Cooling my PC ( an 8-day test of Arctic Silver 5)

Larry_OHF · 11-28-2006, 12:23 PM

As many of you know, I bought a GeForce 6600 recently to replace a beaten-up Geforce III. This was causing the PC to overheat during gaming such as playing the Undermountain mod. despite the many fans that I have for intake and output. This prompted me to make two purchases. I first bought a specialty fan, a StarTech PC expansion slot video card cooling fan. It sits under my video card, right under the card's own fan and sucks all the air off of it and blows it out the back. The second thing I bought was a syringe of Arctic Silver 5. I have not yet applied this to my processor and card, because I want to see how well the fan is doing on its own.

This was the cheapest way for me to improve cooling to my system ($20), as I am not looking to keep this build much longer. I just needed it to go a little longer and let me have about 6 more months of good operation.

[ 12-07-2006, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Bozos of Bones · 11-28-2006, 12:43 PM

Are you asking something or just bragging? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
I've found that it's always better to design quality airflow than to just throw money at it. While designing your airflow, keep in mind the things you cannot change(PSU fan, GPU fan if it has an outside intake/blowout), the case geometry(a thick front grill usually means no front intake) and heating components placement.

Larry_OHF · 11-28-2006, 02:14 PM

Twas a post to see what comments or questions would get thrown at it based on one's personal feelings on the matter at hand.

See? You even gave me a comment I can count as useful feedback...and I did not even have to ask a question.

SpiritWarrior · 11-28-2006, 02:28 PM

I think Clay's hands have been in alot more places than he'd have Kelly believe.

Wow, the comment thing works. Hope that one was useful!

ZFR · 11-28-2006, 03:36 PM

So would asking you whether or not this post would count as a useful comment?

Hivetyrant · 11-28-2006, 03:37 PM

What sort of case are you using Larry? Mid tower or full tower?

I find the "science" of PC cooling quite interesting as it's much more complicated than most people think.

And btw, good choice with the Arctic silver

Sever · 11-28-2006, 11:27 PM

Interesting topic. I've recently had to remove the sides from my case due to poor airflow and subsequent lack of cooling. Funnily enough, my computer is positioned directly below an air conditioner (one that spits ice! No joke.) and it's still not staying cool during the day. The standard cooling for an X2 3800+/7800 GT just can't cope with our summers. And it's not even summer yet!

Larry_OHF · 11-28-2006, 11:58 PM

I gotta full tower. It has exaust from the top, the panel-side, and the back. Intake from the front-bottom. I now have an additional output from the back with my new fan.

Hey...at Radio Shack of all places, I saw a really cool setup with a window-panel and the processor fan was as large as my video card! There were four huge fans in there, and they had speed controls on the front panel! It was all lit up with purple and yellow lights and made me drool a little.

[ 11-28-2006, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Ultra Marine · 11-29-2006, 02:04 AM

Fan on the video card helps. Make sure its tightly fitted and artic cooled.

Important to have good case design. Assuming tower case, make sure you have fan that sucks hot air our on the top of the tower and another fan that sucks cool air in from the bottom.

Air cond room helps but not necessary.

I'm not so sure if it is a good idea to open the case as this does not create good air flow.

After doing the above and the card still overheats then you might be having a faulty card. Or the temp sensor on the card might be faulty.

Hope this helps

Griefmaker · 11-29-2006, 10:48 AM

I agree that the Artic Silver was a good choice. We use different types of artic silver at the company I work at for all of our tools. I think that Artic Silver 3 would have actually been a "slightly" better choice than artic silver 5 (we have found better heat transfer with AS3 than AS5--approx .09 degC/W from our experiments), but I believe that artic silver 3 is more expensive. In any case any artic silver is better than most thermal greases out there, so I applaud your decision.

