Cooling

[Nick]

Hi all,

I know, I know, I know... Everyone always posts asking if their temp is
normal/ok/good blah blah blah.

Anyway, I'm running a 1.4 GHz Athlon Thunderbird which is sitting at 57
degrees C (as measured by MBM) with the case temp at 34 C. I know that my
CPU should run fine up to about 90C, so you don't need to tell me it's
running hot/cold whatever. However, I have many questions. Oh, the mobo is
an Asus A7A266.

I run SETI at home permanently (and get units done in 7 hours or so...) And
the temp has been going up slowly over the last few days (hit a max of 61C).
Constant use of CPU at 100% with SETI using any spare processing power. Now
I thought that after 24 hours the whole thing should be pretty stable, not
keep on rising. The only reason I can think of is that I don't have enough
ventilation to the case (it's fairly enclosed in a desk) which means the
case temp rises, so the cpu temp also rises. Correct so far?

So, the case only has one fan + cpu fan. (Tell a lie. Has a fan on the GPU
as well...) Had to try and replace the old case fan as it was crap,
stalling, whining, making noise, and not doing anything useful.
Unfortunately I can't get the old one off as the screws are ridiculously
tight (Thanks Mesh computers) So I have a little 80mm fan strapped on with
bendy cable ties, which obviously is not great but has pretty blue led
lights...
Question One: What's the safest way of removing the old fan? Hacksaw? Drill?
Both? Something else? (Safest for the comp, not me. I'm young, I'll just
grow new parts...)

I think the old fan is actually 92mm, as 80 is much smaller and 120 is way
too big. (Can someone recommend a decent quiet 92mm fan in the UK?)

I'd also like to fit an intake fan to the case. But, although the mobo has a
marked "fan" power supply, the case has no apparent fixings for a fan. This
annoys me.
Question Two: What's the easiest way of fitting a fan to the case, assuming
there are no pre-drilled holes?

Question Three: Drill, presumably, but am concerned about using power tools
on the computer... Wouldn't mind so much on the side panel as can take it
off and away from the electronics. Would this work well enough? I.e. have
the intake fan facing sideways...not forwards.

Can't remember what else I was going to ask. Oh, yes I can. I bought a 120mm
fan, thinking it'd fit well as the intake fan (overkill perhaps but *should*
be quieter than 80.) But the power connector is a 4 hole/pin thing same as
for the HD, not a 3 hole/insert little thing like for the CPU fan. (yeah, I
have no clue what they should be called, I'm sure someone will be pedantic
and tell me while ignoring any of my questions.)
Question Four: If I use the adapter that came with it to plug into the HD
power cable will it reduce the power to the HD? Perhaps more importantly,
will my mobo still be able to monitor the fan speed? I'm thinking not, but?

Anyway, I'd appreciate any helpful answers, comments or questions.

Thanks in advance,

Nick

 

[kony]

Anyway, I'm running a 1.4 GHz Athlon Thunderbird which is sitting at 57
degrees C (as measured by MBM) with the case temp at 34 C. I know that my
CPU should run fine up to about 90C,

Incorrect. That' not a guaranteed max stable speed, that's to prevent
permanent damage to the CPU.. it'll crash before it gets anywhere near 90C

an Asus A7A266.

I run SETI at home permanently (and get units done in 7 hours or so...) And
the temp has been going up slowly over the last few days (hit a max of 61C).
Constant use of CPU at 100% with SETI using any spare processing power. Now
I thought that after 24 hours the whole thing should be pretty stable, not
keep on rising. The only reason I can think of is that I don't have enough
ventilation to the case (it's fairly enclosed in a desk) which means the
case temp rises, so the cpu temp also rises. Correct so far?

Nope. If I correctly understand the usage pattern, being consistent, the
system is still doing same thing (SETI 24/7), temp should stay the same.
That's not to suggest it was cool enough PREVIOUSLY, it really should've
been better ventilated and/or better heatsink if you want to run SETI
24/7. The other issue is ambient temp, if the room temp is higher due to
(summertime or winter heating vent, whatever the reason) then expect
similar CPU temp increase. Another possibility is fan gradually failing,
now spinning at lower RPM... check the fan RPM, oil it if it's a
sleeve-bearing fan. From what you wrote next that seems to be the
situation but then I wonder why you even mentioned the temp increase... of
course it's going to be hotter with the only chassis fan failing.

So, the case only has one fan + cpu fan. (Tell a lie. Has a fan on the GPU
as well...) Had to try and replace the old case fan as it was crap,
stalling, whining, making noise, and not doing anything useful.

drop of oil will often fix that

Unfortunately I can't get the old one off as the screws are ridiculously
tight (Thanks Mesh computers)

Apply elbow grease, and some people feel that grunting helps, or eating
wheaties for breakfast. ;-)

Question One: What's the safest way of removing the old fan? Hacksaw? Drill?
Both? Something else? (Safest for the comp, not me. I'm young, I'll just
grow new parts...)

Hacksaw sounds messy but if you have no other, better way...

Drill may enlarge the case holes too much, as often the fan screw heads
are barely larger than the holes. It also may leave metal particles in
the case which is ungood. If you have tin-snips you might cut the fan
into chunks then use vise-grips to lock down on the small chunk with the
screw-hole, screw still in it, and when locking down hard enough it
should crush the plastic which will then break off of the screw. Then
again, that takes near as much strength as turning the screws out the
traditional way.... are you SURE you can't just use a screwdriver,
perhaps a DIFFERENT screwdriver?

I think the old fan is actually 92mm, as 80 is much smaller and 120 is way
too big. (Can someone recommend a decent quiet 92mm fan in the UK?)

