Cooling opinions...

[SnakeCharmer]

Using an Antec 900 case, which has the top 220mm fan, one rear 120mm fan, two front 120mm fans.  Components are (if it matters): 2x8800GTS G92 512MB, Q6600 (overclocked to 3.0Ghz - idle temps 38-40c, load temps (Prime95) are 58-60c at ambient temp of 28c, 90 percent humdity), 4GB RAM.

Question 1:  Are those temps out of the ordinary?
Question 2:  The case has a spot for a side fan, and I've had a 120mm fan installed blowing air IN onto the video cards / cpu.  Is this causing a buffetting (sp?) effect?  Should I remove it or change it to where it sucks air OUT of the case? 

My thinking is that it should blow in to the case, otherwise I'd end up with it fighting the CPU fan/heatsink that is trying to push air through the heatsink reeds. 

Right now, all the fans are set to medium speed, which is LOUD.  I'd like to drop them down to low (and remove the side fan since there is no speed control for it).  Is a couple degrees going to make THAT much difference in performance?  The vid cards get up to about 51-55c IIRC under stress with the fan on 41 percent.  I think I could drop the main system fans down to low, and bump the GPU fans up a bit to acceptable noise levels and still get good temps.

[Hawkbit]

By defalut, the 900 has two 120s blowing IN front and one 120 blowing OUT back.  The side fan in my 900 blows out to even the flow to 2n2, but honestly those temps don't seem *that* far off.  We've got nearly the same rig, aside from my 1 8800gtx and I'm not OC'n the cpu. 

Maybe we can stockpile the dust these 900s horde and make something out of it.... I've got enough in mine to build a small house. 

[Morfiend]

I have that same case. I can check my temps tonight when I get home from work. I seem to recall my temps are around there, but it has been a while so not sure.

Personally as far as fans go, I like to have the front and side sucking, and the top and back blowing. You might want to make sure, which direction yours are going as when I got my case all the fans where sucking in.

[Trippy]

What is your CPU cooler and what is the model/maker of your 8800GTSes?

[Lantyssa]

With my setup my CPUs don't quite hit 50°C when running my system all out.  Only 30-34°C idle.  Considering I have one of those nice direct touch heat-pipe tower coolers, the cooler running Q9300 (not OC'd), and good air flow, I would say your temps are decent.  Moreso if you're running stock cooling.

Still, I'll defer to Trippy once you answer his questions.

[SnakeCharmer]

I have that same case. I can check my temps tonight when I get home from work. I seem to recall my temps are around there, but it has been a while so not sure.

Personally as far as fans go, I like to have the front and side sucking, and the top and back blowing. You might want to make sure, which direction yours are going as when I got my case all the fans where sucking in.

Aye, that's the way it's set up.  Front two suck in, rear and top blows out.  The side fan did suck air in, but I just took it out and am running prime95 in the background rechecking my temps with it gone.

What is your CPU cooler and what is the model/maker of your 8800GTSes?

Cooler: Thermaltake P0326 fan/heatsink
8800GTS:  XFX model PVT88GYDF4
Mobo:  Asus P5N-D 750i SLI

I'm running the FSB unlinked, with it set to 1333 mhz.  Voltages are vcore at 1.42v, NB and HT at 1.48v, SB at 1.58v

With my setup my CPUs don't quite hit 50°C when running my system all out.  Only 30-34°C idle.  Considering I have one of those nice direct touch heat-pipe tower coolers, the cooler running Q9300 (not OC'd), and good air flow, I would say your temps are decent.  Moreso if you're running stock cooling.

Still, I'll defer to Trippy once you answer his questions.

I did like the fan you were using, if I remember right...Zalman, wasn't it?  I've been toying with getting that one or the one that had the 120mm fan in the middle of it, but really don't want to go through the hassle of tearing my system apart to install it.  But if it seriously drops the temps down (if indeed they are out of the ordinary), it's worth it. 

FWIW, I've not had any problems with any game or stress test.  This setup nearly ding'd 18K on 3dMark06, runs AoC at high/maxed settings without a hitch, as well as every other game I play.  More than anything, my concern is overall stability, long term survival, and piece of mind.

