Cooling

seekermeister · 03 Jul 2011

I finally got around to moving my Cooler Master Hyper TX3 to my new rig, replacing the stock fan, but I'm not impressed with the temperature difference. With the stock fan, I was running @ 36 degrees idle, and 56 degrees loaded. With the CM cooler I'm getting 34 degrees idle, and 54 degrees loaded...not much of a difference. At least not nearly as much as I got with that cooler on my old rig.

I have been wanting to experiment with some minor overclocking tweaks...primarily with the RAM, but since the max temp on this processor is only 62 degrees, I'm not comfortable with the idea. I don't even like it that close to max without overclocking.

Therefore, I'm considering something different in cooling, but am not sure what? Is there a fan type cooler that would make much of a difference over what I have? Would water cooling the CPU make that much of a difference? I would like to get the loaded temp down 20 degrees below max, if possible.

Coke Robot · 03 Jul 2011

Sometimes installing two case fans with really decent airflow (like 120mm or larger fans) will aid in getting the hotter air out. Also, replacing thermal paste can help.

Water cooling will definitely be the best solution if you want very cool temps with overclocking.

Maxwell · 03 Jul 2011

You are running pretty hot. I would suggest making your wire management inside of your case better, and upgrading your case fans. See what that does for you first, then if you don't get good results, look into possibly getting a better HSF, as the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 is sorta low end.

Sardonicus · 03 Jul 2011

In performance, I suspect that the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 is not going to be that much better than the stock cooler.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus is probably more what you're looking for.
Two 120mm fans can be mounted.

Maxwell · 03 Jul 2011

If your going to spend that kind of money, I would go ahead and just get a Thermaltake SpinQ, or a Cooler Master H50 if you wanted to go the watercooling route.

Newegg.com - Thermaltake SpinQ Performance Series cooler with ultra-lightweight aluminum and six heatpipes CL-P0466 CPU Cooler

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CWCH50-1 High Performance CPU Cooler

seekermeister · 03 Jul 2011

Coke Robot said:

Sometimes installing two case fans with really decent airflow (like 120mm or larger fans) will aid in getting the hotter air out. Also, replacing thermal paste can help.

Water cooling will definitely be the best solution if you want very cool temps with overclocking.

Not sure what you mean by "case" fans, because I already have 3 x 200mm, 1 x 140, 1 x 120 case fans, plus a Noctua NF-B9 92 mm fan on the CPU cooler. I could add a second one, but I'm not sure that would help very much, because that Noctua is supposed to put out 64.3 m3/hours...whatever that works out to in CFM.

seekermeister · 03 Jul 2011

Maxwell said:

You are running pretty hot. I would suggest making your wire management inside of your case better, and upgrading your case fans. See what that does for you first, then if you don't get good results, look into possibly getting a better HSF, as the Cooler Master Hyper TX3 is sorta low end.

Cable management is not an issue.

seekermeister · 03 Jul 2011

For me to make any kind of intelligent decision, I don't need to know which is the best method of cooling, because I already have a fair idea of that, but I need to know how much of a difference in temps to expect from the alternatives?

Coke Robot · 03 Jul 2011

seekermeister said:

Coke Robot said:

Sometimes installing two case fans with really decent airflow (like 120mm or larger fans) will aid in getting the hotter air out. Also, replacing thermal paste can help.

Water cooling will definitely be the best solution if you want very cool temps with overclocking.

Not sure what you mean by "case" fans, because I already have 3 x 200mm, 1 x 140, 1 x 120 case fans, plus a Noctua NF-B9 92 mm fan on the CPU cooler. I could add a second one, but I'm not sure that would help very much, because that Noctua is supposed to put out 64.3 m3/hours...whatever that works out to in CFM.

Ohh, did not see that, my bad! Yeah, it does look like either a different heatsink would help or going with water cooling.

Coke Robot · 03 Jul 2011

seekermeister said:

For me to make any kind of intelligent decision, I don't need to know which is the best method of cooling, because I already have a fair idea of that, but I need to know how much of a difference in temps to expect from the alternatives?

I've seen once an overclocked i7 processor with water cooling that maxed around 47 degrees C under load. With air, that would be WAY higher.