Is it worth upgrading the CPU heatsink/fan?

I bought this cheap setup for internet and basic PC use,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103221

and at 500 I couldn't beat it, especially for internet use only. What I wanted to know, being that the PC is a slim case design, I'm sure that heat is going to be an issue. I would like to curb that ASAP if possible.

Could I upgrade to a bigger heat sink to one of these

http://www.xoxide.com/amdsocketam2.html

,as long as it would fit?

Or do you think the heat sink/fan that is installed OEM would be fine? I don't want this thing to run hot, as I leave my PC's on all the time.

I was also thinking about maybe drilling and adding a small fan on the case above the main grill for the CPU fan to aid in cooling. But if I can upgrade to a better cpu heat sink/fan , then that would be fine for me.

Thanks.

 

Hi Heck, what you want to do is wait till you get it and just monitor the temp's for a while and see how it performs.

You can do that with something like this --> http://majorgeeks.com/Core_Temp_d5665.html

Q

 

Alright thanks.

What should the temps be around? As you can see I dont know much about anything haha.

 

How can someone have 213 posts and not know anything about their computer?

 

cooling wise haha Ive messed with some cooling but mainly pc issues on here.

 

Wow that case is tiny, you should download hwmonitor and check out temps.
http://majorgeeks.com/HWMonitor_d5842.html
Post back, if things are high then your better off getting a new case with more fans as a new CPU cooler probably won't fit

 

This is probably true. I took a look at the PC in question, and it appears to be a slim-line type of chassis which means that most of the high-end coolers won't work. You definitely can't use any of the 'tower' type coolers which are generally considered to be the best coolers available. You'd need a low-profile type of cooler, but if your temps are under 50-55c, then there's no need to upgrade (55c is too high IMO, but if the CPU only gets that hot once in a while, then it's OK; it should not run at a steady 55c; it should be under 50c at all times if possible).
Here's a link to a pic of the inside of this PC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...X2 4850e(2.5GHz) 4GB DDR2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200

 

My my, i didnt realise quite how cramped it is in there!

I reckon as long as you are not pushing it to the max constantly, it will be adequate, but definitely keep an eye on the temps for a while

Also i agree 100% with what dlb said on the temps.
[FYI, mines @ 43c right now and rarely goes more than 5c either side of that figure]


P.S.
If it does come down to needing more fans i dont think it would be too hard to "jerry rig" a fan onto that case imo.

Q

 

yeah I was thinking about putting a fan as seen in the pictures.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2710/sideopened.jpg

What about upgrading the fan on the cPU cooler? Would that help? and what about adding arctic silver in place of the stock compound?

 

the only problem with your diagram is, its creating negative pressure which is good to keep your comp cool but in the mean time it will suck in alot of dirt and dust through the cracks of your comp which obviously is NOT good for a cramped comp.

 

So what do ya think? just get a fan that will fit that moves alot more CFM and put the arctic silver between the cpu and heatsink?

 

yeah, or make the middle of the 3 fans blow in to lessen the negative pressure a little bit. Also getting filters if you dont already would help the dust problem.

check out these sites...

http://www.xoxide.com/computer-cooling.html

http://www.squidoo.com/computercooling

hope this helps! Sdawg27.

 

So should I or shouldnt I do the fans? Which ones blow in and which ones blow out?

Thanks!

 

Hey HECK,

Q: Should you do it?
A: Not unless there is a problem or a good reason to suspect one.


Q: Which ones should blow in and which ones out?
A: Hot air rises so blow out at the top and in from the bottom. [or as close to top and bottom as practical]



Hmmm.... You do seem really keen to improve this rig somehow don't you
Yeah replacing the thermal paste would be good move i reckon, i cant imagine a machine like that having top notch tp used on it, so if you confident/competent [which im guessing you are] then yes replace it as it will give the fan & heatsink the best chance of doing it's job properly, but make sure you get proper high quality stuff to make sure it is actually an improvement on whats already there!

