PC Upgrade II

Darkness · 5 Apr 2009 at 17:33

Since I last posted in this section I have replaced my broken hard drive with another and added 2GB of ram as recommended by someone on here and since then the PC has been operating slightly better and faster which is good news.

I want to upgrade more parts / the performance of the PC. The parts i've considered are the fans and the cpu cooler but I am not sure which will be the best to consider which is where I need your help.

I've taken some photos (sorry for the rather poor quality)

With this pic I am not sure what size cooler I could have because of the plastic type air flow thingy that is quite close probably 2-3cm between two.

The specs of my PC are:

3gb ram
2 x sata hard drive
ati radeon 300 series
intel p4 3.2ghz
motherboard is Asus P5 LD2 SE

The CPU cooler looks like it is a 4 pin speeze.

I'd just like to know of any recommendations to improve air flow in the case since my cpu was touching 99c but then I managed to get it down to the 40-50c mark.

Thanks

Darkness · 5 Apr 2009 at 20:43

Any ideas?

Thx

Darkness · 6 Apr 2009 at 18:55

Really.. does no one have any suggestions on this computer forum?

reflux · 6 Apr 2009 at 18:57

What socket Pentium 4 is it? 775 or 478?

pastymuncher · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:01

I would take the shroud off, it is only screwed to the case side panel. As it's socket 775 (looked up your board) get yourself one of the excellent Akasa AK-965 coolers. Don't be fooled by it being so cheap as it put's many more expensive coolers to shame. It will also direct the hot air to your rear exhaust fan.

Looking at the cpu support for the board you could drop in a E2000 series Pentium Dual core (very different to your P4), E4000 series or E6000 series Core2Duo if you wanted some extra power.

RJC · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:05

Socket 775 motherboard looking at the web, is there a possibilty of removing the air duct.

If not have a look at the Akasa or Arctic cooling range as they do low profile coolers.

What size are your fans on the case.

Darkness · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:31

Socket 775, yes.

So this should fit fine.

The plastic thing is an air duct then and this isnt really necessary? I am guessing the fan size is the standard that usually comes with a PC?

pastymuncher · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:35

The plastic thing is an air duct that's really for the stock Intel cooler so that it can pull air in from outside the case.

Cases can have 80/92/120mm or even larger fans. looking at your's i would say you have 120mm on the exhaust. Do you have an intake at the front of the case? What case is it?

Darkness · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:46

pastymuncher said:
The plastic thing is an air duct that's really for the stock Intel cooler so that it can pull air in from outside the case.

Cases can have 80/92/120mm or even larger fans. looking at your's i would say you have 120mm on the exhaust. Do you have an intake at the front of the case? What case is it?

Sorry to sound thick but what is the intake?

Yeah the case fan looks rather on the larger side..

pastymuncher · 6 Apr 2009 at 19:52

A decent case will have a fan at the front (usually at the bottom) sucking air in (intake). What case do you have? Sometimes a change of case can dramatically improve temps, especially if the existing case has poor ventilation.