Gigabyte - More Cooler! :)

[darkfa8]

Hello,

I have a GA-MA785GMT-UD2H mATX board that I'd like to look into some additional cooling options.

my CPU is running a Xigmatek 1283 cooler with 120mm included fan blowing IN to the heatsink. I also have a stock Rosewill 120mm fan on the back of the case blowing OUT. The PSU fan is sucking IN to the PSU.

Are there any other fans/heat sinks, etc that I could apply to further improve cooling efficiency?

I am currently running a 800MHz OC on the CPU and a 200MHz OC on the IGX. My CPU idle temp is ~31C, under full load ~51C

 

[LoneWolf_53]

51C temps under full load with an 800MHz OC? What expectations do you have for air cooling?

Be happy!

 

[darkfa8]

I thought I might be able to squeeze more since I didn't even touch any settings to do with the ND/SB or Memory. All I adjusted was the CPU Multiplier, VCore and IGX Core Speed.

 

[LoneWolf_53]

Well with all due respect you've adjusted voltage which equals heat and you've cranked up the multiplier which equals heat yet your temps are great.

That's why I asked what are your expectations? You're doing fine for air cooling and a Xigmatek which I'm familiar with as I have one.

My temp on the Xigmatek machine is 54C and that's with four 120mm fans doing the cooling on a similar overclock and a CPU that is happy with a relatively low voltage of 1.15V.

 

[darkfa8]

well, having done some reading I expected that I'd easily be able to OC the CPU by just using the Multiplier.

However, I was under the impression that even more performance could be had by further adjusting the other HT Clock/Memory selections...

I was also looking at upgrading the stock Xigmatek CPU fan to something that pushes more air to try and further increase cooling efficiency along with upgrading the North Bridge heat sink to one with a fan. My SouthBridge can't really be done much with because any more substancial of a heat sink would interfere with a future discrete GPU.

I was also looking into MOSFET heat sinks.

Ultimately, I'm willing to spend $50-$60 or so to add some components that may help increase the longevity of the components and remove some more heat.

 

[LoneWolf_53]

If you're happy to spend more money you most certainly can improve upon the Xigmatek performance as I know my TRUE 120 does a bit better job of it and is also designed to where one could go with a push/pull fan setup.

For what you have though it's doing just fine.

 

[darkfa8]

well, what tipped me off on the improved performance of my CPU cooler was frostytech's chart on coolers...

the Dark Knight 1283 has a higher performance fan compared to the HDT version.

Dark Knight: 89.45 CFM, RPM 1000-2200
HDT: 56.3 cpm, RPM 800-1500

All other physical attributes are the same.

I'm concerned about a push-pull setup since it could buffet the fan in the PSU that is pulling air away from the CPU heatsink. If I installed another fan that was blowing into the PSU, it would likely cause more noise and decrease efficiency.

I also have room on the front of my case for another 120mm fan. So, if I do buy a better CPU fan, I'll just stick the stock Xig fan up front.

 

[LoneWolf_53]

Often times the biggest difference between efficiency on these heatpipe style coolers is what they use for a fan and it also plays a big part in how happy the user will be in the end if they don't like noise.

I for one carefully look at fan specifications and I have found that anything that is capable of going more than 1500RPM may cool better but there's a trade of in decibels.

I'm doing my best to avoid any 120mm fan that is rated at more than about 25db under full load.

 

[jsc]

LoneWolf, my reasoning, exactly.

Scythe has a line of 120 mm fans with fluid bearings:
Scythe S-Flex SFF21D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185004
Scythe S-Flex SFF21E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185005
Scythe S-Flex SFF21F
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185006
Scythe S-Flex SFF21G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185065

After a lot of thought, I chose the SFF21F for my TRUE. I figured that it was a good compromise between air flow and noise.

Seems to have been a good choice. My Q9550 is OC'd to 3.6 GHz with 1.3625 volts (Intel's max recommended voltage). P95 load temps are 58 C - to 61 C.