PC cooling thread.

[bneck]

Side fans are very useful. They help bring cool air directly to the CPU or GPU. If your CPU and GPU are doing great, then don't unnecessarily spend on fans which will only make more noise and bring in more dust. But if either GPU/CPU are overheating on heavy load then it would be wise to consider a fan.

 

 

ok, thanks . Things look fine so far so I think i'll leave it as is.

[ALPHA17]

Bneck, do you have any filters on the side?

 

I would suggest you have three intake fans (two / one front and one / two on the side panel) and two exhaust fans (one on top and one at the rear above I/O slot).

[bneck]

yea three dust filters – the top, rear and right side have one. The left side (facing the graphics card) doesn't if I remember correctly.

[piper]

Airflow in my cabinet is severely restricted due to octopus tentacles-like wires of the PSU. Fan setup

 

 

Intake :

Front 120mm, at the lower part of the cabinet face. Filter : factory fitted

Side 80mm, just below the GPU. Filter : plastic mesh (jugaad)

 

Exhaust :

Rear 120mm, facing CPU heatsink (Hyper 212 Evo). Filter : none

Top 120mm, just above the CPU heatsink/fan. Filter : factory fitted.

 

The exhaust fan at the rear starts blowing out really warm air after about 15-20 minutes of gaming.

 

My planned action :

I should replace all except top filter with something else (plastic mesh) because The factory fitted air filters block airflow IMO

Side fan should be 120mm as well. I would prefer to place it at bottom, but the wires from PSU block that one.

Remove the top 120mm fan and place it on the heatsink in a pull configuration, and it would face the rear exhaust directly.

 

 

Suggestions?

[RD274]

Is your system really heating up? Wouldn't recommend you do any of this as you practically won't see any improvement except perhaps 1-2c at CPU because of the pushpull config and even that is hardly worth the trouble. I, however do recommend you upgrade your side fan to 120mm. It may throw in only slightly more air but will be wayyyyyy more quieter than the existing 90mm fan.

[piper]

Is your system really heating up? Wouldn't recommend you do any of this as you practically won't see any improvement except perhaps 1-2c at CPU because of the pushpull config and even that is hardly worth the trouble. I, however do recommend you upgrade your side fan to 120mm. It may throw in only slightly more air but will be wayyyyyy more quieter than the existing 90mm fan.

 

Not satisfied with the CPU/GPU load temps.

[ALPHA17]

yea three dust filters – the top, rear and right side have one. The left side (facing the graphics card) doesn't if I remember correctly.

 

Then improvise one. Don't attach an intake fan without a dust filter.

Airflow in my cabinet is severely restricted due to octopus tentacles-like wires of the PSU. Fan setup

 

Improve the wire management, I know this is a pain and the way I am saying it is not very helpful but well routed wires will mean air circulation improvements which should improve the thermals.

 

For how to do wire management, effectively on these without breaking the bank, I suggest the following thread.

My planned action :

I should replace all except top filter with something else (plastic mesh) because The factory fitted air filters block airflow IMO -- Good call. I did a similar operation on my cabinet. The rear and top exhaust also cause air-flow issues because they fight to exhaust the same air.

Side fan should be 120mm as well. I would prefer to place it at bottom, but the wires from PSU block that one. -- Strict no-no. Worst position for a fan because of the amount of air that will be ingested from the bottom (no filter)

Remove the top 120mm fan and place it on the heatsink in a pull configuration, and it would face the rear exhaust directly. -- Good call. Although before any of this, clean the fan and the heatsink of any dust that has been deposited. Best way to do this is by washing the heatsink with warm water (Genteel solution) and blow drying it. You can even use an old tooth brush to remove any residue.

 

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

 

Been a lazy bugger but about a week ago, I decided to look at my handiwork of jugaad air-filters put inside the case by me and these are the results,

 

[WhiteWolf]

Alpha

 

What is this "Distance to TJ Max" in Real Temp app?

 

My TJ max temp is around 58-62 right now...Was playing AC4 ... Is this temp..normal?

[Heaven Angel]

Distance to Thermal Junction Max. If the CPU reaches TJMax temperature, it'll throttle itself to prevent damage.

 

As your CPU heats up, your Distance to TJMax will decrease. As it approaches zero your processor will start to throttle or slow down so obviously maximizing your distance away from TJMax will help your computer run at full speed and more reliably too.

 

Absolute Core Temperature = TJMax - DTS

 

What's your current temperature?

