CPU/Case Cooling - Drastic Measures - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Halx · 01-16-2005, 01:08 PM

I'm looking for some effective methods of cooling my computer down. I've been fairly removed from the whole hardware scene for a while, so I'm not sure what's out there nowadays. What are my options?

I've got an aluminum case with several high speed fans blowing air on my hard drives and sucking it off my CPU. This doesn't seem to be helping much as my programs frequently crash out of the blue. I know this is a heat issue because when I take measures to REALLY cool things down (much hassle and noise) they dont crash anymore.

I'd also like a suggestion on a CPU temp monitoring tool. It would help a bit right now.

wraithhibn · 01-16-2005, 02:04 PM

For temp monitoring you need to use MDM, its the best I've found and it shows up down in the systray. http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

chance · 01-16-2005, 03:33 PM

http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Oakland/8259/

This is mobile meter. I use it and it works well. (also for temp monitoring)

JStrider · 01-16-2005, 04:23 PM

well if this has developed over time i would dust the whole computer... take off the heat sink and clean out between all the blades on it... clean the fan really well all that stuff...

but theres always upgrading the heatsink... dont know what hardware your running so its hard to recomend one...

and theres watercooling if you wanna go that route...

belkins · 01-16-2005, 04:47 PM

Most BIOS's nowadays have a temperature sensor built-in. When the computer reaches a predetermined temperature it will shutdown.

It's good to have a monitoring utility on your desktop but I would set it in the BIOS as well for safe measure.

cyrnel · 01-16-2005, 05:03 PM

halx, it sounds like you have the airflow handled. At some point you get dimishing returns (and stoopid noise levels) adding more to make up for other problems.

What cpu and what temps is the BIOS reporting from the health monitoring section?

How comfortable are you with the heatsink/fan and the heatsink to cpu junction? I'd go with jStrider on this. It's not uncommon to have contaminants or a poorly machined heatsink cause cpu temps 10-20C over potential. That'd be my first candidate.

Did you go through a lapping process when it was assembled? Have you removed the heatsink since that time?

The problem could also be some other area of the board, including RAM or chipset. Someimes a manufacturer will release a BIOS update that helps in marginal conditions. Have you checked for progress in this area? It could even be a video card problem.

For monitoring, I still use MBM most of the time. It would be my first choice. The author stopped development but it works well if your board is supported. If not, boards often include monitoring software now. Dig around on the driver CD or the manufacturer website driver/software download section. Otherwise, there are several like speedfan, etc, that work okay depending on your motherboard.

zero2 · 01-16-2005, 06:43 PM

I too have had this same issue. My suggestion is to clean out the dust from all your components, and keep all you pci cards evenly spaced out. Next reapply some artic silver. In my case, my processor got so hot that all the thermal compound was dried up, and reapplying artic silver solved the solution.

soccerchamp76 · 01-17-2005, 12:59 AM

Try making sure your fans are all in the right direction.
Point in case, have front intake fans drawing cool air inside the case and then rear exhaust fans taking the hot air outside of the case. If you have 8 fans but they are working against each other, they won't do that much work.
Try re-applying your thermal compound, but not too much.
How is the temperature around your computer? Is it near a heater or heat source?

Dragonlich · 01-17-2005, 11:52 AM

One thing I'd also look at, is the power supply. Too much heat going in, and too little going out = power fluctuations = crash. If it's a high-quality product, removing dust may be enough; if it's a cheap generic model, you might want to check out a new one.

But that last option comes *after* you tried everything else (such as CPU coolers)...

Willravel · 01-17-2005, 01:05 PM

I just built a small radiator into my friends Alienware comp. If you need it even colder than a radiator can deilver, go with freeon tubes. You can buy comp radiators here and there, but freeon cooling is a custom job.

Halx · 01-17-2005, 03:04 PM

soccerchamp, I had it set up like that before. Guess what. Last night, I flipped all the fans around. Dropped the temp from 50C idle to 39C idle.

Go figure.

soccerchamp76 · 01-18-2005, 12:10 AM

So, the fans were turned in the right direction when the heating problems showed up, or did you have them facing the wrong way when the heat problems showed up?

Dragonlich · 01-18-2005, 12:04 PM

How are they set up right now?

Theoretically, you'd want air going into the case at the front, and out of the case at the rear. However, there are situations where extra air blowing into the case from the rear is a good thing. Potentially, a fan might be blowing right over the CPU cooler, or the extra air pressure might lead to extra cooling for the PSU.

