Unimpressed with my Soprano-anyone recommend a CPU cooler?

manic111

manic111

manic111

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With my first build last month I made the novice mistake of underestimating the importance of the case. The Soprano has fairly poor airflow (unless you keep the door at the front open), and I have already spent £15 upgrading the fans, which dont make a massive difference. From the sounds of it, fitting a better CPU cooler and a DX10 GPU in it may be a struggle as well.

Can anyone recommend me an inexpensive, easy to fit CPU cooler which will fit inside it (for an E4500, socket 775)? I was looking at the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7, but it looks a little big-does anyone have one inside a sSoprano?

Also, is it simply worth me upgrading the case now? Will graphics cards fit inside it ok in the future? I currently have an X1950 PRO which fits fine, but Im looking at going DX10 next year. I only have one hard drive, so hopefully I will be able to fit the GPU around that.
 
Yea, Im a little skint though-3rd year about to start at uni! May have to wait until I upgrade my GPU. Any ideas for a CPU cooler? Would the Freezer 7 fit? If not, then does anyone know how the Thermalright MST-9775LE CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775) is meant to be?
 
What exactly is the problem?

Is something running too hot, or too loud or what?
 
My CPU E4500 is running a little warm-it only reaches around 60C on load, but if I OC at all (even by about 200mhz) it hits 70C. Im hoping to be able to reach at least 2.6Ghz.
 
You reckon? Fair enough, I think I will probably go for the Freezer 7. Does anyone know anything about the Thermaltake V1? I would go for the Big Typhoon, but it is a little heavy for my liking.
 
Did you tidy up your wiring? My soprano is great for cooling. Current temps..

Case 25c
Mobo 34c
CPU 29c
GPU 56c

They don't go up much when under load either. :) Are you sure your CPU isn't i need of a good lapping?
 
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My CPU is fine, but I managed to scratch the base of the heatsink on a screw. It isnt deep, but may be affecting it somewhat. I suppose that is another reason to buy a new one!!! What cooler do you have in yours?

My wiring is pretty tidy, and the airflow through the case is good.

My system temp is currently at 38C, which Im fine with, and the CPU is only at 27C idle, but it more than doubles to around 60 at load, with the system temp going up to 40.

I have no problems with my system temps, they seem good enough to me! However, I would like to OC the CPU somewhat, and I think that coupled with that scratch (do you reckon it is affecting it?) and the fact that I only have a stock heatsink I am being held back.

Just out of interest how does you 8800GTS fit in there?
 
nothing wrong with soprano's. i managed to fit all my gear in one and cooling was never an issue. if your cpu is running hot then its your cpu and/or cpu heatsink at fault, not the case cooling.

my 8800GTX in a soprano:

8800gtx_in_soprano.jpg
 
Yay, a GTX fits! Thats good to know!!!

To be fair, I think I was a little unfair on the case-I have tried to improve the cooling and have got the case temps down, but the CPU is still not lowering-I think that you are right, and its the CPU fan. Is that cooler in yours a Scythe Ninja? How well does it fit? I have heard good things about it!
 
Owned a Soprano myself, there not too bad, but I made a few mods to mine to help improve the airflow.

I removed fan bracket at the back, and attached the fan directly to the case. I also cut the pressed metal covering the back fan and placed a standard fan guard to stop fingers getting in.

I also removed the front door (can just unscrew it, doesn't need cutting). If your really adventurous, I took a hacksaw to that pitiful grill on the inside front of the case and left it with just the dust filter.

I also cut the pressed metal from the the front fan away, and put a normal fan guard there as well.

Net Cost: £0.00

Oh a old style Thermaltake Big Typhoon fits inside this case, so you shouldn't have any problems with any cooler I would have thought.
 
Yea, I was thinking of sawing a hole in the front door rather than removing it (my DVD drive was a little too big for only one bay-I had to remove 2 so now it looks awful without the front door). Getting rid of that grill and leaving the dust filter also sounds like a plan, I will give that a go! Thanks for the ideas
 
I used to have a soprano and just upgraded to an akasa eclipse, oh my god! you dont know what your missing out on so much room and so much easier to work with, the fans on the soprano are proper pants! i want to to chuck my soprano in the bin but im sure i will get a few quid if i auction it.
 
Helpful post eggcup-just making me jealous ;) I dont think that I can justify upgrading my case having only had it a month! Think I will do it when I upgrade my GPU
 
eggcup said:
I used to have a soprano and just upgraded to an akasa eclipse, oh my god! you dont know what your missing out on so much room and so much easier to work with, the fans on the soprano are proper pants! i want to to chuck my soprano in the bin but im sure i will get a few quid if i auction it.
Click to expand...

Quoted for truth.

I went from a Tt Soprano to a Lian Li G70. Difference is immense :D
 
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