[WhiteWolf]

It was around 64 when i was playing AC4 and 58-60 when i was playing Skyrim with ENB Mod ...Right now it's around 70

[ALPHA17]

What is this "Distance to TJ Max" in Real Temp app?

 

My TJ max temp is around 58-62 right now...Was playing AC4 ... Is this temp..normal?

 

TJ Max is the maximum certified temperature of operation for your PC.

 

The distance to it equals the difference between what your processors current temperature(s) and the maximum limit, the higher it is, the better.

 

The lower it is, the closer your PC is to its thermal limit.

 

Pretty good difference you getting. In the thick of winters it might plummet further.

[Heaven Angel]

It was around 64 when i was playing AC4 and 58-60 when i was playing Skyrim with ENB Mod ...Right now it's around 70

Nothing to worry.

 

I spent months at 100°C before getting a cooler.

 

Currently it's ~42°C while playing Battlefield 4.

(Tj. Max 98°C)

[WhiteWolf]

 

 

Been a lazy bugger but about a week ago, I decided to look at my handiwork of jugaad air-filters put inside the case by me and these are the results,

 

 

 

hehee Nice...

[thatbrowndude]

Need a cooling pad for my Alienware 14, under 2k. Will the cooling pad actually cause an increase in performance? [debatable, I know. Would like to know from someone who has used them]

The laptop tends to get pretty warm while gaming

[thatbrowndude]

Nothing to worry.

 

I spent months at 100°C before getting a cooler.

 

Currently it's ~42°C while playing Battlefield 4.

(Tj. Max 98°C)

My GPU temps went upto 60-ish while playing BF4. 52 when idle. Is that normal?

[mango_man]

also posting here cuz am panicking

 

KILL ME NOW

Did a blunder. Huge a*s stupidity. In short- Was cleaning my PC thoroughly and so removed cpu fan and saw some 'greasy grayish residue' on the processor as well as the copper bottom of the cpu fan (that touches the cpu). I thought it was dirt and I scratched it off (softly) with the back of my nail, yes, BACK OF MY NAIL.

Then later I switched on the PC and randomly googled 'greasy residue on CPU' or somwthing like that and found out I had just totally scratched off THERMAL PASTE with my nails.

Now I am panicking cuz basically I dont know what thermal paste is or how crucial is it to be there on the cpu and fan's bottom that touches the CPU i guess. The PC is working absolutely fine though. No problems whatsoever. But I am scared cuz:

1. By using nails to scratch off the paste, did I damage the CPU majorly? Or is the backside just the backside? (I could see some scratches i caused on the CPU's back, mild scratches, but scratches. I saw 'how to remove thermal paste' videos and there they are using special cloth and special liquid and what not and I used my damned nails!

2. Did I void my cpu warranty?

3. There is no thermal paste on the CPU or the CPU's fan now, will things catch fire? NO but really, what to do now? Buy thermal paste online and apply? From where? Which? Price? Please dont be costly :l

4. How can I be so stupid?

5. Anything else you would like to inform/suggest me now? (Like should I not switch on PC til I apply new paste/ not do heavy tasks like gaming that heat up my system/anthing else)

My cpu is Intel i7 3770 (non K). And the CPU fan is the stock one I got with the CPU. Let me know if any other info is needed.

And, duh, HELP!

[ALPHA17]

Will the cooling pad actually cause an increase in performance?

 

No increase in performance, this is not calcium or Vitamin B supplements you are feeding your laptop. This will keep the temperatures in line, thereby improving the stability and longevity of the laptop. Nothing more.

 

You might notice smoother frame rates as well because of lower temperatures and concurrently lesser throttling of performance.

My GPU temps went upto 60-ish while playing BF4. 52 when idle. Is that normal?

 

What GPU do you have in the laptop?

 

Reasonable temperatures according to me.

 

Check out these options @flipkart.

1. By using nails to scratch off the paste, did I damage the CPU majorly? Or is the backside just the backside? (I could see some scratches i caused on the CPU's back, mild scratches, but scratches. I saw 'how to remove thermal paste' videos and there they are using special cloth and special liquid and what not and I used my damned nails!

 

No, although I suggest you use a normal rag and a little bit of rubbing alcohol / surgical spirits next time you plan to clean your PC. No scratches, smells better and it removes the 'residue / greasy deposits' easily.

