PICTURES AT BOTTOM
I would like to test how big of a difference actively cooling the VRM or other has on the CPU and VRM temperatures. I would also like to show an easy method of mounting the fans and what size fans work the best. Before I go any further I want to say that I have already done this and the results where fantastic. However I didn't really do it for the benefit of my fellow over clockers. I did it for myself in this I did not record enough data to prove as much as I would have liked. Also that test was directly pointed at the Sabertooth 990FX, however this time I would like to open it up to other motherboards.
Below is a link to the original data collected for both air and water cooled CPU.
A few months ago I posted just a little bit of data from a couple things I played with.
A little info on the old data:
What I played with was:
Fans on the back side of the motherboard pointed between the VRM heat sink bracket and the back of the socket. This requires a case with a hole cut out for access to the cpu cooler bracket and for permanent installation would require you cutting into your side panel. The expected results where little to no cooling. The results where noticeable and valuable cooling to the VRM and in turn the CPU.
Fans pointed directly at the VRM heat sinks on top of the motherboard. I tested both 40MM and 80MM fans. I also tested 1 or 2 fans. I found that although obviously 2 are better that just 1 single 40MM fan produced a significant amount of cooling. Temperatures where taken from the Sabertooth 990FX extra temp sensors. It has sensors all over including 2 VRM, USB, PCIE, and more.
The tests were performed for me not an audience and they proved to me without a doubt that actively cooling the VRM even just slightly reduced VRM and CPU temps by more than just the margin of error.
What made this even more interesting to me was that this change was noticeable with both air and water cooling. Plus any drop in CPU temp is welcome to overclockers.
The data I did save was just a few screen shots that I gathered for myself. I did have a T-Balancer BigNG recording 4 other temps including 1 probe under the heatsink backplate on one bank and 1 probe under the heatsink backplate on the other bank I did not screen shot any of it because although the temps reported were different the drop in temp was about the same percentage so I blame that on the exact location of the probes.
What I want to achieve this time around:
Bobnova pointed out to me via thread responses and PMs that the ASUS thermometers could be incorrect if air was passing over them. Since there is no way for me at least to find out exactly where these probes are I have to agree with him that the data def could be skewed. If someone knows the exact location of these probes and wether or not they are completely enclosed or if they are just laying about freely that info would be great.
So this time around I would like to record for evidence the data from non motherboard probes placed in ways that they would not be affected by air moving over them (in other words directly touching components or thermal tape on one side and a heat-sink on the other side).
I would like to show which size of fan is best for the backside and which is best for the front side and would like to weight it against total performance vs fans rated CFM at 100% on one graph and then performance at a weighted dB level on another graph. I believe at this moment that a 40mm to 60mm is best for above and that I would choose 40 over 80 and that 60-120 is the preferred choice for behind with 80mm being my exact choice. Definitively figuring this out may have little importance to most people and it is going to be the thing that takes the most time to record so I am not certain that this will happen.
Finally I would like to show an easy way to mount 1 medium to large fan or 2 small fans so that people know exactly what to get to get similar results. Depending on the results I might test the differences between a full board block and doing this as I have a full board block on another mobo and I have always questioned wether adding heat to the loop by something I could have cooled with air is worth it. Since I have noticed any cooling to the VRMs results in lower temps on the CPU it can't hurt much to add the VRM heat to the loop but who knows for sure.
The previous thread only got 1800 visits but I got a few thank you's in that thread as well as a couple PM's. So if it helps even just a few people it will be worth it and if it is more definitive and leaves less room for question I can sleep tight knowing I didn't waste anyones time or money.
Bobnova said he would be willing to lend some ideas so Bob if you see this and got anything to add as far as how the testing is done to keep it as definitive as possible please chime in.
I'd like to start taking some measurements Nov 6th which will give me 2 days to get any input from bobnova or other people. It may be possible that tonight I post up the first test results which is simply do the fans being in the on position vs the off position noticeably affect the temperature of the cpu as reported by the cores. This going to be hard to do if it is only a few degrees but would obviously show that it does or does not help on an overclocked water cooled intel. I'd say it is certain it helps the AMD but not sure of the intel yet. One thing that may be an issue is that I doubt the VRM and the CPU are anywhere near as hot as they were on the AMD 6-Core.
Wish me luck!
Here are some shots of the old setup and the new setup.
