cooling a q6600

[gary101]

Hi, everyone.

I've collected my components and I'm beginning the install on my second build. I've got a Q6600 and a Gigabyte ds4 mobo. I've got a Rosewill CPU cooler. I've got other stuff, too, but that's not important right now. Important, though, is that I found out that installing an aftermarket cooler on a BFG 8800 GT OC 512 will invalidate the lifetime warranty, so I've decided not to do it.

That got me thinking...will installing an aftermarket cooling device on the Intel Q6600 invalidate a warranty?

Does it matter?

Should I do it?

Thanks for answering these questions--I'm just waiting until I get the word of you experts before I complete my build.

Thanks!

 

[cnumartyr]

Here's the deal on warranties...

Overclocking a Q6600 voids the warranty, period. Normally there isn't a way to tell.

Using an aftermarket cooler on a Q6600 won't void anything. It's impossible to put 2 Q6600s next to each other and say "this one had aftermarket and this one didn't."

As far as the aftermaret cooler on the 8800 GT. Save the original one. If the card ever craps out put the stock one back on and try to get it warrantied. It works more often than not.

 

[Evilonigiri]

Well supposedly you're to use Intel-approved heatsinks, but who will know?

Like what cnumartyr said, it's nearly impossible to tell what you did, as long as you revert it back to the original.

 

[gary101]

Thanks for the tips. Wish I had consulted you before I sent back the Accelero S1 & Turbo fan. Maybe I'll reorder these if I see a problem with the 8800 GT stock cooling.

 

[cnumartyr]

Thanks for the tips. Wish I had consulted you before I sent back the Accelero S1 & Turbo fan. Maybe I'll reorder these if I see a problem with the 8800 GT stock cooling.

The one thing you have to watch for is stickers. My DFI Blood Iron had a sticker on the NB heatsink that was designed to tear so they knew if you had removed it. It had big letters "WARRANTY VOID IF REMOVED."

 

[Evilonigiri]

I think that's so stupid. I owned an emachine before and there was a sticker on the case that prevented me from opening it unless I wanted to void my warrenty. All I wanted to do was to add a new vidcard (6800OC lol).

 

[gary101]

As I understand it, there's a sticker on the BFG version of the 8800 GT OC that tends to fall off and into the cooling fan anyway. Don't know whether there's one designed to prevent removal of the cooling unit.

 

[cnumartyr]

As I understand it, there's a sticker on the BFG version of the 8800 GT OC that tends to fall off and into the cooling fan anyway. Don't know whether there's one designed to prevent removal of the cooling unit.

As long as it doesn't say void if removed or something, it's fine.

 

[gary101]

cnumartyr,

If I'm reading between the lines correctly, it sounds like you recommend replacing the cooling unit. Would you care to tell me the pros/cons of doing so/not doing so?

 

[cnumartyr]

cnumartyr,

If I'm reading between the lines correctly, it sounds like you recommend replacing the cooling unit. Would you care to tell me the pros/cons of doing so/not doing so?

The 8800 GT runs particularly hot because of the single slot cooling configuration.

*IF* you want to overclock it I would suggest aftermarket cooling. If you are leaving it stock turn the fan up with Rivatuner to as loud as you are comfortable with. The target range on my 8800 GTS was 78C under operation.. that was a bit hot to me, so I turned the fan up and OC'd a bit. Never goes over 60C now.

 

[Evilonigiri]

That's why you get a 8800GTS instead of the 8800GT.

Well, at least I would anyways.

 

[gary101]

That's with the stock cooling?

Also, I've got a Cooler Master 690 case, and I can put an extra case fan on it situated such that it blows right onto the GPU. That should help, too, I think.

 

[cnumartyr]

That's with the stock cooling?

Also, I've got a Cooler Master 690 case, and I can put an extra case fan on it situated such that it blows right onto the GPU. That should help, too, I think.

It doesn't help nearly as much as you'd think.

The TARGET temp in my BIOS for my card is 78C. The fan only runs at 29% or so. With it turned up manually to 60% the card runs around 60C under load overclocked.

I have a CM690. I have an 8800 GTS. The dual slot solution is a bit better... but an HR-03GT would be even better.

 

[Evilonigiri]

That's with the stock cooling?

Also, I've got a Cooler Master 690 case, and I can put an extra case fan on it situated such that it blows right onto the GPU. That should help, too, I think.

Yeah the stock cooling of the 8800GT sucks a lot. Max cfm for that little fan is like 11cfm.

Anyways since you have a CM 690, I highly suggest you to outfit the maximum number of fans. I recommend Yat loon fans since they are really cheap (~$3.50 for the 120mm fans). Perhaps you can mount a Yat loon 140mm fan ($4.50).

 

[gary101]

Do you know if there's any difference in temps between the GT and the GTS? Maybe I'm nit-picking, but I'm getting all worried about heat, since I've killed a bunch of hardware in the previous build due to heat problems.

How do you measure the temps?

 

[cnumartyr]

Do you know if there's any difference in temps between the GT and the GTS? Maybe I'm nit-picking, but I'm getting all worried about heat, since I've killed a bunch of hardware in the previous build due to heat problems.

How do you measure the temps?

They both will probably run about the same temp at stock.. thing is the GTS can run cooler.

The temps you can measure with speed fan... nVidia has temp sensors.

 

[gary101]

Should I worry?

