AM3 CPU cooler

smithy1988

smithy1988

smithy1988

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Joined
3 Jul 2007
Posts
354
Location
Newcastle UK
My dads just recently bought a laptop making his desktop pc redundant.
Decided today that i could utilise it and swapped my GPU and PSU into it.
Marginal increase in ram and CPU performance was the reasoning.

Been gaming on it tonight and one of the fans has been going crazy.
After taking the panel off its the CPU Fan, so im thinking that perhaps the stock one isnt up to the job. My dads never gamed, so i doubt this will have ever been an issue for him.
Im not planning on overclocking, so just want something more effective than stock.

Spec
Amd Phenom II x4 955 Black edition
4gb DDR3
Asus M4A785TD-VEVO
Corsair HX520W
Sapphire 512mb HD4870
Coolermaster elite 335.

Firstly what temps are acceptable for CPU and GPU units?

Recommend me an aftermarket cooler please. If buying a new one, will i need to re-apply thermal paste? Or do they come with some.

The case has a ported funnel design on the side which sits fairly close over the cpu fan. Should i maybe be looking at an additional fan to blow or extract some air out/in? through it?

Thanks for your feedback
 
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I havnt actually taken the fan and heatsink off but iv blown the fan which got rid of quite a bit of dust.

Checked the bios setup and theres a feature that puts the fan on 100% if temps reach 55 degrees, so it must be around that.

Case is a coolermaster elite 335. There is the option for a 120mm fan behind the front casing and the funnel on the side panel above cpu fan looks like a fan can be attached to the side of the case.

Thanks
 
doyll said:
If you can, remove the fan and check to see if the fins are plugged with lint/dust/hair. That's a pretty common thing. If they are pick it out with something like a straightened paper clip.

So can use coolers up to 163mm

Thermalright True Spirit 120 for £24.98 is a very good little cooler
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-098-TR&groupid=701&catid=2330&subcat=2352
Click to expand...

Will check that tomorrow and remove fan.
Thanks for the advice on the cooler. Is that classed as a budget or mid range?

Do you suggest installing any other fans? e.g. a front 120mm

Thanks
 
That sounds like a great idea. There's an exhaust chassis fan already there but space for a 120mm front intake.

So if my understanding is correct we split the CPU fan header so both fans will operate at the same RPM dependant on load.

Is it worth changing my exhaust fan to the same as the new intake so they're the same?

Can you spec me up a basket?
CPU cooler
Fan splitter
Thermal paste? (If needed)
New 120mm front intake
New exhaust fan (if needed)

Thanks for all the help
 
Im more than happy to go with the suggestions. Im no expert, so in need of advice.

That makes sense to me.

Thermalright True Spirit 120 CPU heatsink.
TIM- any suggestions or is it much of a muchness (looked at heatsink spec and no mention of it pre-applied)
Splitter cable (posted above)
2x Akasa Apache's

What temperature drop am I likely to see?
Thanks
 
doyll said:
The fan can be held in place with pieces of foam or zip-tied to each side of the bay cage. This one is with foam wedging it in.
p1020124cb1.jpg


You should see a 10c or more drop if all is done right. Problem will be removing the heated exhaust from cpu cooler and GPU. One fan in and one fan out will only move about the same amount of air TS120 cooler does. In theory that means no other air is moving. I like having more fans in than out. In fact most of my builds have no exhaust fans. Just exhaust vents and intake fans. Also your PSU is pulling air from inside case and exhausting it. So ideally we need another intake fan. And the only place I see that it might be possible is the 5.25 external bays.
Click to expand...

I understand that, but surely as a first step im going to see some difference in temps by doing what we have discussed above. Better heatsink/fan. Better exhaust fan and an intake. Its got to be an improvement?
Perhaps if i need additional cooling afer this i can look to install one in the external 5.25 bays?

Is it advisable to run the exhaust fan through the chassis fan header (as it is now) or also run that through the splitter so its cpu temp/load dependant
 
No Email as yet. Virgin medias servers are currently down so no access.
I'll go for two fans. I can keep it to one side incase i want to add another intake like you say. Or if im happy with the temp drop then i'll just swap the exhaust fan to the spare apache, which wont harm anything.

Isopropyl isnt a problem- My sister works in a lab so already got that one sorted. Cotton bud or something best to use to clean it?

Any other coolers to be considering before i go ahead and order?

Last couple of questions. Will my board work with the PVM for 2-3 fans?
Theres a default function in the setup (Asus Q-fan) does this need to be enabled or disabled in order for the PVM fans to work from the board.

Appreciate your answers and sorry for all the beginner questions
 
Yea true, i think the cheaper oneshould get me buy. Can always look at another when it comes to a new upgrade
I should set up a little supply ring!


is it possible to just look over my last couple of questions..
Will my board work with the PVM for 2-3 fans?
Theres a default function in the setup (Asus Q-fan) does this need to be enabled or disabled in order for the PVM fans to work from the board.


I'll go ahead and order if thats it. Thanks for all your help
 
Great i'll go ahead and order.

I'll monitor some temps now and drop you a message with any results i see once installed.

Thats good to know, is pvm a motherboard function regardless of whether Asus Q fan is enabled in the bios? Or do i need to disable Q fan for this to work.
i think that was the question i was trying to get across.

No its appreciated. I'll let you know how i get on.
 
AgedIdiot said:
I believe that it is via Asus Q fan option that you can use the PWM fans.

Check your manual / internet as to how Asus Q fan works - I would expect that you will have to make 2 or 3 choices but as it does appear to vary a little board to board and I have no experience of your particular board you are best relying upon your own enquiries.

The physical set up is straightforward - you may find the reviews section of the splitter link I provided of interest in this regard :)

Summary - sorry for largely repeating what has already been said - I am just too slow in thinking/typing :confused:
Click to expand...


Thanks i'll certainly take a look
 
Fitted tonight. Results below. they may not be breaking any records but im happy with the drops and the reduction in noise.

Temps before the change
Idle
Cpu- 43 degrees @3750 RPM
MB- 39 degrees

After gaming
Cpu-62 degrees!
MB- 39 degrees
GPU- 81 degrees

Temps after the upgrade
Idle
Cpu- 33 degrees 1173 RPM
MB- 32 degrees

After gaming
Cpu- 44 degrees 1350 RPM
MB- 38 degrees
GPU- 63 degrees
 
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