[Engels]

For a Q6600, those temps are a bit on the high side. What temp monitor are you using? Aparently SpeedFan is a good evaluator, since it gives both Core temps (Tjunction) and Tcase temps. Intel only rates by Tcase, and aparently, for the Q6600, the max supported is 62C.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9UM

This guide is a bit complicated to understand, but its worth the read since its pretty comprehensive:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/221745-29-core-quad-temperature-guide

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm using RealTemp. 

[Engels]

My CPU temp is underreported in RealTemp. Currently its saying I'm at 35C, but SpeeFan says my Tjunctions are at 40. Bear in mind that I have no AC and can't get ambient down below 30C or so, despite having a similar set up to your Antec 900 in terms of circulating air.

[SnakeCharmer]

Hrm.  So, who (or rather what) to believe.  I've used SpeedFan before, and it registered temps a couple to 3 degrees higher than RealTemp.  I've read elsewhere that RealTemp is more accurate than Speedfan, but your opinion is that Speedfan is more accurate.  Maybe I'll just take an average of the two and go with that, heh.

Edit:  Also, after reading the Toms Hardware thread, according to that guy, my temps are still in the safe zone.  So.  I dunno.  Guess I won't worry about it too much unless someone can give me more compelling reason to do so.

Nevertheless, appreciate the help.

[Trippy]

Edit:  Also, after reading the Toms Hardware thread, according to that guy, my temps are still in the safe zone.  So.  I dunno.  Guess I won't worry about it too much unless someone can give me more compelling reason to do so.

Nevertheless, appreciate the help.

If you had a better CPU cooler your CPU temps would almost certainly drop.

As for the fan arrangement/direction you just have to try the different combinations while monitoring the temps to see what gives you the best cool air airflow over the CPU cooler the GPU.

[SnakeCharmer]

So, I'm going to order this Zalman CNPS9500 tomorrow.  Not looking forward to tearing my rig apart, but oh well.

[Trippy]

That one is decent but there are better coolers available.

[SnakeCharmer]

OK.  If YOU were to spend 50-100 on an LGA775 cooler, what would you buy?  The only caveat is that it absolutely cannot be the push twist plastic tab crap. 

[Lantyssa]

I have the Xigmatek HDT-S1283.  (And it's a push-twist crap tab.  I read of someone getting a different mounting bracket for it though.)

That Zalman still ranks well on the Frostytech website and it'll fit a lot more easily.  I don't know if that site is the best, but it's the one I keep finding through other sources when looking for rankings.

[SnakeCharmer]

I really dig that Xigmatek that you have, if it weren't for the push twist tabs, I'd probably buy it.  I absolutely cannot stand those things.

[Trippy]

That Zalman still ranks well on the Frostytech website and it'll fit a lot more easily.  I don't know if that site is the best, but it's the one I keep finding through other sources when looking for rankings.

That one listed on the chart is the 110mm fan version, i.e. the 9700. Unfortunately it uses a non-standard fan that's not easily replaceable and it's somewhat noisy.

OK.  If YOU were to spend 50-100 on an LGA775 cooler, what would you buy?  The only caveat is that it absolutely cannot be the push twist plastic tab crap. 

I'm personally willing to sacrifice some cooling performance for quietness so my objectives might not be the same as yours. However if I was to get one I would go with something like this combo:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article842-page1.html

The Thermalright Ultra 120 (Extreme) has been a long time benchmark so for the sites that include that in their tests you can use it as a point of comparison.

[SnakeCharmer]

That is one massive fan/sink.  I'm not sure it would fit....

[Trippy]

It would be very odd if it didn't fit in the 900 case.

[Engels]

I have never understood the aversion to the push-to-insert, twist-to-remove intel cpu cooler mount. I understand that in some cases, the manufacturer doesn't make them well, so they are not well seated against the CPU chip, and that is problematic. However, I have the Xigmatek that Lantyssa mentions, and its a snug fit. It doesn't wobble or wiggle in the least. It has the humoungous bonus that you don't have to remove the motherboard.

I do prefer the ole 989 socket clamp type, but there again, some coolers are badly designed and that method can be a total PITA as well.

[Ralence]

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/lgbowiscsp.html

  Because the 775 pushpins are the devil.  Bracket goes under MB, creates 4 nuts in the holes, spring/screws bolt directly into it.  It also works with the HDT-S1283.  You just have to remove the 4 plastic pins with a small screwdriver, or be creative and use a nail file like I did yesterday.

