Need airflow ideas on Thermaltake Armor (scythe infinity, HR03plus)

[vixro]

Alright, so I have had this thermaltake armor series case for quite a while and it's done me good for the most part by having silent cooling and keeping everything relatively cool. The problem I have been having lately is that I keep upgrading and modifying and changing things and now I am stuck on getting good airflow into my system and hot air out of my system. I am curious to know with my specific setup what can be changed to help the airflow and how I can eliminate some of my small problems.


Now that I have an 8800ultra over my 2900XT the heat seems to surround the card instead of being put out of the computer. Slowly it will heat up, then the ambient temperature will get higher, then it will heat up more because it doesn't have a fresh source of cold air and it just continually heats up itself until I have some high temperature that is warming up the rest of my parts.

Side on:

45c idle ambient GPU temperature
50c idle GPU temperature.
35c idle motherboard temp
38c idle CPU temp

*(continually rises based on how long the GPU is stressed)
*50c+ (65+) load ambient GPU temperature
*55c+ (70-80c+) load GPU temperature
45c load motherboard temp
52-55c load CPU temp



Side off, big fan blowing on the parts:

36c idle ambient GPU temperature
48c idle GPU temperature.
25c motherboard temp
24c CPU temp

42c load ambient GPU temperature (very stable)
55c load GPU temperature (rock solid)
25c load motherboard temp (very stable)
33c load CPU temp (very stable)

Based on these readings I know for a fact I can get some better results with the side on by having some better airflow.


Currently this is how I have my fans set up and the cooling parts that I am using.


2 120mm intake fans. One at the top of my case pulling air in, one at the bottom of my case attatched to the hard drive bay pulling air in. I have 2 hard drives within the bay that could potentially be blocking the intake air.

they are the stupid sony flex bs fans that are supposed to push a lot of air but really dont. I have the high speed ones that are supposed to push over 60cfm but I am not sure if they really are. ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185006 )


Silverstone DA750 power supply. I believe it is pulling air from inside the case (at the top) and out the back but the fan moves very slow so it can't be a lot of air.


Scythe infinity HSF on top of an asus command motherboard. I have a yate loon... I believe the quiet version pushing air through it from the side of the ram, and then I also have a 120mm further pulling that same air out the back exhaust. The fan on the back of the case exhausting can be adjusted speed.

The heatpipe and chipset cooler that goes below the CPU heatsink and GPU also gets hot and creates latent heat in that area. It is the copper pipe in the picture for reference.

MSI 8800Ultra with a newly placed HR-03 fan, with a 92mm fan on top of it pushing air down on to the video card and heatsink. The fan is techincally rated at 60cfm and does appear to blow some good air, but of course I am skeptical. With the way that this is currently set up, the fan is very close to the CPU and I believe I am having some trouble with air flow in that sector because of it.

I also am getting some slight latent heat below the video card where the core and heatpipes are. To try and eliminate this I placed a spot cool fan in that general area to blow some cool air (from the hard drive intake fan) in to that area. Unfortunately I don't think the air has anywhere to go and it just builds up in the bottom of the case.

I have 4 sticks of RAM that also create more heat, right in front of the CPU HSF. These feel very hot to the touch.

Here are some ideas I had to try and eliminate some of these problems, but have not done yet until I get some opnions.


1) Move the hard drive bay to the top of the computer to spread out some of the heat away from all the other parts. This will give my intake from the front a little more unhindered airflow to the video card.

2) A pci slot cooler to pull the latent video card heat out from below the video card and out of the computer so that it doesn't just get hotter and hotter upon itself.

3) A different CPU HSF to better accomidate the unique placement of the HR-03 on the 8800Ultra. I believe I created extra airflow problems here that I now need to find a way to eliminate. If I don't have to spend more cash on a new cooler, I would prefer not to as this one does work very well when the airflow is right.



Here are the fans I have at my disposal:

(2) 120mm sony sflex high speed (63.5cfm yea right)
(1) 120mm silent yate loon
(1) 120mm thermaltake case fan
(1) 120mm thermalright case fan with fan control
(1) spotcool
(1) 92mm antec aerocool silver lightning ultra edition (for my GPU)


Pictures with fan reference coming soon, I am uploading/photoshopping them right now.