2. Did I void my cpu warranty?

 

No. Although they might ask you the cause of the scratches when you put it in for RMA.

3. There is no thermal paste on the CPU or the CPU's fan now, will things catch fire? NO but really, what to do now? Buy thermal paste online and apply? From where? Which? Price? Please dont be costly :l

 

Maybe not now because lower ambient temperatures in winter.

 

Summers it will definitely result in a spike.

 

Depends on the Thermal Interface Material you purchase, it can be reasonable to reasonably expensive.

 

Your options for purchasing TIM are,

• Prime ABGB (Arctic Silver 5 is good stuff although you have to be careful whilst applying it, if it comes into contact with any other component things might short circuit)
• The IT Depot (Don't know how good or bad the Antec compound is, although because it is not metal based should be easier to apply, avoid the cheap stuff from the other brands)

How to apply, @Benchmark reviews.

 

4. How can I be so stupid?

 

Ask yourself.

5. Anything else you would like to inform/suggest me now? (Like should I not switch on PC til I apply new paste/ not do heavy tasks like gaming that heat up my system/anthing else)

 

Suggest you apply TIM as per the instructions I have already linked. Also which stuff is worth purchasing has also been mentioned.

 

Ideally, this works best when the paste has broken in. Depending on the base (metallic, ceramic, silicone) material of the TIM this can be between ~1 hours -->200 hours after application after which you will see the temperatures drop by another 1° -->5°C.

 

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

[mango_man]

 

No increase in performance, this is not calcium or Vitamin B supplements you are feeding your laptop. This will keep the temperatures in line, thereby improving the stability and longevity of the laptop. Nothing more.

 

You might notice smoother frame rates as well because of lower temperatures and concurrently lesser throttling of performance.

 

What GPU do you have in the laptop?

 

Reasonable temperatures according to me.

 

Check out these options @flipkart.

 

No, although I suggest you use a normal rag and a little bit of rubbing alcohol / surgical spirits next time you plan to clean your PC. No scratches, smells better and it removes the 'residue / greasy deposits' easily.

 

No. Although they might ask you the cause of the scratches when you put it in for RMA.

 

Maybe not now because lower ambient temperatures in winter.

 

Summers it will definitely result in a spike.

 

Depends on the Thermal Interface Material you purchase, it can be reasonable to reasonably expensive.

 

Your options for purchasing TIM are,

• Prime ABGB (Arctic Silver 5 is good stuff although you have to be careful whilst applying it, if it comes into contact with any other component things might short circuit)
• The IT Depot (Don't know how good or bad the Antec compound is, although because it is not metal based should be easier to apply, avoid the cheap stuff from the other brands)

How to apply, @Benchmark reviews.

 

 

Ask yourself.

 

Suggest you apply TIM as per the instructions I have already linked. Also which stuff is worth purchasing has also been mentioned.

 

Ideally, this works best when the paste has broken in. Depending on the base (metallic, ceramic, silicone) material of the TIM this can be between ~1 hours -->200 hours after application after which you will see the temperatures drop by another 1° -->5°C.

 

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

Thanks so much man..

 

So what next if not Arctic silver 5? Something cheaper yet good? Under 400 Can you suggest something?

 

Not even Deepcool Z5? - http://www.theitdepot.com/details-Deepcool+Z5+Thermal+Paste++3.0g_C10P14280.html

 

I know I am being cheap but this is something I didnt even imagine i'd be spending money on :/

[ALPHA17]

So what next if not Arctic silver 5? Something cheaper yet good? Under 400 Can you suggest something?

 

You will have to head to Lamington Rd., find out if Tuniq paste's are available there. Nothing cheaper, otherwise I suggest you pony up the extra monies for the Arctic Silver 5 / Cooler Master ThermalFusion 400.

 

You won't use the full 3.5 gm tube in one go, it is good for ~3 -->5 applications depending on how well you manage and not waste.

[mango_man]

 

You will have to head to Lamington Rd., find out if Tuniq paste's are available there. Nothing cheaper, otherwise I suggest you pony up the extra monies for the Arctic Silver 5 / Cooler Master ThermalFusion 400.

 

You won't use the full 3.5 gm tube in one go, it is good for ~3 -->5 applications depending on how well you manage and not waste.

cool i'm just ordering arctic silver 5 online thenn f**k it.. i f**kd up n now i have to pay

 

so lastly, go with Arctic Silver 5 or Cooler Master ThermalFusion 400? U say...