My New Watercooled System

[PowerHungry]

I'll have to give it a try tomorrow... Noise doesn't bother me much, will a decent 92mm fan @ 12v be about as good? And how about hooking the fans up in series? ( inside case -> radiator -> 8cm fan -> 9.2 cm fan)?

[Greebe]

a 120mm with an adapter (shroud) would be best... I'm trying to help you keep the noise level low while still providing much improved airflow

placing a fan on the front and backside of the radiator won't improve it's effeciency worth a hoot

[PowerHungry]

Hmmm.... I just had a thought while waiting for the 120 MM fan to arrive. Could poor thermal contact cause slightly elevated CPU temps? I'm using some Arctic Silver III, and I believe I used a proper amount. Perhaps to little? Otherwise I'll just install the fan and forgeddaboudit.

[Greebe]

Could be but I rather doubt it. Those temps sounds about right for your current low CFM fan setup.

[PowerHungry]

Well, crud. A new 120 CFM fan and the temps are the same, or slightly more. Not having a good night, my new cold cathode lamp went pop pop fizz fizz. Just wanna thank you for your help Greebe. Anyone else have any ideas as to why my chip is running a bit warmer than it should?

Case:78
CPU:105

CPU is overclocked to 1.916 @1.675v
Stock it runs at 101.

[Greebe]

Is that 105 peak or idle? Above you stated 115 peak... just wondering

[PowerHungry]

It is 115 peak, and 105 idle.

[Greebe]

Is the fan sucking the air from the interior of the case through the radiator and out or blowing into the case through the radiator to the interior?

[Greebe]

Reason I ask this as with my own setup I'm drawning air up from underneath (where the air is the coolest) through the radiator with the fans blowing upward into the case as so not to use preheated interior air from the case itself to improve cooling effeciency

This can be done on the right side panel also or the top but is much harder todo if on top effectively

[PowerHungry]

Its sucking air from the inside of the case and blowing it over the radiator and out the back. Temps aren't a problem, as the top and bottom of my case are fairly segregated from the cabling and case design, plus there is now a big vent in front where the large fan is getting its air.

[Greebe]

1. You should never draw air from the case interior... this skews all the readings and adversly affects cooling effeciency.

2. with any radiator the air should be sucked through it than blown through

[PowerHungry]

1. I'm aware of this, and it is relatively moot in my case because the top (H2O) and the bottom (rest of the system) are separated, and a large vent is sucking cool air in at the front.

2. Out of curiosity, why? (will change, and should be easier for mounting my radiator anyway)

[Greebe]

Laminar airflow over the fins is more effective than just blasting air at it

The only reason this is variable (one way or the other) in normal HS's is do to the hub area of the fan which prevents the center section of the HS to get hotter, problem is that BIG high speed fans normally cannot be mounted properly and or the HS design itself defeats the benefit of doing so.

[PowerHungry]

Well, I placed the fan on the outside of the case (blowing out), so that air is pulled over the radiator, and the temp dropped to 104 idle. Since the water doesnt feel much above room temp, I am starting to wonder whether it is my waterblock.

[Greebe]

Buying a inexpensive indoor/outdoor digital thermometer (Mine cost ~$15 USD) is a must to find things like this out. Measure the intake and exhaust water temp at the waterblock todo and you will have your Q answered.