Cooling newbie - please help!

fotis · 6 Feb 2006 at 13:34

I am about to build/buy a new system based on:
X2 4400+
2 GB of ram
Raptor 150 GB 10k cache
Powercolor Radeon X850XT 256MB
Coolermaster Centurion 532 case & Hiper 580W Modular PSU UV (or Enermax Noisetaker 535W ATX V2.0)

However I know nothing about cooling and what exactly should I get to cool nicely and quietly this system. The case has an 120mm intake fan at the front and a hole for another at the back.

Can you please help me on what else exactly do I need to get? Another case fan (and which one?), heatsink, card cooler etc.?

Cheers for any help

King_Boru · 6 Feb 2006 at 13:38

Freezer 64 Pro for the CPU and a Zalman VF700 for the GFX.

Take the front case fan out and replace with an Akasa Amber 120mm fan and the same for the rear.

Change the PSU for an Enermax Liberty. I have heard the Hiper ones can get a bit vocal if you push them too hard.

Make sure you read the manuals on installing 3rd party coolers. Also take note than when replacing the GFX cooler you will void the warrenty.

King.

Zefan · 6 Feb 2006 at 13:39

make sure you get a couple of akasa ambers (They seem to be tops for quite+cool) to fill those spots front and back. For your GFX card a zalman VF700 will do nicely, and quietly. Then for your CPU it depends on your price range. Arctic Freezer's seem to be the best value for money, providing low temps at low cost and noise, but if you want it really cool I'd go for a Ninja Scythe and another amber for that.

:edit: aww and I had my fast typing hat on too

:edit:

King_Boru · 6 Feb 2006 at 13:45

Zefan said:
:edit: aww and I had my fast typing hat on too :edit:

must have had it on backwards

fotis · 6 Feb 2006 at 14:15

Cheers for the replies, I'll go with what you recommend.

Just to make sure though, by akasa amber you mean this one? http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/spec_page/fans/spec_ak_183_l2b.htm

also 2 questions about the vga cooler, is it this one Zalman VF700-AlCu (FAN-ZAL-VF700ALC) and would I be much worse if I didn't get the vga cooler? (I don't to play games often but will do some 3d rendering & video animation)

thanks again

Zefan · 6 Feb 2006 at 14:35

Some reports suggest it's loud at boot up, yet not during games... I'd just take the plunge and buy a VF700-CU (Not AlCu as the aluminium fins are worse for your temps). You probably don't REALLY need it, but many people find the stock VGA coolers are the loudest things in their PC's.

Z.