As for the amount of fans IF you do end up installing them, i would imagine two (2) would be fine as ther is not much air to be moved through that case.


Q

 

would upgrading the stock CPU fan to something that will move more CFM be worth it?

And I was going to use arctic silver 5 on the cpu. I would assume that is a high quality TP?

 

Hey HECK,

Just upgrading the CPU fan would be a good next step IF it does overheat, as it will save adding anything on to your rig, but you might do it just to find it is not quite enough and end up adding a case fan anyway, i'd be more confident the case fans will work over a better CPU fan, as it is gonna be all about moving air and the case fans will do it a lot better imo. but that is jsut me, and i have no qualms about cutting holes and jerry riggin pretty much anything

 

Ok, so add some 40-50mm fans? or just add say a 80mm or so fan in the case and smaller ones to put air in??

I'm going to read those link more through, but what size fans and where? I know im repeating my self over and over but I just want to do it once and make it worth while. Lik eI said I always leave my Pc's on and Id rather keep it cool then to wait and see ya know? I dont mind spending a little now and less later, yah know?

Thanks!!

 

Ok i give in, go for it, i'd do the one on the case door blowing out, and the lowest one one the back sucking in, as for the size i reckon the smaller the better in this case as Space is at a premium, although a thought has just come to me, if peformance trumps looks you could go for external mounted fans and you will have pretty much no limits at all then

 

I was wondering if I could get a PCI slot fan? But I would assume that the standard PCI slot fans are for regular case sizes..

I think I'll just leave the CPU alone and I'll add one fan onto the top door and maybe 1-2 small 40-50mm fans on the back pushing in.

 

How can some one have 235 posts and not post actual advice? If your not going to post something helpfull dont post at all Puppywunder58.

Donno if any one answered this, my apologies if I missed it. I'm half asleep :tired. My general rule of thumb is max safe temp is 60C/140F, Or you can use the poor mans rule of thumb, if its to hot to keep your finger on its to hot :-D


Edit: A fairly simple mod comes to mind, cutting a hole in the side of the case for the CPU fan its self, allowing it to pull cool air from out side the case directly. Giving you room for a taller fan/heat sink as well.

 

Now with that hole in the side case... You say it will pull in cold air from the hole being in the case.. doesnt that fan on the cpu blow out? like away from the cpu or does it blow on? and If I do cut a hole in the side case, I could get a tower style CPU heatsink correct?

I just got it in a day ago, so tomrrow I'm going to open it up and see how much room I have to work with and I'll see whats up. I might be able to upgrade the heatsink with an orb style or something low profile.

But I could cut a hole and use a tower... but I dont think I'll need that much cooling.. I'm torn between either adding small fans for a bit more cooling, or just adding one fan above the CPU fan ( on the cover ) and use that to pull air out and let the vacuum pull in cold air through the cracks and the back of the case.

 

Would this be a good replacement for the stock cooler/heatsink?

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9..._940_754_SCBSK-1000.html?tl=g48c369s813#blank

or this one

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...AM2_AM2_939_940_754.html?tl=g48c369s813#blank

I:'m not sure what the difference is between these

those seem to be the only slim one out there besides this one

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8...CPU_Cooler_CL-P0467.html?tl=g48c369s813#blank

 

Here is a screenshot of the temps. I'm not sure on what they mean or not, but these were taken with a heavy load on the cpu. I was running/downloading/installing programs all at the same time. So I would assume that these are worse case scenario temps. I will take a screenshot of the temps while I'm browsing the net.

http://i27.tinypic.com/b636md.jpg

 

Depending on the tepmerature in your room, those temps look ok to me. One thing to keep in mind is noise. The small 40-50mm fans can be very noisy, and not very effective. You don't have too many options with that case.

I would just monitor the temps, and not mess with it unless you have problems.

 

If im not mistaken it is the bottom 2 sets of numbers that are the most important, the "core" temp's, and they seem fine to me too, but how long has it been switched on?
You might find these go a bit higher when it has been on for a few days straight.