[SnakeCharmer]

@ Engels:  I've got to remove the mobo anyway, because my current fan/sink is the screw/bracket type.

@ Ralence:  That looks like a plan.  Thanks!

[Sky]

I cook eggs on my 8800gtx.

[Jimbo]

Have any of you tried this one? DuOrb

[Lantyssa]

I have never understood the aversion to the push-to-insert, twist-to-remove intel cpu cooler mount. I understand that in some cases, the manufacturer doesn't make them well, so they are not well seated against the CPU chip, and that is problematic. However, I have the Xigmatek that Lantyssa mentions, and its a snug fit. It doesn't wobble or wiggle in the least. It has the humoungous bonus that you don't have to remove the motherboard.

I do prefer the ole 989 socket clamp type, but there again, some coolers are badly designed and that method can be a total PITA as well.

My heatsink was a PITA to install.  Half the tabs didn't fully click in and with my motherboard, I didn't have a lot of room to get decent leverage.  It took me thirty minutes to get the thing situated properly, and I had bruises on the tips of my fingers for days.

My fingers may not be all that strong, which did cause trouble, but most guys wouldn't have even been able to fit their hands in there.  So I'm with SnakeCharmer on them being the devil.  I'll go with that mounting bracket if I have to take the 'sink off again.

[rattran]

The ultra-120 extreme does fit in the 900 case, but you can't use the side fan with it. I know, as I had one.

And be prepared to lap the base to get decent temps. It's really REALLY rough out of the box.

[SnakeCharmer]

Lap the base?  Whodawhadduhhuh?

[rattran]

The base on all the ultra line I've seen have been insanely rough. My ultra-120 extreme was ground rough, and slightly concave, so it had a terrible contact with the cpu. I spent a few hours with various grit sandpaper (600/800/1200/2000) and a flat granite block lapping it. Temps went from 45c idle to damn close to ambient.

And I think Trippy is a witch, after posting my previous post I started hearing a squeal  from my Zalman hsf in this case. So I've just pulled everything apart, installed the vendetta2 that's been sitting on the shelf waiting for me to get around to ordering a 775 retention bracket. I hate the intel pushpin system, there's always something to get in the way. Now I have a matched set of 4 slices at a 1.5mm spacing on my knuckle. If my hands weren't so small I could never have gotten it on.

Plus side, it's running cooler.

[Engels]

My heatsink was a PITA to install.  Half the tabs didn't fully click in and with my motherboard, I didn't have a lot of room to get decent leverage.  It took me thirty minutes to get the thing situated properly, and I had bruises on the tips of my fingers for days.

My fingers may not be all that strong, which did cause trouble, but most guys wouldn't have even been able to fit their hands in there.  So I'm with SnakeCharmer on them being the devil.  I'll go with that mounting bracket if I have to take the 'sink off again.

I guess maybe I lucked out on my install, for whatever reason. Perhaps a new revision with better tooled inserts into the mobo holes or something. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a piece of cake, and I had to try 2-3 different times to get the pins to click in right, based on the sequence I used. I basically did the first two pins that were the hardest to insert first due to space limitations so I could then apply good pressure with room to manouver on the remaining two pins. I do have fat hands, and maybe that helped, since my pudgy thumb wouldn't slip off the top of the pin as easily as a dainty lady's would :)

Aaaanyway, if you have to take out the mobo anyway, definately get one that uses or can use a backplate. Much more solid adhesion to the cpu face.

[Sky]

[Lantyssa]

Nice try, but that wouldn't have helped.  Probably would have warped the plastic, too.

[Sky]

 

[Trippy]

Have any of you tried this one? DuOrb

God I hate Thermaltake.

Objectively speaking those dual 80mm fans are going to be much noiser than a 120mm fan. It doesn't look like there's all that much cooling surface area either.

[Trippy]

And I think Trippy is a witch, after posting my previous post I started hearing a squeal  from my Zalman hsf in this case.

I had to replace my 9500 about 6 months ago cause the fan starting whining after 2 years of pretty much non-stop operation (I rarely turn off my main rig).

[Jimbo]

God I hate Thermaltake.

Thanks, I'll go with the other one, cool got some nice cooling/heatsinks picked out for the ATI and Intel Processor now.