Need to cool down my PC!

aceytrixx

aceytrixx

aceytrixx

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Aberdeenshire, Scotland
I've been thinking about replacing the case on this machine for a while now and I just realised my top GPU was sitting at 80 while I was playing Dark Souls earlier so its really got me thinking it has to be done now



thats what it looks like inside my case right now. I have 2 120mm intakes in front and another 2 on the side, 1 200mm and 1 120 on the rear as outgoing air. My GPUs are MSI gaming Edition 290s. First problem is I ended up with a non modular psu. So thats a pain. However my plan was to buy a 540 air and some extensions so i can stick that psu in the back and only have the leads I need coming through. Then have 3 120mm fans in front and one in the rear. Now my CPU cooler Is doing a decent enough job I think its at 4.6 and sits around 60 but would an AIO water solution help to keep my GPUs cooler because theres less hot air being dumped into the case.

Whats the best course of action here that isnt a full waterloop as thats going to go far over budget. Ideally id like to be in the £300-£350 region to fix this.

It also needs a dust. Thats my job on saturday.
 
The problem with flipping them to exhausts is that I can't get them back out the side window. They were a nightmare to get in and I've threaded a couple screws. I could probably do something with the psu if I got some extensions but due to the length of the cables I can't really do anything just now.
 
^ Yep

aceytrixx said:
The problem with flipping them to exhausts is that I can't get them back out the side window. They were a nightmare to get in and I've threaded a couple screws. I could probably do something with the psu if I got some extensions but due to the length of the cables I can't really do anything just now.
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What case is it?
Unless the routing holes are weird or there's little/no space between the mobo and the side panel, you should have enough cable length to make it work :)
 
As much cable management as you can round the back panel, then zipties for the cables left on the front. Moving the harddrives to the very top and very bottom may help the front intake and then go round your whole PC with the hoover to take up all the dust
 
Case wise, something like the corsair 540 air would be ideal. No obstacles such as hdd trays to block airflow. Separate chamber for the psu which will aid cable management.

In the meantime, id suggest putting your hdd's lower down, try to manage cabling a bit, remove pci plate covers to aid airflow between the gpu's.
 
Uncle Petey said:
^ Yep



What case is it?
Unless the routing holes are weird or there's little/no space between the mobo and the side panel, you should have enough cable length to make it work :)
Click to expand...

Luke_Bowman said:
As much cable management as you can round the back panel, then zipties for the cables left on the front. Moving the harddrives to the very top and very bottom may help the front intake and then go round your whole PC with the hoover to take up all the dust
Click to expand...

setter said:
Case wise, something like the corsair 540 air would be ideal. No obstacles such as hdd trays to block airflow. Separate chamber for the psu which will aid cable management.

In the meantime, id suggest putting your hdd's lower down, try to manage cabling a bit, remove pci plate covers to aid airflow between the gpu's.
Click to expand...

its an Antec 1100. I have tried putting all the cables through to the back and then pulling them back through but both power connections on the motherboard seem just out of reach. I will have another attempt as I havent for a while as I couldnt see how to make it reach but I might be able to sort out some of the GPU cabling at least. I will be getting all the dusting sorted out as soon as I can.
 
You can get extension cables for the ones that don't reach the motherboard

Which case fans do you have exactly?
 
Stock at the rear spectre pro 200mm on the top and 4 antec tricool at the front and sides. Can only have them set to medium though as high is just far too noisy.
 
If you can get the side fan out, even if you end up threading the thing, something like THIS will let you remount it the other way round. It made a big difference to mine when i did that.
 


Did that to it. Ran Furmark and ended up with my top GPU at 90 after a short time before I quit the program. Its annoying I cant put my GPU's further apart as thats something else I think I need to do. Will a 540 and some new fans help much? Ill get the dusting done tomorrow I reckon
 
You're still not using the cable management holes, though it probably wouldn't be a night and day difference :)
Oh, and don't use furmark. Use real world games or heaven/valley to test temps.
 
Uncle Petey said:
You're still not using the cable management holes, though it probably wouldn't be a night and day difference :)
Oh, and don't use furmark. Use real world games or heaven/valley to test temps.
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I've tried to get as much through the bottom hole as I can. I can't fit everything out as it stands just now. I'll need to just disconnect everything and start again I think. Yeah I will get some games played tomorrow.
 
A lot of things can come into it but IMO a mid tower are not ideal for 2 GPU's.

Get an EATX or Ultra Tower and the fans it comes with will be enough, you are going to spend 1/2 as much replacing those fans.

Sure those cases has a lot of empty space but that is good for airflow with massive 200mm fan in front and up top and modular HDD cages.

Side fans help Ref Exhaust Blower coolers, not sure if they help with Non Ref so much (I do not like air blowing all over case TBH).
 
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EDIT: changed case ideas after measuring


So those won't actually work it seems after doing some measurements and I'm looking at around 550m so it's something like

Corsair 540
Corsair 750d

From a very quick look around. I'm sure they're are other options but I'm limited on depth due to my bench.
 
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Had a quick session in Dark Souls and temps were down to 67 on the top card! I need to have more extended sessions to make sure but it was hitting 80 quite quickly before.
 
Use msi afterburner to create custom fan profiles so that fans kick up hot ithe cards get...can get noisy sure but keeps the temps down.

Def need to try to get all those cables out the back and in again so that air can flow properly.

Dust on cpu cooler too btw :)

PCIE plates still there too i see.

If you are happy to butcher your case then you can remove the grilled bit behind exhaust fan...makes a big diff to the air it can remove...just don't do with motherboard in and get metal bit in the case!!!
 
Yeah I haven't had time to do a proper take apart and clean. Maybe tonight though. I do have a custom fan profile set up but I'm going to try sorting out the cabling before I ramp it up to save on noise. The CPU cooler is a nightmare to clean I think I need to try and get some cotton buds or something to really get into it.

dacads said:
I would be looking to replace those antec tricools with something quieter and cooler

YOUR BASKET
1 x Xigmatek XAF-F1252 Whiteline Fan - 120mm £8.99
1 x Xigmatek 120mm Crystal White LED Fan £7.49
1 x Arctic F12 PWM Case Fan - 120mm £4.39
Total : £25.86 (includes shipping : £4.16).




Personally I have the Artic F12 and they do a great job
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I was reading a review on those F12's and it said that they way they are designed they can only be mounted one way round is that true? As at that price they seem a bit of a steal if they are decent.
 
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