It all depends on the situation, after all.

01-16-2005, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	CPU/Case Cooling - Drastic Measures I'm looking for some effective methods of cooling my computer down. I've been fairly removed from the whole hardware scene for a while, so I'm not sure what's out there nowadays. What are my options? I've got an aluminum case with several high speed fans blowing air on my hard drives and sucking it off my CPU. This doesn't seem to be helping much as my programs frequently crash out of the blue. I know this is a heat issue because when I take measures to REALLY cool things down (much hassle and noise) they dont crash anymore. I'd also like a suggestion on a CPU temp monitoring tool. It would help a bit right now. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

01-16-2005, 02:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
wraithhibn Dopefish Location: the 'Ville	For temp monitoring you need to use MDM, its the best I've found and it shows up down in the systray. http://mbm.livewiredev.com/ __________________ If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

01-16-2005, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	well if this has developed over time i would dust the whole computer... take off the heat sink and clean out between all the blades on it... clean the fan really well all that stuff... but theres always upgrading the heatsink... dont know what hardware your running so its hard to recomend one... and theres watercooling if you wanna go that route... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

01-17-2005, 12:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Try making sure your fans are all in the right direction. Point in case, have front intake fans drawing cool air inside the case and then rear exhaust fans taking the hot air outside of the case. If you have 8 fans but they are working against each other, they won't do that much work. Try re-applying your thermal compound, but not too much. How is the temperature around your computer? Is it near a heater or heat source? __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

01-17-2005, 03:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	soccerchamp, I had it set up like that before. Guess what. Last night, I flipped all the fans around. Dropped the temp from 50C idle to 39C idle. Go figure. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

01-16-2005, 03:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
chance Tilted	http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Oakland/8259/ This is mobile meter. I use it and it works well. (also for temp monitoring)

01-16-2005, 04:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
belkins Tilted Location: Salt Lake City	Most BIOS's nowadays have a temperature sensor built-in. When the computer reaches a predetermined temperature it will shutdown. It's good to have a monitoring utility on your desktop but I would set it in the BIOS as well for safe measure.

01-16-2005, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	halx, it sounds like you have the airflow handled. At some point you get dimishing returns (and stoopid noise levels) adding more to make up for other problems. What cpu and what temps is the BIOS reporting from the health monitoring section? How comfortable are you with the heatsink/fan and the heatsink to cpu junction? I'd go with jStrider on this. It's not uncommon to have contaminants or a poorly machined heatsink cause cpu temps 10-20C over potential. That'd be my first candidate. Did you go through a lapping process when it was assembled? Have you removed the heatsink since that time? The problem could also be some other area of the board, including RAM or chipset. Someimes a manufacturer will release a BIOS update that helps in marginal conditions. Have you checked for progress in this area? It could even be a video card problem. For monitoring, I still use MBM most of the time. It would be my first choice. The author stopped development but it works well if your board is supported. If not, boards often include monitoring software now. Dig around on the driver CD or the manufacturer website driver/software download section. Otherwise, there are several like speedfan, etc, that work okay depending on your motherboard.

01-16-2005, 06:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
zero2 Junkie	I too have had this same issue. My suggestion is to clean out the dust from all your components, and keep all you pci cards evenly spaced out. Next reapply some artic silver. In my case, my processor got so hot that all the thermal compound was dried up, and reapplying artic silver solved the solution.

01-17-2005, 11:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	One thing I'd also look at, is the power supply. Too much heat going in, and too little going out = power fluctuations = crash. If it's a high-quality product, removing dust may be enough; if it's a cheap generic model, you might want to check out a new one. But that last option comes after you tried everything else (such as CPU coolers)...

01-17-2005, 01:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I just built a small radiator into my friends Alienware comp. If you need it even colder than a radiator can deilver, go with freeon tubes. You can buy comp radiators here and there, but freeon cooling is a custom job.

01-18-2005, 12:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	So, the fans were turned in the right direction when the heating problems showed up, or did you have them facing the wrong way when the heat problems showed up? __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

01-18-2005, 12:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	How are they set up right now? Theoretically, you'd want air going into the case at the front, and out of the case at the rear. However, there are situations where extra air blowing into the case from the rear is a good thing. Potentially, a fan might be blowing right over the CPU cooler, or the extra air pressure might lead to extra cooling for the PSU. It all depends on the situation, after all.