phigdon
03-11-2008, 12:43 PM
I got talked out of water cooling a few weeks ago and went with fans and heatsinks. the new Cooler Master CPU cooler is working fantastic, 19C idle and never above 33C load. now for VGA, shadowpr has give me a lot of great suggestions and tips about fan cooling and not to do too much. heres my fan list and configuration followed by my question.
92mm
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129042
they both run at 50CFM and I use them as air intakes on the front and back of the case.
120mm
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999344
runs at about 50CFM and can max out at 110CFM, i never run it that high though, and i use it as a blow hole fan in the top of the case. this fan has a speed controller.
PCI
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835888602
run 10CFM right under the video card. I use it as a VGA exhaust fan.
The cooler Master CPU fan is mounted to blow up toward the blow hole fan.
so for VGA cooling, the video card runs at high 40's to mid 50'sC under load. yes i do realize that the card is capable of handling mid 70's safely but having caught the 'bigger, better, badder' bug I want to get it as cool as possible. with all these fans going am i better of putting a passive system or getting rid of the PCI cooler and putting in a fan/heatsink? I have three options I am considering right now and a fourth item thats more of an interest.
Top choice:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835118037
Second choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887014
this is compatible with an X2600, I'm not 100% sure that X2600 and HD2600 are the same card.
Third Choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186016
Fourth option, this more of a 'hey that looks cool and its gotten good reviews'
http://www.coolermaster.com/products/product.php?act=detail&tbcate=152&id=284
so with all fans going and in this configuration the system runs nice and cold, is passive cooling the best solution here or would getting the Zalman VF1000 be better and not connect the fan?
92mm
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129042
they both run at 50CFM and I use them as air intakes on the front and back of the case.
120mm
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999344
runs at about 50CFM and can max out at 110CFM, i never run it that high though, and i use it as a blow hole fan in the top of the case. this fan has a speed controller.
PCI
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835888602
run 10CFM right under the video card. I use it as a VGA exhaust fan.
The cooler Master CPU fan is mounted to blow up toward the blow hole fan.
so for VGA cooling, the video card runs at high 40's to mid 50'sC under load. yes i do realize that the card is capable of handling mid 70's safely but having caught the 'bigger, better, badder' bug I want to get it as cool as possible. with all these fans going am i better of putting a passive system or getting rid of the PCI cooler and putting in a fan/heatsink? I have three options I am considering right now and a fourth item thats more of an interest.
Top choice:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835118037
Second choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887014
this is compatible with an X2600, I'm not 100% sure that X2600 and HD2600 are the same card.
Third Choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186016
Fourth option, this more of a 'hey that looks cool and its gotten good reviews'
http://www.coolermaster.com/products/product.php?act=detail&tbcate=152&id=284
so with all fans going and in this configuration the system runs nice and cold, is passive cooling the best solution here or would getting the Zalman VF1000 be better and not connect the fan?