Would like help; critique of my case.

N

NeedaComputer

Member
This started with my troubles described here:
http://www.computerforum.com/165925-new-cpu-gpu-shuts-down-while-gaming.html

I'm pretty sure that I just need to go out and get a new HSF. I wouldn't mind suggestions there either.
I took some pictures of my rig. I am hoping for some advice on things I should change, (e.g. fan orientation, where my AUX temp sensor is from SpeedFan, or overall critique.) Thanks!

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Forgot to mention the picture with the extra fan wedged in there. I put that there as an exhaust and it seemed to lower my core temp and let me run SuperPi a little longer, but still did not stop the overheating.
 
what ize HDD is that???? oh and cut out a side ways trapezoid on the side and put in a blue LED fan in the middle 120 mm... dont try it if you dont know what ur doing
 
NeedaComputer said:
This started with my troubles described here:
http://www.computerforum.com/165925-new-cpu-gpu-shuts-down-while-gaming.html

I'm pretty sure that I just need to go out and get a new HSF. I wouldn't mind suggestions there either.
Click to expand...

As it was addressed in the other thread, it seems as if the HS is not enough for that CPU. So replacement of the cooler would be in order. That should solve the problems with the CPU overheat.

On the upper left side of the case panel, what is that port? Is there a fan in it or what?

It looks like you have a front 120. I might be concerned about getting airflow to it since it looks like the front bezel doesn't have any ports other than that small cutout under the bottom lip. But unless you want to do some modifying there isn't a whole bunch you can do about it.

The other thing is, why do you have the little exhaust fan in the back? It looks like it has the mountings for a 120 and if that is the case then put one there. Especially since you are running a higher heat CPU, you need to get the heat out of the case.

Between the 120 in the PSU and the 120 in the back you should have more than enough ventilation.

Recommendations:

Change the CPU cooler to a higher end unit
Replace the exhaust fan in the back with a 120

Anything more than that would require some case modifications.
 
Thanks for the questions and recommendations!

starlitjoker said:
what ize HDD is that???? oh and cut out a side ways trapezoid on the side and put in a blue LED fan in the middle 120 mm... dont try it if you dont know what ur doing
Click to expand...
That HDD is a 2.5" one I rescued from a WD Passport that had the usb board go bad. Not a bad deal for a free 160GB HDD. I was having trouble finding a place to mount it, and then I noticed I had some longer screws. So I mounted the side to the bottom most CD/DVD slots and then put legs on the bottom so it wouldn't stress the side mount.

schw32m said:
On the upper left side of the case panel, what is that port? Is there a fan in it or what?
Click to expand...
What I didn't have pictured what that the inside-side panel of the case does have a smaller (cpu size fan) opening with an adjustable conduit so the cpu supposedly can pull in fresh air from the side. I can't attest to how well this actually works. I may be better off taking the conduit off and moving the small rear exhaust to that side position and reverse it as an intake blowing onto the cpu area.
I was wondering about the front fan, as it seems that it does pull much air. I have been experimenting with it's position, but I think I'll move it back to the rear where it was.

Do you have any recommendations on specific coolers, brands, models, or maybe ones to stay away from? This is a socket AM2 cpu. Thanks again!
 
lol thats smart, i got a 2.5 sata drive i wanna put in my desktop from a old laptop thanks for the idea, is that a 3.5 to 2.5 sata cable to? or how did you set that up?
 
starlitjoker said:
lol thats smart, i got a 2.5 sata drive i wanna put in my desktop from a old laptop thanks for the idea, is that a 3.5 to 2.5 sata cable to? or how did you set that up?
Click to expand...

The SATA Power and Data connections on the back of my 2.5" HDD are the same as any other 3.5" SATA HDD. I'm pretty sure that if your laptop drive is a SATA HDD, then it will have the same size connections as mine. I just hooked it up like it was another hard drive (in this case, it was my third, so I plugged it into the SATA3 port.) My PSU only has 2 SATA power connections, so I had to use a Molex(4-pin)>SATA adapter for one of my drives. Then in Windows XP I reformatted it to NTFS using Windows Disk Management.
I was able to use the side mounts on the HDD to screw it into the side wall of the CD/DVD area of my case, bottom most rail. Then I used the underside mounts (as you can see in the picture) to screw in the "adjustable height legs."
I put screws into the opposite side mounts as well (pictured) to take up space because the screws I used for the "legs" are pretty much extended as long as they can go, (I could only engage a few threads before it was too short.) So that's why I put the other screws in the side, so that I could tighten the legs so they wouldn't wobble.
I wonder if you could fit two 2.5" drives side-by-side in the cd/dvd space, and I wonder if you could stack them up as well? I have 3 more 2.5"s but they are only 40GB each and I have only one more open SATA. I suppose I could fit one more in if I could find another Molex>Sata power adapter.
 
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NeedaComputer said:
Do you have any recommendations on specific coolers, brands, models, or maybe ones to stay away from? This is a socket AM2 cpu. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Not really. There would be others on here who might be able to do so better than I. I generally pick them by dimensions and use. If I'm going to OC I'll go a little higher end. Otherwise I go with the recommended stock or aftermarket cooler, pick a max price and get the highest rated from user reviews from there.
 
schw32m said:
Not really. There would be others on here who might be able to do so better than I. I generally pick them by dimensions and use. If I'm going to OC I'll go a little higher end. Otherwise I go with the recommended stock or aftermarket cooler, pick a max price and get the highest rated from user reviews from there.
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I was doing, and newegg has a deal on this one that has a high rating and many reviews. I might just have to go ahead and order this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

OvenMaster said:
The fan in this pic is far too small. If that's an 80mm fan, put a 120 in there and close up those gaps... those are major-league air leaks!
Click to expand...
Last night I switched up the fans. I put my 120mm on the rear as exhaust. I then removed the conduit on the side panel and put that 80mm fan as intake blowing onto the cpu fan area. Just by doing this, my idle dropped from 23-25°C to 18°C. I was able to run SuperPi to 1M and keep it under 50°C. I still can't finish 2M on both cores without errors so I will be purchasing a new HSF, mentioned above.
 
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