11-28-2006, 12:23 PM	#1
Larry_OHF Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Midlands, South Carolina Age: 49 Posts: 14,759	As many of you know, I bought a GeForce 6600 recently to replace a beaten-up Geforce III. This was causing the PC to overheat during gaming such as playing the Undermountain mod. despite the many fans that I have for intake and output. This prompted me to make two purchases. I first bought a specialty fan, a StarTech PC expansion slot video card cooling fan. It sits under my video card, right under the card's own fan and sucks all the air off of it and blows it out the back. The second thing I bought was a syringe of Arctic Silver 5. I have not yet applied this to my processor and card, because I want to see how well the fan is doing on its own. This was the cheapest way for me to improve cooling to my system ($20), as I am not looking to keep this build much longer. I just needed it to go a little longer and let me have about 6 more months of good operation. [ 12-07-2006, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ] __________________

11-28-2006, 12:43 PM	#2
Bozos of Bones Apophis Join Date: July 29, 2003 Location: The Underdark cavern of Zagreb Age: 38 Posts: 4,679	Are you asking something or just bragging? [img]tongue.gif[/img] I've found that it's always better to design quality airflow than to just throw money at it. While designing your airflow, keep in mind the things you cannot change(PSU fan, GPU fan if it has an outside intake/blowout), the case geometry(a thick front grill usually means no front intake) and heating components placement. __________________ MAKE LOVE, NOT SPAM!

11-28-2006, 02:14 PM	#3
Larry_OHF Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Midlands, South Carolina Age: 49 Posts: 14,759	Twas a post to see what comments or questions would get thrown at it based on one's personal feelings on the matter at hand. See? You even gave me a comment I can count as useful feedback...and I did not even have to ask a question. __________________

11-28-2006, 02:28 PM	#4
SpiritWarrior Jack Burton Join Date: May 31, 2002 Location: Ireland Posts: 5,854	I think Clay's hands have been in alot more places than he'd have Kelly believe. Wow, the comment thing works. Hope that one was useful! __________________ Still I feel like a child when I look at the moon, maybe I grew up a little too soon...

11-28-2006, 03:36 PM	#5
ZFR Legion Symbol Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: Ireland Age: 40 Posts: 7,368	So would asking you whether or not this post would count as a useful comment? __________________ ZFR

11-28-2006, 03:37 PM	#6
Hivetyrant Jack Burton Join Date: August 24, 2002 Location: Aussie now in the US of A! Age: 38 Posts: 5,403	What sort of case are you using Larry? Mid tower or full tower? I find the "science" of PC cooling quite interesting as it's much more complicated than most people think. And btw, good choice with the Arctic silver

11-28-2006, 11:27 PM	#7
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Interesting topic. I've recently had to remove the sides from my case due to poor airflow and subsequent lack of cooling. Funnily enough, my computer is positioned directly below an air conditioner (one that spits ice! No joke.) and it's still not staying cool during the day. The standard cooling for an X2 3800+/7800 GT just can't cope with our summers. And it's not even summer yet! __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

11-28-2006, 11:58 PM	#8
Larry_OHF Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Midlands, South Carolina Age: 49 Posts: 14,759	I gotta full tower. It has exaust from the top, the panel-side, and the back. Intake from the front-bottom. I now have an additional output from the back with my new fan. Hey...at Radio Shack of all places, I saw a really cool setup with a window-panel and the processor fan was as large as my video card! There were four huge fans in there, and they had speed controls on the front panel! It was all lit up with purple and yellow lights and made me drool a little. [ 11-28-2006, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ] __________________

11-29-2006, 02:04 AM	#9
Ultra Marine The Magister Join Date: December 27, 2005 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 131	Fan on the video card helps. Make sure its tightly fitted and artic cooled. Important to have good case design. Assuming tower case, make sure you have fan that sucks hot air our on the top of the tower and another fan that sucks cool air in from the bottom. Air cond room helps but not necessary. I'm not so sure if it is a good idea to open the case as this does not create good air flow. After doing the above and the card still overheats then you might be having a faulty card. Or the temp sensor on the card might be faulty. Hope this helps

11-29-2006, 10:48 AM	#10
Griefmaker The Magister Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Chico, CA Age: 45 Posts: 141	I agree that the Artic Silver was a good choice. We use different types of artic silver at the company I work at for all of our tools. I think that Artic Silver 3 would have actually been a "slightly" better choice than artic silver 5 (we have found better heat transfer with AS3 than AS5--approx .09 degC/W from our experiments), but I believe that artic silver 3 is more expensive. In any case any artic silver is better than most thermal greases out there, so I applaud your decision. __________________ I am a peon.

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