ANY AND ALL HELP HERE IS APPRECIATED! Case mod ideas are especially good. I already zip tied a 120mm fan to the case for an extra intake, but that's about the extent of it. Most of my heat problems are at the very bottom of the computer where the RAM, GPU, and chipset all sit.

If I can do it with what I already have, GREAT, if I can do it with some small purchases, GREAT! If I need a completely new motherboard, new cooler, and a new brain......... only if its necessary.

 

[vixro]

So you can see what I see and feel what I feel, I have included a picture to show where the hot, warm, and cold spots are and included the general directions that my fans blow and where they are located.

I realize the second picture is a bit... overdone, but I think that it really gives you a good idea on what temperatures I feel with my hand. Let it be noted that with the side of the case off and the fan blowing into the computer that NO part is hot, only warm and cool.

space



space

 

[bing]

Poorman temperature spots chart to aid finding "optimal" air flow !

I assume your mobo is Asus Commando as in your sig and I believe it has the same layout as my Asus P5B Deluxe, you might check this HERE for my mobo temp location.

Hopefully they're in the same spot, anyway you can find yourself using similiar method in that thread.

Now, about finding the best flow, we have to monitor all those temperature spots in order to understand the effect of on the changes that we've made right ?

Usually I use SpeedFan with this kind of real time "orchestrated temperature graphs/slopes" display like this attached picture to see the realtime changes when I tweak the cooling on my rig such turning cooling fan high/low using controller or software like SpeedFan, CPU fan tweaking, watching the effect of newly added fan with different speeds to see how they're affecting the overall temp spots when on loaded or idle by comparing different saved charts.

At least this will be good enough as a poor man temperature graphic logger that capable of charting multiple hot spots while you tweaking your air flow or changing cooling flow topoloy.



Hope this helps your quest on finding the "optimal" cooling flow in your case.

 

[vixro]

To test a few ideas I had, I purchased some longer rounded IDE and floppy cables. I will be moving my hard drive bay to the top of the computer to try and remove some of the cable clutter and allow more air come through the intake unhindered. I also purchased the vantec slot cooler (just as some idea testing), a panaflo medium speed 120mm fan, and a case window cutter so that I can punch a hole in the window of my case and see if I can bring in another exhaust or intake to try and handle the pressure inside the case a little better. I will let you all know how it goes over the next few days when I do the mods.

 

[Automata]

OK, lets do this. Armor is my specialty

You could, add more fans to the front either with bays that you can buy or make your own. I could see up to 3 fans in the front.

You could add two 120mm in the door in the middle plexi.

You could add atleast 3 fans to the bottom of the case, do it like you were adding a radiator.

Cut the back grills out, this is not a suggestion, but a requirement!!

Ditch the 120mm thermaltake "fans" and get some Yate Loon fans (can be found at Petra's Tech Shop).


If you do 2 of the things listed above (not including the requirement ) your case airflow will be CRAZY!!



EDIT: I just noticed that you are using the hdd bay cage, gross, that thing restricts airflow and gets in the way. Take the hdd's out and put them in the rear hard drive cage, leave the front cage where it is and put a fan on it (if you don't already).

Cable management, this has AMAZING space behind the motherboard, USE IT!!

Also, you can cut these "squares" in the back of the motherboard (make sure to check my placement, they are well thought out) to route wires. If you can do this effectively, you can make your case look CLEAN.

Pics in one sec, internet hates me.

 

[vixro]

Oh my GOD I LOVE YOUR CABLE MANAGEMENT!!! This is what I was looking for! Where did you find a 90mm fan that was good to fit in the top exhaust? The best I can find are all 92mm and don't fit there (or do they?). Great idea on cutting into the back motherboard tray. That will take a lot of extra work but it will do a great job of hiding all the wires and keeping airflow nice. I shoved all of mine back against the wall which worked for better airflow, but sucks for viewing purposes.

Once I have the case cutter tool I will get to work.



Edit: where exactly are your hard drives located and how are they situated? I can't see them. Also, what do you think of my GPU/CPU setup. Is it counter-productive to the overall cooling of both parts?