The RPM seems a bit low no the fans aswell.

 

All your temps seem to be floating close to the 60C/140F mark. Those temps will effect longevity. No the fan blows down on the heat sink. Yes, you could get a tower style heat sink. But you will have to be carefull about the height, to tall and it wont fit inside the case. In less you cut an even bigger hole in the side of the case for the heat sink and fan to stick out all together. :-D Most of the low profile systems I have worked with have heat problems on the secondary chips. Normally the CPU runs relatively cool. You should check the north/south bridge chips and generally feel around for what is getting hot. Keep in mind the "poor mans" rule of thumb, if its to hot to keep your finger on, its to hot.

On second thought let me mark some places to check.

Check the north bridge (in blue) and the voltage regulators for the CPU (in green, they will be small chips with only 3 or 4 contacts). There might be some memory support chips that might get hot under the hard drive and CDrom drive. Dont forget to check the Hard drive its self

 

Well i think that ACE 256's post says it all tbh, them be some knowledgeable words which you would be wise to follow HECK

 

Thanks guys. I'll look and see hoe those chips feel after a few days on. I guess there isnt much I can do for the case. I did see those smaller fans are low CFM but higher noise. Not a good ratio.

Is there any way I can turn up the RPM on the fan? I may just install a bigger fan for the cPU. Anyone know how.where I can measure the stock fan, so I can get a replacement?

 

I would just wait a bit, see what all you have going on. Normally temps will drop slightly as the heat sink interface materiel breaks in. I would imagine that your biggest problem will be your north bridge chip (in blue) as that is normally the case. I'd say your best bet (and simplest) is to get a large high CFM fan on the CPU and its down wash will help cool all the other support chips. The second link you posted here looks to be a good choice in that regard. But maybe with a taller higher CFM fan on top if necessary.

 

I'm worried about the heatsink not fitting in the area that the stock on is in now. I guess I can take measurements and see whats what.

As far as just replacing the current cPU fan with a higher CFM one, That seems the best/cheapest fix.

How can I measure this stock fan to get the size of it, so I can find a replacement.

 

It looks like an 80MM to me, but I might be wrong. I'm not 100% sure if the measurement is from mount hole to mount hole or the diameter of the fan its self. But the mesurment is in millimeters across the width of the fan.

 

Hey thanks. I will measure that soon. Any tips on a good fan? As far as quality?

 

I don't know a lot about fan brands and whats the best. But as always you get what you pay for.

 

yep deff. true. Well thanks. I'll report back later.

 

hey ace,
I measured the stock fan and its an odd size..114mm. Do you think I could get a 120mm to fit that heatsink? Or just upgrade the heatsink/fan combo?

I found one that is a bit slimmer that should work.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...6_478_AM2_AM2_939_940_754.html?tl=g48c369s813


Still cant find a good fan to replace the stock one with. As someone said the fans blows down onto the MB too, so i was looking for more airflow to blow on the board too. I was looking to put one on the case door and blow on the north chip ( is that right? ) and I could NOT find any power source available I can run the fan to..

 

edited.

 

I'm sure its a 120mm fan that comes stock. It would be best to replace the whole heat sink and fan assembly. Keep in mind that thin fans dont move as much air as thicker ones and mounting a fan on the "vent holes" normally doesn't do much good as the fan simply cant pull much air through them. Id measure how tall your stock heatsink is and measure how much clearance above that you have then we can see what we can find for you.

 

Alright were looking 3" off the MB, 3.5 Width and 3.5 Height. These are with the fan included

 

Actually we can get away with around 4.5" width and Length.

 

What I mean was I was going to cut a hole in the cover and mount it up high either pushing or pulling into/from the case. But I couldnt find any power sources off of the MB.

 

That would work, but Id have the fan blowing in. Molex to fan header adapters are cheap.

 

Alright. Hmm....

should I go with the Scythe Shriuken Rev.B heatsink even tho it only pushed 31cfm?