what would you do next?

[soil]

Hi folks my current o/c setup is like the sig below, it was about 2 weeks old

the cooling is done via a Mitsubishi 2500rpm 80mm blow-in on the top of the DESKTOP case (above the north bridge) and the CPU HSF is another NMD 80mm fan. Idle CPU temp after 3 hour use is about 33 C. (System 31 C). Peak load is about 47 C. Ambient is 22 C.

Options included:
(1) lap the heatsink, use AS3, (now using paste come with HS)
(2) add one more blow-in fan (60mm or 80mm), but that'll add noise
(3) use peltier to bring down CPU temp to say 18 C (no dew), not much investment, I just need the cold plate and a better retention clip, foam

But what will I gain? The MB allows max 2.2V Vcore...What options (above or any others) would you suggest? I have to stick to this CPU 'cause I just got it a few weeks ago...:D and changing mainboard is not a good idea as it won't help (apart from being wasteful), isn't it?;)

Please freely comment. Thanks.

photo of heatsink:(1st one) http://www.justcooler.com.tw/english/eindex.htm

[Bender]

Options 1 and 2 are your best bet. Lapping the heatsink and adding AS3 will lover your temps a few degrees under load. Additional case cooling will help a little to if you do it right. Adding a pelt won't work unless your using a low wattage intel chip or if you go with water cooling.

[soil]

yes, I forget another option, how about a copper heatsink? Or something modified from an Alpha PAL 8045?

and also the 80mm blow-in fan is blowing through 4 1cm holes and then through a 6cm/8cm adaptor... would increasing the blow hole area (say drill a 60mm or even 80mm hole) significantly help to lower the temp? Such drill head is expensive I don't want to spend that money...

and also would it be useful to have faster fans? would it be significant? which one would be the first one to up-grade, the CPU one or the blow-in one?

[Bender]

The Alpha would be an excelent upgrade. SVCompucycle.com has the alpha with no fan for $29.99. You can add a fan of your choice for about $6.

[soil]

Originally posted by Bender
The Alpha would be an excelent upgrade. SVCompucycle.com has the alpha with no fan for $29.99. You can add a fan of your choice for about $6.

yes:D I'm just wondering how I can modify it for PIII use?

And the other problem is : it sucks up air rather than blowing downwards, I may need to reverse the wind direction of my desktop blow-in fan, and even the 2 blow-out fans of my PSU?

I think I can blow downwards using the 8045? :D

[Bender]

Sorry I didn't see your sign so I assumed you had an AMD. You could probably find a way to mount the Alhpa but its just easier to get a different heatsink. I reccomend the SVC golden gate for about $25 with a decent fan. It has almost the same performance as the SK-6 but it costs a lot less. You could add an 80 watt pelt to your system without a lot of fuss. If your power supply can handle the extra 80 watts you should be fine. The key to peltiers is keeping condensation under control.

[soil]

Originally posted by Bender
Adding a pelt won't work unless your using a low wattage intel chip...

like mine:D ?

[soil]

Originally posted by Bender
The key to peltiers is keeping condensation under control.

I remember in high school physics that dew/condensation only appear below 12C or something like that??

Anyway would 18C at 22C ambient bring dew/condensation? And I heard that long time ago vaselin can be used to seal off condensation on the socket and circuit board? but for mild cooling (18C) do I still need to do that?

but if there were no overheat and if there is no change in Vcore will lowering the CPU temp ALONE increase o/c headroom, from practice and theoretical point of view?

[Ottoman]

deffinately go with lapping...

I thought it wasn't a big deal, but it makes a HUGE diff...

and the AS3 should make a difference too..

I predict a 7-10 degree difference...

I got at least 5 degrees on mine..

and it costs next to nothing..

[soil]

Originally posted by Ottoman
deffinately go with lapping...

I predict a 7-10 degree difference...

I got at least 5 degrees on mine..


:eek: okay:D :D lapping lapping

I also heard that mirror-finish isn't necessary good as the a little bit rougher surface can allow the thermal paste particles to chip in?

But I just need to use a smaller amount of AS3 for a mirror-finished surface?

And I should use water to wet the sand paper, don't use pressure, moving like "8", from grit 200 to grit 2000, on glass...what else?:D