Cooling problem....

[wilko49]

I'm not really happy with my temps after adding a second card. At the moment I have a 120mm intake at the front and a 120mm exhaust at the rear, and my psu at the top facing down.

I reckon a lot of the problem is that the second card exhaust air towards the front of the case, against the airflow.

Unfortunately, I can't afford a new case right now, so I was considering reversing the front fan, and adding a 200mm intake to the side panel (which is meshed).

Do you guys think that would work? Or do you have any better ideas?

 

[TheCenturion]

How about getting aftermarket coolers for the card(s)? That would lower your temps, you wouldn't need to change the case fans, and you wouldn't need a new case.

Out of interest, what are your temps?

 

[wilko49]

50 at idle (used to be around 35), i'm terrified of running furmark on it.

Can't replace the coolers cos the cards are non-reference.

 

[TheCenturion]

Is there lots of dust build up in your case?

 

[wilko49]

Doesn't look too bad, but i don't have filters.

 

[twist3d0n3]

how close are these cards together?

if they're really close, there's your problem...

 

[TheCenturion]

Dust can raise temps by a few degrees, if you do find any, clean it up

What are the temps like while you're gaming?

 

[wilko49]

Ok, just ran 9000 frames of furmark, temps seemed to top out around 88º.

The cards have about an inch between them, but my poor Xonar DG is in between them as well.

 

[TheCenturion]

That might be your problem. Try removing the sound card and see how that changes temps?

 

[wilko49]

I will take it out later to see what effect it has, but removing it permanently isn't a solution I want to use.

I doubt it is the problem anyway, as it is the bottom gpu that gets hottest.

 

[setter]

You could try sticking a fan behind the gpu's, done this on my 470's and dropped the temps a good deal.