- Joined
- Apr 20, 2007
Hello folks.
Pretty new to this forum and I'm in desperate need for some assistance.
The rig I have is a HTPC and some might think - hey - what is this kid doing over in the overclockers departament.
Well - I am more and more thinking that the only solution for my setup is a water - cooled system. And that is a quiet, if not very queit one, due to heavy loading. Most people tell me I'm nuts with watercooling, but the echoing of my fans tell me differently!
The hardware:
Asus P5B Deluxe 775 socket
Intel Core 2 Duo - 1.8 GHz
NVidia GeForce 7600 GS (silent 256 Mb)
PSU; Zalman ZM-460 - (Silent - but not fanless)
4 Samsung HDD 500 Mb
RAM: 4Gb fast bugger - Corsair.
Case: Moncaso - Moneual 932P (as seen on enclosed image - not with my hardware installed - snitched that picture from a review only to show how beautifully loaded it gets)
Fans Internal: 4 x Cooltech 80 mm 9db brushless fans
Fans External: 1 x 120 mm Cooltech Brusless fan (se below why...)
When running the HTPC - I get temperatures at 50-54 C normal usage, and up to 60-62 C on heavy load - that is Matroska files for h264 Videos.
Mobo temperature ranges from 48-50 up to 55 when under heavy stress.
These temperatures are not helped by the fact that this machine is fitted in a indent in the wall. It has about 20 cm behind it, 10 cm above, and 10 on each side.
In order to cool the system I have installed a fan in the bottom of the shelf, that leads to a bigger indent where a subwoofer is located. I,ve experimented and the best solution has been to suck air into the computer area so that it is pushed forward and out of the indent.
The problem is the NOISE!! When temperatures go too high, the silent mode is pretty much disabled and the 9500 is running like crazy at 2200+ and it makes an awful lot of noise.
When putting my hand behind the rig, the air is hot. But the 2x80 mm 9db fans can't do much more. It feels like hot air is trapped inside. There is no way I can install a 120 mm fan unless I rip up the whole case. and that is beyond the point. It is hot, hot, hot and it won't cool down without speeding fans or putting it on the sofa table. Wife-approval = nothing. I've tried insulating with high-end insulations - but somehow I get exactly what I was dreading - higher temperature by a degree or two... and the fans run some faster yet.
So, back to subject. Is there any way I can have a quiet system? Really quiet using Watercooling? I have been looking on different pumps, reservoirs etc... but at the end of the day, which one is the queit one?
I'm willing to cough up 250-350 USD for a good system.
So help me out.
- Which quiet pump should I opt for? With queit I'm looking at 10-12 dB
- Reservoir? Should the pump be submerged for super quietness or is this causing extra headaches? I can fit something like 10x10x10 cm in the case in front of the PSU. Any suggestions?
- Radiator - I only have 2 x 80 mm vent holes in the back - should I opt for a Black Ice Micro II from Danger Den? Place it externally behind the 80 mm outlet and that will at least solve the problem with too much hot air building up inside the case? I'm not up for having an external system, but a rear-mounted radiator is okey however...
- Finally - should I try to cool down the HDD as well? At the moment there are two side-intakes with fans mounted in front of the HDD keeping them at 41 C or below... I only run 1-2 HDD at each given time as they are shut down when not used. Basically products from Kooltech?
Please advise... I'm lost!
Many thanks in advance!
Pretty new to this forum and I'm in desperate need for some assistance.
The rig I have is a HTPC and some might think - hey - what is this kid doing over in the overclockers departament.
Well - I am more and more thinking that the only solution for my setup is a water - cooled system. And that is a quiet, if not very queit one, due to heavy loading. Most people tell me I'm nuts with watercooling, but the echoing of my fans tell me differently!
The hardware:
Asus P5B Deluxe 775 socket
Intel Core 2 Duo - 1.8 GHz
NVidia GeForce 7600 GS (silent 256 Mb)
PSU; Zalman ZM-460 - (Silent - but not fanless)
4 Samsung HDD 500 Mb
RAM: 4Gb fast bugger - Corsair.
Case: Moncaso - Moneual 932P (as seen on enclosed image - not with my hardware installed - snitched that picture from a review only to show how beautifully loaded it gets)
Fans Internal: 4 x Cooltech 80 mm 9db brushless fans
Fans External: 1 x 120 mm Cooltech Brusless fan (se below why...)
When running the HTPC - I get temperatures at 50-54 C normal usage, and up to 60-62 C on heavy load - that is Matroska files for h264 Videos.
Mobo temperature ranges from 48-50 up to 55 when under heavy stress.
These temperatures are not helped by the fact that this machine is fitted in a indent in the wall. It has about 20 cm behind it, 10 cm above, and 10 on each side.
In order to cool the system I have installed a fan in the bottom of the shelf, that leads to a bigger indent where a subwoofer is located. I,ve experimented and the best solution has been to suck air into the computer area so that it is pushed forward and out of the indent.
The problem is the NOISE!! When temperatures go too high, the silent mode is pretty much disabled and the 9500 is running like crazy at 2200+ and it makes an awful lot of noise.
When putting my hand behind the rig, the air is hot. But the 2x80 mm 9db fans can't do much more. It feels like hot air is trapped inside. There is no way I can install a 120 mm fan unless I rip up the whole case. and that is beyond the point. It is hot, hot, hot and it won't cool down without speeding fans or putting it on the sofa table. Wife-approval = nothing. I've tried insulating with high-end insulations - but somehow I get exactly what I was dreading - higher temperature by a degree or two... and the fans run some faster yet.
So, back to subject. Is there any way I can have a quiet system? Really quiet using Watercooling? I have been looking on different pumps, reservoirs etc... but at the end of the day, which one is the queit one?
I'm willing to cough up 250-350 USD for a good system.
So help me out.
- Which quiet pump should I opt for? With queit I'm looking at 10-12 dB
- Reservoir? Should the pump be submerged for super quietness or is this causing extra headaches? I can fit something like 10x10x10 cm in the case in front of the PSU. Any suggestions?
- Radiator - I only have 2 x 80 mm vent holes in the back - should I opt for a Black Ice Micro II from Danger Den? Place it externally behind the 80 mm outlet and that will at least solve the problem with too much hot air building up inside the case? I'm not up for having an external system, but a rear-mounted radiator is okey however...
- Finally - should I try to cool down the HDD as well? At the moment there are two side-intakes with fans mounted in front of the HDD keeping them at 41 C or below... I only run 1-2 HDD at each given time as they are shut down when not used. Basically products from Kooltech?
Please advise... I'm lost!
Many thanks in advance!