Water vs. Air for AMD 965 heat issues?

[NinjaNife]

Hey. I am completely new to water cooling, and had a few questions. I have a AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE (125watt) running at stock 3.4GHz. Recently (had the CPU for about a month now) I have started having overheating issues while gaming and rendering CAD images (using 3Ds Max, which uses 100% of the CPU for hours/days at a time). I have purchased the Zalman CNPS9900 NT air cooler, but it doesn't seem to bring the temps down much (compared to stock fan). So far with the Zalman it seems to idle at about 35C or so, and gaming brings to 45 or so (will do more tests in the next few days). The AMD specs say that the max temp for this CPU is 60C.

I am hoping to OC this CPU sometime to about 4.0-4.5GHz, and don't think my current cooling setup will do the trick (I don't know a lot about OC'ing either, so have no idea what rise in temps I should expect. Just wanting to be safe). So here is my question (finally to the point lol):


If I want to do an OC (at least to 4.0GHz, maybe more), will I need to get a liquid system for cooling, or will my current fan do enough? If so, what cooler would you suggest (cheaper is better, but can swing for quality). I really can't afford to burn out my CPU, so any suggestions would be great. Thanks for your help.

 

[Conumdrum]

Liquid cooling will set you back at least $250. Thats your first consideration. You will get better temps.

Have you done all you can for case air flow and better fans on the heatsink yet?

 

[Bobnova]

What case and case fans do you have?
If the 9900 didn't drop temps much i tend to suspect you don't have enough care airflow.

 

[thorilan]

other than what bob and conum said you may also want to look at switching out the tim and making sure your mounting is good.

then slowly over the next few weeks read up on how watercooling works ( its a trap because once you do you will be spending money on parts in no time but dont say i didnt warn you)

 

[NinjaNife]

I have the Cooler Master 932 Full Tower case. I think it has plenty of airflow (I had issues with my old CPU, but then got this case and it was fine). The 9900 did drop temps, but if I OC the CPU, then I think the temps will be too high again. Any idea what temp rise I will be looking at with that clock? Thanks for the replies.

 

[NinjaNife]

Also, is the ThermalTake CL-W0121 BIGWATER 760i any good? I just found this for $115, so is definately within my price range, but not sure about its performance. Thanks.

 

[thorilan]

NO

stay away from any " pre assembled or kit like materials with the exception of swiftech which is basically a system made from quality parts so you dont have to shop around as much.

 

[Daddyjaxx]

If you want to consider a "kit" look at Petra's-Tech shop. They combine individual quality parts and sell them as a kit.

http://www.petrastechshop.com/wacoki.html

 

[NinjaNife]

So for what I am trying to do, does anyone have any suggestions (specific would help) on what I should be getting (even if I look at systems for a week, I know I would either get one that is WAY too much for what I need, or WAY too little)? And possibly the price range?

 

[Conumdrum]

Here is the crux of the matter.
ThermalTake WC systems are poorly made. The pump fail early. The radiators are cheaply made and aren't nearly enough capable of pulling the heat. The blocks are prone to crack. Most who buy a TT system on the cheap end up coming to a place like this and end uping replacing the full system.

This is your price range for quality watercooling, getting decent stuff that we would recommend. And this is it for low end quality water.
Pump $50
http://www.dangerden.com/store/dd-cpx1-12v_pump.html?&cat=23
Rad $40
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo2x.html
CPU block $40
http://www.petrastechshop.com/dadenmcun1.html
Res $25
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcmire2re.html
Fans $12
http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa1.html
Tubing 8 ft $6
Barbs $5
Clamps $5
Distilled water $2
Biocide $5
http://www.petrastechshop.com/peptpcobi1.html
MX-2 thermal paste if you don't have quality Tpaste $6

About $215 no shipping costs.

That is the cheapest loop I can build. It is decent quality, and enough for your system.

Or this kit from Petras.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/pecoba.html

The rad should be able to handle your heatload, I'm not sure about the wattage your chip produces at your overclock.

You want to play, you gotta pay.

 

[Dapman02]

IMHO going from water back to air I actually saw a drop in temps by a couple of degrees. Phenom's really don't put out a ton of heat. I see no reason to go for water.

 

[Neuromancer]

I also do not see the reason for water on an AMD setup. For performance reasons!

For usability. Water is soo much quieter

I recently went back to water on my i7... and again, no performance in crease, but it runs much cooler and MUCH quieter.

If temps are a problem now, I would suggest moving your PC away from any heating vents in your house. I see a 10c rise in temps at desktop usage level (near idle) with my under-clocked AMD 920, wen the heat comes on. (But I am about 2' from the heater vent At the moment)

 

[Conumdrum]

OP: have we discused your case and case airflow yet? A standard test is take the side off and blow a house fan in it and then test. If that helps then it's your case, case fans, and possibly wire management.

 

[schmide]

Or this kit from Petras.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa1.html

How is one yate loon considered a kit?

 

[Spawn-Inc]

How is one yate loon considered a kit?

... really?


This kit from petra's

or this one

is what he meant, it was a typo.

 

[schmide]

... really?
is what he meant, it was a typo.

Duh. I knew that.

 

[Conumdrum]

Fixed, thanks.

 

[NinjaNife]

@Conumdrum: I did post my case (Cooler Master HAF 932 to clarify), and I have taken the side off and used a house fan. This might sound strange, but the temps actually went UP with the house fan stuck right in the case (not sure how that happened, but it did). BTW I installed a Zalman CNPS9900 NT for the moment, and it seems to bring the temps down (make sure I don't get back to 60C like last week lol). Not as much as I would like, but it is enough until I decide to get a liquid system.

 

[Conumdrum]

Looks like ya have done what's needed. Water is lots of fun, it just costs more. Dapman is on spot though, you shouldn't really need water to get a decent OC out of it. It's not like an i7 at 4.2 by any means. Well, read this sticky and get some info as you decide and save the pennies. We'll get ya going. Ohh did you ask about heat on your chip in the AMD forum here? Might get some good answers there too.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/253958-29-watercooling-guide

 

[Spawn-Inc]

Duh. I knew that.

that message boards for ya. lack of emotion made it seem stern and serious.