 

[gary101]

Yeah the stock cooling of the 8800GT sucks a lot. Max cfm for that little fan is like 11cfm.

Anyways since you have a CM 690, I highly suggest you to outfit the maximum number of fans. I recommend Yat loon fans since they are really cheap (~$3.50 for the 120mm fans). Perhaps you can mount a Yat loon 140mm fan ($4.50).

cnumartyr, how do you think this will impact heat dispersal? I could max out the case fans...

 

[cnumartyr]

cnumartyr, how do you think this will impact heat dispersal? I could max out the case fans...

I only think you need 3 fans in that case. It keeps everything I have sufficiently cool.

One side bottom and one front intake. One rear exhaust. I have Yate Loon High Speeds that I've undervolted with a Rheobus and it does just fine.

Answer this one thing.. do you plan to OC the 8800 GT at all?

 

[gary101]

I'm pretty novice when it comes to this stuff, so I am not sure whether I understand the benefit of doing so, nor do I understand the process, and don't get me started on messing with voltage--confuses the heck out of me. So, no. I probably won't. Unless you can convince me to do it.

BTW, I thought this thing came overclocked.

 

[cnumartyr]

I'm pretty novice when it comes to this stuff, so I am not sure whether I understand the benefit of doing so, nor do I understand the process, and don't get me started on messing with voltage--confuses the heck out of me. So, no. I probably won't. Unless you can convince me to do it.

BTW, I thought this thing came overclocked.

Overclocking GPUs is 100x easier than a CPU. There is no changing voltages.. you don't have the ability to.

The card is factory overclocked from nVidia Reference Specifications. That doesn't mean it can't go farther.

If you want to learn we can teach you without a problem.. You will want to get Rivatuner anyways (one OCing program for Video Cards) to up the fan speed to help out on temps.

Normally.. 90% of the people that buy that card won't think anything of it... so I wouldn't worry. It's just personal preference.. I have a habit of OCing and trying to maximize temperatures.

 

[Evilonigiri]

I'm pretty novice when it comes to this stuff, so I am not sure whether I understand the benefit of doing so, nor do I understand the process, and don't get me started on messing with voltage--confuses the heck out of me. So, no. I probably won't. Unless you can convince me to do it.

BTW, I thought this thing came overclocked.

Bfg does slightly OC their cards.

Anyways you do not need to adjust the voltage of the vidcards to OC. All you need to do is download Rivatuner and up the frequencies and that's it. If it's too high, your games won't be stable, so you lower the speeds. It's as simple as that really.

Performance impact will be something like 5-10% more frames.

The best thing is no one would be able to tell you OC'ed it.

 

[gary101]

Well, due to the aforementioned heat problems, I'm really interested in maintaining cool temperatures. However, I've also got competing interests in performance and price.

I think I mentioned earlier that I had some aftermarket GPU cooling, but sent it back (Since I'm still a poor graduate student, I'm concerned about invalidating warranties). I figured that if the GPU crashes, they'll send me a new one (confirmed via email from BFG themselves). Since I'm still a poor graduate student, I'm concerned about invalidating warranties.

How much benefit would I see in OCing? How much impact might it have on temperatures and subsequent performance, assuming I don't upgrade to an aftermarket cooler? Would there be any impact on hardware other than the GPU from the heat if I OC only the GPU?

(by the way, you guys are awesome! thanks for answering so many questions here.)

 

[cnumartyr]

OCing won't cause any problems as long as things are kept in check (temperatures). And you make sure to check for artifacts in games (ATiTool, which we will explain when you decide to OC or not).

I think we scared you a bit.. but the thing would be fine as it's covered by a warranty. I just personally prefer things running cooler as I OC them anyways.

Once you get things built, download speed Fan and let's see where you are at with temperatures and the like.

Edit: It also depends on your games.. I play Crysis at 16x10 at all high. OCing helps me get a bit better frame rates so it's playable.

 

[gary101]

So, if Evilonigiri is right, I'll see an increase of 5-10% in framerate--meaning Crysis would run at roughly 47.25-50 frames versus 45. Is that even worth considering?

And if not, can I get by on the current system for a while without overclocking and with minimal heat problems?

Build I'm working on:
Cooler Master 690 Case
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (with Rosewill Cooler)
Gigabyte P35-DS4 rev. 2 motherboard
2 GB (2 x 1 GB) Crucial Ballistix 8500 RAM @ 1066 Mhz
BFG GeForce 8800 GT OC 512 MB (with stock cooling--should I upgrade in violation of the warranty?)
Corsair HX520 PSU
LG 20X DVD +/- RW w/ Lightscribe (transferred from existing rig and IDE, so will be on an IDE-> PCI card)
Seagate 500 GB SATA HDD perpendicular (though this may have to wait for a sale or I might buy s/t else)
2 X WD 250 GB IDE HDDs (transferred from existing rig)
Pair of JBL speakers which I like the sound of, but aren't shielded
Old 19" Samsung SyncMaster 763MB monitor that works fine. Keeping it until I can afford some nice LCD that works well for gaming (Any thoughts on these inexpensive 2ms Chimea LCDs that I've seen lately at Bensbargains.net???)

Updating from P4 2.4 GHz, 1 GB RAM, ASRock P4I45D Mobo, BFG GeForce 7800 GT OC (AGP and running only X4)