High End AM3 Cooling

Muel · 13 Jan 2011 at 19:41

Howdo,

I have a 965BE which is currently cooled by a Titan Fenrir. Does OK but you can only point the fan downwards, straight at my graphics card, so I can only run it at 3.7ghz, even though I know it's capable of more.

I'm going to add another 5830 because they're dog cheap on ebay at the moment, and because I've always wanted 2 graphics cards. Because of the way the CPU cooler is pointing, it's gonna get toasty.

I'm not going with custom cooling. I only have an Antec 300 so I need something that will fit and keep everything cool.

The 5830s have a 5870 cooler which on my current single one never goes over about 35% fan speed, so feeding them warm air would be fine.

Sooo, that got me thinking, how about one of these? The rad will fit in the front, but I can't find out how long the tubes are so I've got no idea if they'll reach.

The other option I can see is the Noctua D14, but ONLY if this can be mounted east-west on an AM3 socket.

Any other options or advice? Cheers guys. Whatever I buy should have the scope for cooling a maxed out 1100T if possible!

Muel · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:26

Second page? Bad show guys!

ran_out · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:36

Can't say about how long the tubes are on one of those, but for that noctua cooler the page says: 'Asymmetrical design for high compatibility'

which I assume means that it doesn't matter about orientation - because it's symmetrical you could just mount the fans on any side you want, as it should have a ridge for the fan retention clips to go onto any face of the cooler. I have a Thermolab Baram on an AM3 socket and it points the right direction for you, but it's pretty big so don't know how well it would fit into an antec 300, fits into a 902 ok though, but blocks the first 2 RAM slots on my MB.

PapaLazaru · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:42

I have my 965 cooled by a Thermolab Baram, sadly not in stock anymore.

Blows the air to the rear of the case. Got a Noctua fan pushing through it.

Keeps my chip at 33'c at idle at 4Ghz.

Muel · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:45

ran_out - Blocking RAM slots isn't an option I'm afraid, I want to add another 4gb before long.

That's one of the reasons I looked at these cheapo water coolers.

Big coolers aren't a problem. The Titan Fenrir I have now fits with loads of room to spare. I just need enough space to fit more RAM lol.

PapaLazaru - Is that with CnQ? Mine is off and idles at 40C at 3.7ghz.

ran_out · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:49

Well TBH, it's only about 1/4 of the first slot that it blocks, so with a different MB it might not block it at all - also because of the large heatsinks on dominator RAM that stops it from just fitting underneath that fan.

I had a closer look at the pictures of that Noctua and looking at it, it doesn't look like there's any option for the fans to point any other way as there's one in between the 2 sides of it, so couldn't say what way it would point or if it's the mounting bracket that can go on either way round.

PapaLazaru · 14 Jan 2011 at 17:51

Muel said:
PapaLazaru - Is that with CnQ? Mine is off and idles at 40C at 3.7ghz.

Nope.

*edit*

I lied slightly. It is clocked to 3.974 Ghz.

Muel · 14 Jan 2011 at 18:17

Ahhhh C3 stepping! That explains it slightly. I have a C2 which means 3.7ghz requires 1.475v. I thought 7 degress higher when running 300mhz slower sounded pretty bad.

Still, that cooler sounds like it should be on the list of possiblities, cheers.

PapaLazaru · 14 Jan 2011 at 18:23

It is a good cooler for sure. I actually bought mine on the MM second hand (but new) for a really good price in the summer. They do seem to be going to around £40.00 elsewhere new and they do need a fan.

You do need to be careful with the RAM slots on your mobo though as the first slot is a squeeze.

Not a great photo but will give you an idea of what I mean. Ignore the cable bomb at the bottom please.

Muel · 14 Jan 2011 at 18:39

Definitely looks like a contender.

I just need to find more on these CoolIt Eco 240 things. I can't find out anywhere if one will fit in a 300 where I want it.

freddie64 · 15 Jan 2011 at 09:57

The noctua does fit your board blowing east to west, but looking at a picture of it fitted, it covers all your ram slots. (http://razetheworld.com/forum/topic/official-post-your-pc-rig-thread/page/5, Look for a post by Skawty about 3/4 down the page for the pic)

el Kuarlos · 15 Jan 2011 at 13:10

Its really not worth changing, there wont be a huge difference. Better off getting a fan to put in the side of the 300. AM3 overclocking really isnt so much about heat as it is hitting the 'wall' at 4.0.

Thejay · 15 Jan 2011 at 15:31

I've got the Titan Fenrir as well on an Athlon II X4 620 clocked to 3.5ghz 270mhz x13.0 multi and my full load prime temperates sometimes just touch 50c mine also faces the same way at a GTX260 so heat shouldn't be that much of an issue :confused:

buttkinz · 15 Jan 2011 at 21:14

iv got a swiftech apex kit fitted into the antec 300, works well and load temps are [email protected]. you could pick this kit up cheap and just pop the rad on the back using the radbox.
also iv got an old kit called the h220 compact somehwere which fits the antec 300 really well and is only a degree or two behind the top shelf custom kit, heres a pic of it installed a while back, excuse the wiring lol

Muel · 16 Jan 2011 at 18:27

el Kuarlos said:
Its really not worth changing, there wont be a huge difference. Better off getting a fan to put in the side of the 300. AM3 overclocking really isnt so much about heat as it is hitting the 'wall' at 4.0.

It's definitely worth the upgrade IMO. 40C idle and 60C load when my OC isn't topped out is grounds for an upgrade.

The wall on these C2 chips has always been around 3.8ghz BTW.

Thejay said:
I've got the Titan Fenrir as well on an Athlon II X4 620 clocked to 3.5ghz 270mhz x13.0 multi and my full load prime temperates sometimes just touch 50c mine also faces the same way at a GTX260 so heat shouldn't be that much of an issue

These C2 965BE chips have always been hot runners though. 140w stock, and to get 3.8ghz I need to run it at 1.525v.

It will be an issue soon! Got another 5830 to go in.

buttkinz said:
iv got a swiftech apex kit fitted into the antec 300, works well and load temps are [email protected]. you could pick this kit up cheap and just pop the rad on the back using the radbox.
also iv got an old kit called the h220 compact somehwere which fits the antec 300 really well and is only a degree or two behind the top shelf custom kit, heres a pic of it installed a while back, excuse the wiring lol

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Cheers for the pointer, will look into these kits when I get a bit of spare time.