[SOLVED] Dell Optiflex 790 i5 2500 Cooler

[Aibisi]

I currently have a Dell Optiflex 790 with an i5 2500, even tho the temperatures aren't too high at full load ( maximum of 75c ) i would like to cool it down a little, would something like a small CoolerMaster X-Dream i 117 do a better job than the stock Dell heatsink / cooler?

This is what a Dell Optiflex 790 stock heatsink looks like the only difference is that mine has a normal fan blowing air into the fins instead of the stock one pulling the heat and exhausting out the back.

 

[Eximo]

No, that Dell cooler looks far more robust than the X-Dream.

4 copper heatpipes is a lot better than a plain aluminum extrusion. That fin stack is pretty dense. As long as that blower fan is still working I would stick with it.

If you wanted to do better you would need to look at coolers closer to $50 mark. Not sure how much room you have in there, but if you need a low profile cooler. Look at these:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xxphP6/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhl9i

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DKfhP6/scythe-big-shuriken-3-5079-cfm-cpu-cooler-scbsk-3000

Cryorig C7 or C7 CU if you can find them.

 

[Aibisi]

No, that Dell cooler looks far more robust than the X-Dream.

4 copper heatpipes is a lot better than a plain aluminum extrusion. That fin stack is pretty dense. As long as that blower fan is still working I would stick with it.

If you wanted to do better you would need to look at coolers closer to $50 mark. Not sure how much room you have in there, but if you need a low profile cooler. Look at these:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xxphP6/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhl9i

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DKfhP6/scythe-big-shuriken-3-5079-cfm-cpu-cooler-scbsk-3000

Cryorig C7 or C7 CU if you can find them.

And should i worry about the 75c temperature? Intel states the maximum TCase should be 72.6c.

 

[clutchc]

Is that Optiplex 790 a small form factor (SFF) PC or the mini tower? The cooler looks like the one from a Optiplex 790 sff.

If the latter, how much headroom do you have for a cooler?

 

[Aibisi]

Is that Optiplex 790 a small form factor (SFF) PC or the mini tower? The cooler looks like the one from a Optiplex 790 sff.

If the latter, how much headroom do you have for a cooler?

It is the SFF and its being used as a budget build with a GT 1030, i do want to add it doesn't run with the side panel on for better temperatures, noise isn't really a problem and dust isn't either because it is cleaned regularly.

 

[clutchc]

If you leave the cover off the side/top of the case, you can use any 1155 cooler that fits the space available, then. But if you want to put the cover back on like it is suppose to be, the ones Eximo linked you to are perfect. But verify there's enough physical room in that tight case since those coolers take up a lot of room.

 

[Aibisi]

If you leave the cover off the side/top of the case, you can use any 1155 cooler that fits the space available, then. But if you want to put the cover back on like it is suppose to be, the ones Eximo linked you to are perfect. But verify there's enough physical room in that tight case since those coolers take up a lot of room.

I plan on just leaving it open, should i worry about 75c on an i5 2500?

 

[clutchc]

I plan on just leaving it open, should i worry about 75c on an i5 2500?

Not if it is just an occasional spike. But if the CPU sits at 75C during gaming continuously, that will take a toll on the transistors eventually. Once you get past... I think 80C, the CPU will start to throttle anyway. Not sure about the exact temp it throttles at, but if the CPU gets too warm for its own good, it throttles back to save itself.

Does the Dell BIOS offer any fan adjustment? full on for example? (although, I would expect the fan to be at full rpm when the cpu is at 75C anyway)

 

[Aibisi]

Not if it is just an occasional spike. But if the CPU sits at 75C during gaming continuously, that will take a toll on the transistors eventually. Once you get past... I think 80C, the CPU will start to throttle anyway. Not sure about the exact temp it throttles at, but if the CPU gets too warm for its own good, it throttles back to save itself.

Does the Dell BIOS offer any fan adjustment? full on for example? (although, I would expect the fan to be at full rpm when the cpu is at 75C anyway)

Only has automatic fan control or an option to override fan control which sets everything to 100% and that is activated already, fan is at 100%

 

[clutchc]

Can you post a photo of your cooler? I'm curious why it is different from the photo above. That was the way my Optiplex 790 SFF's cooler looked.

 

[Aibisi]

Can you post a photo of your cooler? I'm curious why it is different from the photo above. That was the way my Optiplex 790 SFF's cooler looked.

I searched online to find it instead of taking a picture and this is the fan attached to the stock heatsink, i have the same one.

 

[clutchc]

! That's an AMD CPU cooler. That can't possibly work on an Intel CPU socket. Especially a SFF case like yours. That needs a retention bracket to clamp to.

 

[Aibisi]

! That's an AMD CPU cooler. That can't possibly work on an Intel CPU socket. Especially a SFF case like yours. That needs a retention bracket to clamp to.

Yes but its only the fan, and the bolts line up to the stock dell heatstink.

 

[AllanGH]

This: https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=25823
plus this: https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=25812
Done deal.

 

[clutchc]

That's what the OP posted in his opening photo. It's what I thought he had. But if that's the case, he just needs to get rid of that abomination someone put together and buy a used SFF cooler.

I was under the impression he already had that. But it is beginning to sound like he has something 'homemade'.

@ OP:
The Dell cooler is designed to exhaust the heat out of the small case. The AMD fan affair just blows the warm air around inside the case. No wonder you have to leave the cover off.