I would like to test how big of a difference actively cooling the VRM or other has on the CPU and VRM temperatures. I would also like to show an easy method of mounting the fans and what size fans work the best. Before I go any further I want to say that I have already done this and the results where fantastic. However I didn't really do it for the benefit of my fellow over clockers. I did it for myself in this I did not record enough data to prove as much as I would have liked. Also that test was directly pointed at the Sabertooth 990FX, however this time I would like to open it up to other motherboards.
Below is a link to the original data collected for both air and water cooled CPU.
A few months ago I posted just a little bit of data from a couple things I played with.
A little info on the old data:
What I played with was:
Fans on the back side of the motherboard pointed between the VRM heat sink bracket and the back of the socket. This requires a case with a hole cut out for access to the cpu cooler bracket and for permanent installation would require you cutting into your side panel. The expected results where little to no cooling. The results where noticeable and valuable cooling to the VRM and in turn the CPU.
Fans pointed directly at the VRM heat sinks on top of the motherboard. I tested both 40MM and 80MM fans. I also tested 1 or 2 fans. I found that although obviously 2 are better that just 1 single 40MM fan produced a significant amount of cooling. Temperatures where taken from the Sabertooth 990FX extra temp sensors. It has sensors all over including 2 VRM, USB, PCIE, and more.
The tests were performed for me not an audience and they proved to me without a doubt that actively cooling the VRM even just slightly reduced VRM and CPU temps by more than just the margin of error.
What made this even more interesting to me was that this change was noticeable with both air and water cooling. Plus any drop in CPU temp is welcome to overclockers.
The data I did save was just a few screen shots that I gathered for myself. I did have a T-Balancer BigNG recording 4 other temps including 1 probe under the heatsink backplate on one bank and 1 probe under the heatsink backplate on the other bank I did not screen shot any of it because although the temps reported were different the drop in temp was about the same percentage so I blame that on the exact location of the probes.
What I want to achieve this time around:
Bobnova pointed out to me via thread responses and PMs that the ASUS thermometers could be incorrect if air was passing over them. Since there is no way for me at least to find out exactly where these probes are I have to agree with him that the data def could be skewed. If someone knows the exact location of these probes and wether or not they are completely enclosed or if they are just laying about freely that info would be great.
So this time around I would like to record for evidence the data from non motherboard probes placed in ways that they would not be affected by air moving over them (in other words directly touching components or thermal tape on one side and a heat-sink on the other side).
I would like to show which size of fan is best for the backside and which is best for the front side and would like to weight it against total performance vs fans rated CFM at 100% on one graph and then performance at a weighted dB level on another graph. I believe at this moment that a 40mm to 60mm is best for above and that I would choose 40 over 80 and that 60-120 is the preferred choice for behind with 80mm being my exact choice. Definitively figuring this out may have little importance to most people and it is going to be the thing that takes the most time to record so I am not certain that this will happen.
Finally I would like to show an easy way to mount 1 medium to large fan or 2 small fans so that people know exactly what to get to get similar results. Depending on the results I might test the differences between a full board block and doing this as I have a full board block on another mobo and I have always questioned wether adding heat to the loop by something I could have cooled with air is worth it. Since I have noticed any cooling to the VRMs results in lower temps on the CPU it can't hurt much to add the VRM heat to the loop but who knows for sure.
The previous thread only got 1800 visits but I got a few thank you's in that thread as well as a couple PM's. So if it helps even just a few people it will be worth it and if it is more definitive and leaves less room for question I can sleep tight knowing I didn't waste anyones time or money.
Bobnova said he would be willing to lend some ideas so Bob if you see this and got anything to add as far as how the testing is done to keep it as definitive as possible please chime in.
I'd like to start taking some measurements Nov 6th which will give me 2 days to get any input from bobnova or other people. It may be possible that tonight I post up the first test results which is simply do the fans being in the on position vs the off position noticeably affect the temperature of the cpu as reported by the cores. This going to be hard to do if it is only a few degrees but would obviously show that it does or does not help on an overclocked water cooled intel. I'd say it is certain it helps the AMD but not sure of the intel yet. One thing that may be an issue is that I doubt the VRM and the CPU are anywhere near as hot as they were on the AMD 6-Core.
Wish me luck!
Here are some shots of the old setup and the new setup.