Noob Cooler

[EncasedShadow]

I recently installed 2 gigs of ram in my computer. Its a powerspec model 8822, and now its running a touch hot. I am doing the poormans cooling right now, (open dorm windows and checking the back for heat), but while I am an above fair software user and even have some experience with hardware installation, I have no clue about fans.

My questions:

How do I know how many and what fans I can install in my case?

Would RAM heatspreaders solve my problem (Crashes slowdowns etc)?

Are PCI slot cooling fans worth the slot, and would it help?

[HAL9000]

Installing RAM shouldn't increase your temps at all.... I would think if you are having crashes and slowdowns after installing the RAM, the RAM itself may be the problem.

[EncasedShadow]

well it might be my Nvidia 6600 GT videocard, its never been quite right, but I chalked it up to my drivers, installed and it worked ok for the most part, but now I am working the card a lot harder.

Recently my comp crashed and I got "nvid4.dsp has created a fatal error" or something along those lines, and when I rebooted my keyboard was dead.

I am definitely running hotter than before I installed the ram.

[Joeberg]

I agree with Hal - the addition of RAM shouldn't have any impact on temps...

Try running MemTest86

http://www.memtest86.com/

Hmm... Couldn't find your exact PC case or a picture of it...

For your first question - to know how many fans you have installed/can install - look inside your PC
Typically, PC cases hold 80mm case fans in the rear, and larger 120mm in the front - you can measure your fans for an idea, or where a fan can be placed if there is not one present..

RAM heatspreaders shouldn't solve your problem - as your not really pushing the RAM (overclocking, etc), correct?

I haven't really used PCI coolers - some say they help, others don't. Personally I never really needed them...
Two 80mm exhaust fans in the back, One 120mm Case fan in the front is pretty basic and does and adequate job of cooling.

I couldn't find the error when I searched for it... Is that the exact error? Perhaps you have your video drivers installed incorrectly? That usually provides a whole slew of issues in itself...

By working the card harder, do you mean using it more, or overlclocking it?

-Joe

[EncasedShadow]

I have that program

there are no great pics, I may see if I can get a digi cam.
http://www.powerspec.com/systems/arc...selection=8822
thats the site & specs for my comp there is a small picture up top. I dont see a front fan on my case at all.

I am not over clocking.

It is not the exact error, it was a blue screen and a physical memory dump.

I am using the card more, and running more demanding programs.


I also have SiSoftware Sandra Lite and Speedfan. Speedfan says temp2 is too hot but I dont know what temp 2 is. It also reads 3 fans, but only 1 is running. 3 might be the default setting, or it might be the number I can have. I dont know, Speedfan is meant for more advanced users than me, I am afraid.

[blue60007]

Have you run MemTest? What you are describing fits the bill for bad memory.

Could you list what the 3 temps are reading as in SpeedFan?

A case like that probably only has one fan in the rear.

[HAL9000]

THe heck with what programs say for temps... Sisoftsandra says my motherboard is running at 127'C.... that would be meltdown... then it says my CPU is only 32'C... wanna tell me how my CPU is only 32'C but my motherboard is 127'C?

Anyway, my point, don't trust software for temps, look in your BIOS, they're the only truly accurate numbers. If your CPU is below 50'C.. no worries at all... if the case is below 30'C.. again, no worries at all. Now those aren't set in stone numbers either, a little variance isn't gonna kill anything.