Panaflo FBA09A12L

I'd also like to fit an intake fan to the case. But, although the mobo has a
marked "fan" power supply, the case has no apparent fixings for a fan. This
annoys me.
Question Two: What's the easiest way of fitting a fan to the case, assuming
there are no pre-drilled holes?

Getting that dead fan off without breaking it so you can use it's frame as
a template to draw holes (or the new fan), then a hole saw or sabre saw or
metal shears, and finally reassembling the system after dumping out all
the metal shavings. Might be a lot easier to just put a hole in the side
panel instead.

Question Three: Drill, presumably, but am concerned about using power tools
on the computer... Wouldn't mind so much on the side panel as can take it
off and away from the electronics. Would this work well enough? I.e. have
the intake fan facing sideways...not forwards.

Yes, but make sure it supplements airflow over the hard drive(s), not
reducing that flow which might've been coming in through front case vents.

Can't remember what else I was going to ask. Oh, yes I can. I bought a 120mm
fan, thinking it'd fit well as the intake fan (overkill perhaps but *should*
be quieter than 80.)

It'll only be quieter if you select a very low RPM model or reduce that
RPM in one of a number of ways. At "average" stock speed a 120mm fan is a
lot louder than same RPM 80mm... obvious enough but worth mentioning
anyway.

But the power connector is a 4 hole/pin thing same as
for the HD, not a 3 hole/insert little thing like for the CPU fan. (yeah, I
have no clue what they should be called, I'm sure someone will be pedantic
and tell me while ignoring any of my questions.)

I'll cut what I wrote and paste in "molex".

Question Four: If I use the adapter that came with it to plug into the HD
power cable will it reduce the power to the HD?

Not enough to be significant, providing the adapter's contacts are good
and fit well on the power cable, make a good connection (most do well
enough but again it's worth a mention).

Perhaps more importantly,
will my mobo still be able to monitor the fan speed? I'm thinking not, but?

No, but if the fan started out with a 3-pin motherboard plug, which seems
the case with your mentioning it came with an adapter, you could just buy
an extension cable and still power it via the motherboard fan header...
just make sure the extension is 3-pin, 3 wire, not 2 wire type.

 

[Shep©]

Hi all,

I know, I know, I know... Everyone always posts asking if their temp is
normal/ok/good blah blah blah.

Anyway, I'm running a 1.4 GHz Athlon Thunderbird which is sitting at 57
degrees C (as measured by MBM) with the case temp at 34 C. I know that my
CPU should run fine up to about 90C, so you don't need to tell me it's
running hot/cold whatever. However, I have many questions. Oh, the mobo is
an Asus A7A266.

I'm using a
http://tinyurl.com/ybtn
on my O/C AMD X1800
MicroFlow2 SPA07B2 (Skt A) Ref: CLR0006
Bargain at the price and comes with free,"Arctic Silver" type thermal
compound.I have sourced from CCL for several years and not had 1 bit
of bad gear off them.I polished the HS copper bottom centre to a
mirror finish and applied a small amount of the supplied thermal
compound.Max under load temps around 40 Deg C at this time of year and
the cooler is silent.As their postage is a bit steep if you are buying
a small component I usually buy two or three things

HTH




--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
email shepATpartyheld.de
Free songs to download and,"BURN" :O)
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm

 

[Nick]

Nope. If I correctly understand the usage pattern, being consistent, the
system is still doing same thing (SETI 24/7), temp should stay the same.
That's not to suggest it was cool enough PREVIOUSLY, it really should've
been better ventilated and/or better heatsink if you want to run SETI
24/7. The other issue is ambient temp, if the room temp is higher due to

Ok. Can't really argue with that, as I say that I want to fit an intake fan
anyway. Better heatsink might be a good idea too.

situation but then I wonder why you even mentioned the temp increase... of
course it's going to be hotter with the only chassis fan failing.

I have a 'bodged' chassis fan, which runs fine. The old one is unfortunately
still in place, but will try again to remove it today.

Apply elbow grease, and some people feel that grunting helps, or eating
wheaties for breakfast. ;-)

Wheaties huh? So that's where I've been going wrong.

Panaflo FBA09A12L

Ta. Will try find one.
has a

the metal shavings. Might be a lot easier to just put a hole in the side
panel instead.

Yes, I thought that it might be.

RPM in one of a number of ways. At "average" stock speed a 120mm fan is a
lot louder than same RPM 80mm... obvious enough but worth mentioning
anyway.

Ok, so limiting the voltage would help. I.e. run it at 7V instead of 12V.

I'll cut what I wrote and paste in "molex".

LOL. You answered my questions as well. You'd have been forgiven.

but?

No, but if the fan started out with a 3-pin motherboard plug, which seems
the case with your mentioning it came with an adapter, you could just buy
an extension cable and still power it via the motherboard fan header...
just make sure the extension is 3-pin, 3 wire, not 2 wire type.

May just buy a new fan which has the right cables and will run quieter.
Originally bought the thing because it had next day shipping, and wouldn't
hold up the rest of my order, not for any important reason.

Anyway, thanks for all your advice. Should be a lot of help.

Nick

 

[Nick]

I'm using a http://tinyurl.com/ybtn on my O/C AMD X1800
MicroFlow2 SPA07B2 (Skt A) Ref: CLR0006
Bargain at the price and comes with free,"Arctic Silver" type thermal
compound.I have sourced from CCL for several years and not had 1 bit

Will check the hs out, and see if I can find anything else I want from them.

HTH

Grateful for help,
Nick