 

[mariosimas]

here is my setup:

 

[neonlazer]

OK, lets do this. Armor is my specialty

You could, add more fans to the front either with bays that you can buy or make your own. I could see up to 3 fans in the front.

You could add two 120mm in the door in the middle plexi.

You could add atleast 3 fans to the bottom of the case, do it like you were adding a radiator.

Cut the back grills out, this is not a suggestion, but a requirement!!

Ditch the 120mm thermaltake "fans" and get some Yate Loon fans (can be found at Petra's Tech Shop).


If you do 2 of the things listed above (not including the requirement ) your case airflow will be CRAZY!!



EDIT: I just noticed that you are using the hdd bay cage, gross, that thing restricts airflow and gets in the way. Take the hdd's out and put them in the rear hard drive cage, leave the front cage where it is and put a fan on it (if you don't already).

Cable management, this has AMAZING space behind the motherboard, USE IT!!

Also, you can cut these "squares" in the back of the motherboard (make sure to check my placement, they are well thought out) to route wires. If you can do this effectively, you can make your case look CLEAN.

Pics in one sec, internet hates me.

Combine what ive done with my armor and your armor then he would have a typhoon...no need for room fan...3 fans in front on radiator lol

 

[vixro]

My new goal after I receive all my new parts will be to make up for the 2900XT fan noise I lost. I have about 1000dba to work with so lets make a HURRICANE UP IN HERE!

 

[Automata]

Oh my GOD I LOVE YOUR CABLE MANAGEMENT!!! This is what I was looking for! Where did you find a 90mm fan that was good to fit in the top exhaust? The best I can find are all 92mm and don't fit there (or do they?). Great idea on cutting into the back motherboard tray. That will take a lot of extra work but it will do a great job of hiding all the wires and keeping airflow nice. I shoved all of mine back against the wall which worked for better airflow, but sucks for viewing purposes.

Once I have the case cutter tool I will get to work.



Edit: where exactly are your hard drives located and how are they situated? I can't see them. Also, what do you think of my GPU/CPU setup. Is it counter-productive to the overall cooling of both parts?

Thanks!! I spend ALOT of time on it.

There is actually is no 90mm in the top, it was too restrictive


And mariosimas, silenx? PORQUE???????

EDIT: Here are "updated" pics (before I sold the case and my watercooling).

 

[mariosimas]

Thanks!! I spend ALOT of time on it.

And mariosimas, silenx? PORQUE???????

because it makes a nice setup with the TR coolers

 

[vixro]

Well, I just finished. It took me 5 hours but I got it all done.

I now have 8 120mm fans inside the computer if you count the one on the PSU.
1 92mm on the GPU
1 90mm exhaust near the PSU
1 2 fan slot cooler on the underside of the GPU.


I took into account both of your ideas and got crazy with a Dremel saw (my first time).

I created a window fan slot (yate loon Medium speed),
Lnocked out the back plates for better airflow,
Created holes for cable management,
Added an extra front intake unhindered,
Added 2 120mm yate loon Medium speed to the bottom of the case.
Swapped the low speed yate loon I had on the CPU with a high speed Sony SFLEX,
Swapped the thermaltake 120mm at the back with a yate loon medium speed,
Added a 90mm exhaust fan at the top/back of the case,
Removed all the top panel connectors to get rid of wires,
Added a slot cooler below the GPU.
Other minor adjustments as I saw fit.



New Idle Temperatures:

GPU- 47c
GPU Ambient- 35c
CPU0 Average- 25c
CPU1 Average- 25c

New 1hr Load Temperatures:

GPU- 56c
GPU Ambient- 43c
CPU0 Average- 40c
CPU1 Average- 39c


Cool down temperatures 10 seconds after load ended:

GPU- 50c
GPU Ambient- 37c
CPU0- 28c
CPU1- 28c

 

[vixro]

I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I LOVE MY NEW WIND TUNNEL!!!!!


Jeez, the temperatures are so low. AFter 5 hours straight of playing TF2 with 100% CPU load, the temperature never went above 39c on the CPU and the GPU stayed at 55-56c. It's like magic! Thank you for all of your suggestions, it took me a long time to get all the parts and get everything ready... and a long time to actually do it but all the work was worth it.