Antec 300 case cooling problem

Ingleberry

Ingleberry

Ingleberry

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I have tried various fans with little joy when gaming or folding things are not as it seems whilst ultimately like to add a 2nd graphics card which i fear make cooling problems worse.

Currently Antec 300 case with i5 2500k, EVGA GTX 570 SC with 2x Corsair 120mm fans in the front and Antec tri cool 140mm fan at the top.

The obvious problem apart from heat is the air flow seems to stall when gpu fan goes over 50% much less air can be felt out the top 140mm fan and the 2x corsair 120mm whirring away flat out temps reach upto 80oc for both gpu and cpu. The open vents are sucking air in, i tried blanking these off and both gpu and cpu temps increased approx 10oc

Without folding stressing the cpu alone it hovers around 50-60oc max and uncovered vents are blowing air out; so i guess gpu is sucking more air than both 120mm fans can supply at full speed not to mention uncomfortably loud.

How should i set up the fans and recommend better 120mm fan than Corsair because i hope to go SLI with another GTX 570 SC.
 
The reason for the drop in airflow is because the 570 has an external exhaust cooler design and when that spins up faster it is acting as another exhaust, if u don't have a fan controller then i would suggest trying out some of these fans, also i would be tempted to add a 3rd fan on the side door blowing directly on the gpu.
Edit: These are another decent fan to use without a controller.
 
Last edited:
Zalman CNPS10X-Performa CPU

As suggested above like to upgrade both Corsair fans at the front and add third to the side. All control via motherboard which im happy with.

Fans i have tried;
Corsair 120mm Fan - current
Akasa AK-FN059 - less air flow than Corsair noiser too, whats the other 2 models like FN057 and FN058?
Antec Tri-Cool - bearable on low but very little air pushed, medium - high too noisey
Coolermaster 120mm - crap
Gelid Silent 120mm Quiet Fan - pretty poor
Xilence XPF120R Red Wing - least noise overall but very poor air flow
Silverstone SST-AP121 - weak in ever way
 
I have mine with 3 120mm Xilence Red wings with all 3 as intakes, a 140mm Sharkoon In the roof as exhaust and my GTS450 as an exhaust.

It all watercooled but I dont have any issues with airflow either. Is your front fan filter clean?
 
front fan filter is clean (clean it once a fortnight)

The problem only come to light since i started folding@home, whilst gaming I was none the wiser of air flow stalling out.
 
What direction are you fans flowing

sounds to me like you need a more cold air forced into the case to overcome the amount of back pressure caused by the GPU exhaust fans.

I have the same case and sometimes I wish it had less airflow!

A side intake directly onto the GPU will help a lot, also give the CPU cooler a bit more cold air as it kind of lands halfway up the GPU card.

I have 2 Coolermaster sickleflows for my front intake, I believe these alone with all exhaust fans switched off would cool my systems running full load. Also Noctua side intake, Xigmatek 140mm top exhaust and Noctua rear exhaust.

If your up to cutting you case up not only will it be quieter but will aid airflow dramitcally, cut out all the metal honeycomb grills apart from the side unless your case is protected by a desk or something, my rear exhaust is against my wall so I dont worry about poking my fingers round there very often
 
Setup your case as positive pressure ( have all your fans intake but leave the back one as exhaust ) I've done this with mine and my Phenom 2 955 1.5v 4.1ghz doesn't go over 49c in games. Granted I have 6 x 120mm Scythe Kaze Jyuni running at full speed :p
 
Bit more testing today with tissue to see direction of air flow and bin bag taped over each fan measuring how quickly it takes to fill (unscientific i know) noticed when the gpu hits 70% fan speed the 140mm exhaust fan on top blowing starts sucking air in.

Next added 3rd fan a spare red wing to side and things improved overall until dropping in another gpu for SLI now back to square one :(

Fan suggestions please or should i go for better case as well?
 
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