Hot custom built PC (How should I cool it)

Pedros

Pedros

Pedros

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Joined
13 Nov 2007
Posts
70
Well, here's a CPU-Z to begin with:



and here's the temps with "CoreTemp"



That's just idling (It can reach up to 85*C+ when gaming/Benchmarking)

All my Hardware is stock. Stock coolers on Graphics card and the Processor. The only extra fan I have inside the Case is one on the side which is blowing air out..

At the moment the PC isn't very stable and can randomly crash whilst playing COD4/Crysis or running 3DMark06 (Rarely Artifacts)

I'm not too sure whether the temperatures are too hot so I need some advice.

What sort of cooling should I get and could you please name exact products ;)

I've also noticed that the Heat-sink on my motherboard is running very hot, which is the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R

Thanks, Pedro.

BTW - This is my first ever PC, I'm 17 and have used macs all my life (since I was 5 so don't know too much. This is also my first over clock and only doing what ive read on Tutorials.)
 
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Hi Pedro

First of all, what case do you have?

Secondly, the case fan you have would be better as an intake, I suspect :)

*edit*

3.5ghz on the stock cooler is just asking for trouble :/
You need to grab a decent HSF, quick sharp!
 
The case I have is very old, bought it for £5 at a jumble sale, only bought it because its huge and I liked the UV window on the side ;)

What sort of HSF do you recommend?
 
I've changed round my Case fan from blowing air out to blowing air in.. Thats cooled it down a few degrees.

I've also added the Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler, Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound and an Akasa 80mm UV Fan to my Basket.

Is there anything else I should do?
 
If you're new to this overclocking stuff I don't reccomend the Thermalright as to get really good preformance they often need lapping. Go with the Tuniq.

Edit:// Don't bother with AS5 - the tuniq comes with better paste to begin with. Does your case only take 80mm fans? Consider a 120mm fan if your case can take it. I'd also reccommend a different fan to that - hang on 1 sec while I find one on OCUK.

Edit2:// I reccomend the Sharkoon silent eagle (although this is the 1000rpm version which is quiet but doesn't really blow a lot of air for an 80mm fan): http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-002-SH&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=81
 
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Pedros said:
The case I have is very old, bought it for £5 at a jumble sale, only bought it because its huge and I liked the UV window on the side ;)

What sort of HSF do you recommend?
Click to expand...

Seriously consider a new case if the one you have does not have 120mm fans front and rear with a decent airflow path.
 
Pedros said:
What would you consider a "Decent" air-flow path?
Click to expand...

The least restrictive really, case inlet and outlet with as much open area exposed as possible, and minimal obstructions inside from the front to rear fans.
HDD cage sides if in front of the fan should have minimal solid surfaces.
 
Pedros said:
What would you consider a "Decent" air-flow path?
Click to expand...

Air from intake(s) crosses some 'hot' components (read cpu, gfx card, PSU [and sometimes hardrives & northbridge/southbridge]). Make sure some air is pushed accross CPU!

Exhaust and Intake have clearence so there isn't a great deal of impedence.

In and Out CFM are ballenced.

Cable mass is kept to a minimum.

Enough air is pushed to keep internal case temps close to ambient temps.

Edit:// Kept this reply short - feel free to ask Qs
 
Update -

Purchased items:

Heatsink/fan combo (Foxconn) - £8
Added 1 80mm fan (LED thing from Antec) - £5
Added 1 80mm fan I had in an old Mac
Added 1 120mm fan I had in an old Mac

Total spent = £13

Ive lost 10 Degrees from my CPU and I'm going to try and OC this beast a bit more..

Situation of fans:

80mm intake from side window. 120mm fan blowing the air from the middle to the back of the case. 2 80mm fans at the back blowing air out. There is now a constant air flow and no cables in the way since I tidied up the case.
 
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Chris Beard said:
If you're new to this overclocking stuff I don't reccomend the Thermalright as to get really good preformance they often need lapping. Go with the Tuniq.
QUOTE]

I was under the impression that of those two coolers the tuniq was the one most likely to require lapping? Is the surface of the Thermalright not up to scratch?
Click to expand...
 
martian_aphid said:
I was under the impression that of those two coolers the tuniq was the one most likely to require lapping? Is the surface of the Thermalright not up to scratch?
Click to expand...

:). If you're genuinly interested do a quick search on these forums for thermalright and the word 'banana'. Google probably has much more but for anyone to describe the base that way... well.

Thermalright bases are notoriously bad with massive buldges of all different sizes appearing on the bases of most of their model lines. When questioned they answer that it's by design *sigh*.
 
thanks for the info Chris, I've been researching for my first build and a few reviews i've read put the thermalright as one of the best performing coolers. I was considering getting it but i'm going to look into it further based on your info. thanks for the heads up =D
 
No worries. They tend to perform very well anyway but do really benifit from lapping and (depending on the retention plate) pressure mods like the penny mod.
 
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