below my 120mm front intake fan)
1 gig Corsair Value Select PC-3200 Ram (2x512)
Artic Silver 5 on all relevent parts
DVD player and CDRW drive
Round Floppy and IDE cables for the disk drives, plus I tied up my cables out of the way as much as possible

Nothing is overclocked except for the video card being flashed and the new default settings for it as an XT (412,365)


Now, im peaking out at 54c and Idling at 40-42c on my CPU. My case is peaking at 43c and Idling at 32-34c. What really worries me is on ABITEQ my WSM (which I understand is the power supply on the mother board, area around the CPU?) reading often peaks very high, about 65c under full load. Air comes in through the front across the top of my SATA harddrive, onto my videocard and then up to the CPU. I'm wondering if the SATA and video card are heating up the air too much before it gets to the processor?

I have read posts about the possibility that ABIT posts readings higher than actual temps, and rebuttal that the temps are pretty close to accurate. What disturbs me is the cases ambient temperature. The room is only about 23c. So my case is apparently not getting enough airflow? Or is 12c above room temperature normal?

Anyway, I was thinking about trying a slot exhaust fan directly below the video card, a intake fan system in one of the 5 1/2 bays on top, and/or a case mod to the door with a 120mm fan with a filter running at slowest speed pointed directly at the cpu. I have children, pets, and a gravel driveway so dust is an issue also! :suspect: I have been blowing out the dust almost weekly even with the screen on the front of the Antec case and its dust free for the moment so I doubt thats causing more heat of lack of airflow.

Any suggestions or comments? I could really use some pointers here! :beat:

[RotorHead]

:welcome: to BE Direfox

Looks like you have some good components there. :thumb:

Try running with the case side off. If your temps dramatically change then it's probably poor airflow in the case.

If so, you may be able to get better flow by cutting out the stock grills on the case.

Example (http://members.cox.net/ebecquet/rearshot.jpg)

[sodface]

:welcome: to BE Direfox!

Check out this thread here if you haven't seen it already:

Link (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2640)

Specifically post #24 by Thugsrook.

:wave:

[Snafu]

You probably read this thread:
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3285

I have not yet tried Thugsrook's air-flow pattern out but will one day when I finish hacking my rear grills (have to do the top grill as well, maybe the sides too - it never ends :lol: ).

Here's a pic of my front vent that I opened using a dremel (before and after):
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showpost.php?p=33836&postcount=30

You really noticed a huge change in flow with the grill gone.

[Direfox]

VERY INTERSTING! Thanks a bunch. I don't like the idea of cutting out the back grills as I have small children in the house and the computer is in the living room, but I could open up the front completely because its protected by the front plate. I could also open a blow hole on the top and put a grill up there, and a hole on the door over the CPU with a filter on it would be no problem also (I have a realitive with a machine shop ;) )

[Direfox]

Ack! Forgot to mention that when I opened up the door my temps dropped 5 degrees for CPU and 6-7 for the case. The difference between open door and close was the same for idle and full load. If I put a blow hole on the top, I will have to figure out what to do with all the cables I have stuffed up there though! :irk: Although the bottom is very uncluttered, the very top is a spagetti mess and will definetly slow down airflow to a blow hole fan. :bonk:

[Killer Munkey]

i have a issue with cable clutter at the top too , but i solved that mostly by tucking as many cables as i could on the right side of 5 1/2 drives bays ( the side with the motherboard on it)

at least there the cables are mostly out of the way and can't interfere with much. :wpleased:

and i have to agree with everybody else that cutting off stock grills does open up a lot of air flow, highly recomened it if you want to increase air flow, and you can always put fan grills over them so no fingers get caught in the fan :thumb:

[Direfox]

I'm looking at fan grills now (please post links if you have some you like). I have decided to add the blow hole up top with an 80mm fan instead of a 120mm because their isn't a ton of room up there. Im also going to put a hole on the side with a filter right over the CPU and open up the front and back grills. I think I had better remove EVERYTHING and do this all at once to make sure I dont get a bunch of metal shavings on things, so I want to do it right the first time.

I really need airflow, but I also really need to keep this case filtered. I would love to be able to have good airflow plus a positive pressure to keep the dust out, but not sure if its possible. :smash:

[Snafu]

Forgot to mention the potential for losing fingers - kids and yourself included. Mostly the intake fans are more dangerous than the exhaust fans (I accidentally stuck mine in the wrong place - makes you jump).
For the intake fans out back I have some cheapo wire chrome jobs. Not the nicest grills out there but no one should be looking at my rear side and it will keep me from slicing my fingers :lol: .
The case front can block some of the airflow especially if it does not have many openings. I keep the front door open on my thermaltake case when I have the fans up high and running some stress testing. I have seen a few cases with nice mesh or grill fronts that should let the air in.

Dust always seems to find its way in. I blow my filters out about every 1-2weeks and blow air thorugh the case. Some filters are good but they seem to limit airflow. Maybe some hepa filters that could be cut up :scratch: .

With negative pressure you could also tape over any openings not filtered or being used.

[Direfox]

Ok......I bit the bullet and cut out the front and rear grills with a pair of dikes(I will have to add the new grill later I guess) and I removed the front filter before I replaced the face plate of the case. It made a huge difference, im now Idling at 32c for the case and 37c for the CPU, case is peaking at 40c and the CPU is peaking at 48c, much better than the 54c it was peaking at before.

So in the future I think I will add a blow hole w/80mm fan and a hole in the side of the door above the CPU with a filter (yes, I AM becoming a cooling freak, please send help :coocoo: ) , oh yeah and use a dremel to smooth out the sharp edges on my stellar :o cutting job. I would really like to hit 40-42c for the CPU at full load before I start trying out overclocking, it would be one less thing to worry about.

[RotorHead]

6c drop, that’s great. :thumb:

I think if you go ahead with the blow hole in the top and the inlet on the side it will drop some more. Give it a try when you have some time. :yup:

Also the Zalman heat sink is excellent, but you may get lower temps with one of thermalrights high end sinks. Just something else to think about

[Snafu]

Awesome Direfox. Glad to hear that you are running cooler.
For my 9600xt I added an Arctic Ice cooler to the card mainly because it exhausts hot air directly outside the case (one less thing adding heat to the case). I cant' say if I noticed a change 'cause I added it at the same time as I modified the innards to get better airflow.
I have a Zalman 7000AlCu (yet to be installed) but wish I held out for the xp120 cooler. It works better if it will fit your board - I hear an added bonus is that your ram is cooled as well (not the intent of the xp120 just a good side effect)

[Direfox]

That xp-120 is HUGE, was just looking it over. Apparently it does work with my ABIT IS7 board. I might try that if I upgrade the other older computer I have (wife is starting to look jealous now :D )