Question Seeking a cooling solution for an older PC

[dulianiti]

Couple of details I wish to mention first. I'm pretty much disabled and haven't been employed for a long time. The last time I bothered messing with upgrades was in 2018, and a GPU and RAM upgrade happened to be all I needed. Now I'm kind of hoping I can find a suitable solution for my problem as upgrading to a modern PC simply is not an option.

I sincerely appreciate anyone taking the time to bother to read this, as I am well aware of what a nuisance this particular problem is. And even though I'm largely ignorant when it comes to PC components, I know enough about the issue to paint a decent picture.

-- The cooler I am seeking must be compatible with a stock motherboard from a Dell Inspiron 570 PC with an AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad-Core Socket AM3 CPU - apparently the highest CPU I can shoot for. It seems the processor requires a cooler that can handle 125W. Also, the cooler cannot exceed 5.5 inches in height.

-- The motherboard - model 04GJJT - has Intel LGA775 screw type mounting sockets. It should also be noted that modifying the backplate to accomodate a cooler really isn't an option.

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I have followed an extensive guide covering various upgrades to the Inspiron 570...

https://www.dell.com/community/en/c...cluding-overclocking/647f2ee0f4ccf8a8de4a0d6b

...and in this guide, it is stated that a specific cooler just so happens to be perfectly compatible with the 04GJJT motherboard - a DeepCool IceEdge 400XT Heatsink. The problem is, too much time has passed and the cooler is nowhere to be found. Fully aware this is my own fault. Really hoping there might be a similar cooling option that is compatible with the screw type mounting sockets.

There is another important note from the guide.

"The Inspiron 570 motherboard lacks software fan control, which can cause issues when upgrading to higher TDP processors like the Phenom II X4 965 BE. Hardware control options for fan speed include fan panel controllers, fans with built-in controllers, or running fans at maximum speed by bypassing motherboard control."

Leaving a fan on constantly is hardly ideal, but it appears to be my only option. I have no space to add a fan panel controller and I don't intend to leave the inside of the case easily accessible.

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...I understand this is a major pain. And if this fails, I'll go back to putting up with what I've got. But I'm really hoping I can get some help with this. I just don't trust myself enough to locate a suitable option.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Would this work? https://www.amazon.com/Contact-Technology-Excellent-Dissipation-FanSingle/dp/B0CFTGBYND?th=1

 

[dulianiti]

Would this work? https://www.amazon.com/Contact-Technology-Excellent-Dissipation-FanSingle/dp/B0CFTGBYND?th=1

If I'm being honest, this seems like the sort of listing I'd expect to see on aliexpress - which makes me skeptical about how reliable it is.

 

[CountMike]

If I'm being honest, this seems like the sort of listing I'd expect to see on aliexpress - which makes me skeptical about how reliable it is.

That one surly wouldn't work, although you say that mb has "Intel LGA775 screw type mounting" it doesn't mean it is same as AMD. AMD hole spacing is different but all are same from AM2+ . AM3 .
Only AND coolers that mount directly on MB are Wraith Stealth coolers that comes with Ryzen CPUs but those are limited to 65W TDP.
Up to AM3+ most after market coolers come with a back plate for behind the MB.Ryzen MBs but mounting holes have different spacing. To make it even more complicated. HP used to make own MBs which didn't comply with over the shelf standards so you will probably have to measure hole spacing and fabricate some kind of mount.

 

[Cyr4x]

https://www.amazon.com/AIR-COOLING-ENDORFY-FERA-5/dp/B0BLSTTZKT/
More than enough for this CPU. Compatible with LGA755 mount. Make sure it won't be too big.

 

[Paperdoc]

Based on what you tell us, I assume that all your current fans are the older 3-pin type. For them control of fan speed is done by varying the VOLTAGE supplied to each via Pin #2. Now your interest is in a cooler for the CPU, not the case, but that does not make a lot of difference. IF you use what I suggest, it is ideal for 3-pin fans, so a CPU cooler with that fan type will work just fine. However, the backwards compatibility features of the new 4-pin PWN type fans means their speed CAN be controlled from a 3-pin fan header, just not in an ideal manner. But there is ONE aspect of plugging a 4-pin fan's female connector into the output of a 3-pin fan power system. Some such systems use male output connectors with shrouds around the pins, and the size of the space inside the shroud is too small for the 4-pin female connector. For that issue you need some way to custom-modify the shroud to allow the female to fit OR to cut the 4th pin part off the side of the 4-pin female connector so it fits into the shrouded 3-pin male output.

One issue you are facing is no front panel space for a manual fan speed control module. The alternative is a much small unit that comes mounted to a metal strip that fits into an unused slot an the back intended for a device in a PCIe slot. This does NOT actually use the PCIe slot - just the cover space. Here's an example.

https://www.amazon.com/DGHAOP-Gover...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

This unit gets 12 VDC power from a PSU 4-pin Molex output. It has one 3-pin fan output on the board, and comes with a Splitter to convert that to three standard male fan outputs, but with shrouds. So you can plug up to three 3-pin fans into it. Fan speed control is done simply by turning the knob exposed on the back plate. Of course that means you must be able to reach that back location to do that. And this would involve the points above - use of a 3- or 4-pin fan with the system which is ONLY a 3-pin fan speed controller despite its odd naming! Plus the connector modification IF your fan has a 4-pin connector on its cable.

If you would not find access to the rear panel easy, there may be other options with third-party fan controllers that use a hand-held remote control box rather than a front panel module. Those are more expensive, but more convenient. If that interests you, post back here.

 

[Eximo]

Generally with Dell you have M3 screw holes and the backplate is the motherboard tray.

Most multi socket cooler with adjustments for LGA775/LGA115xLGA1366/2066/AM4 tend to work. You just don't use the included backplate.
All you need in addition is 4 m3 screws of the right length and matching nuts to put pressure on to the CPU mounting bracket at the four corners. It may take a few nuts to adjust the length of the screw so that it doesn't bottom out in the case. Washers may also come in handy depending on the size of the bracket holes on the CPU cooler. Examples below.

Deepcool Gammaxx 400
Cooler Master Hyper 212
(I think both are too tall for you though)
be quiet! Pure Rock slim 2 might work.

For the types that rely on two mounting screws that attach to two plates that go across two mounting holes perpendicular to CPU cooler bracket, you will also need a sufficient number of nuts or spacers to bring the height of the plates up from the motherboard surface, and nuts to hold the plates down to the screws. This is a lot trickier to get right. You can use threaded rods or cut the heads off the screws for more adaptability.

Thermalright Assassin X 90 SE might work.

Advantage to this is that you still use the spring loaded screws the cooler normally mounts with, no pressure issues. The first method is more of a hard mount, so over tightening is possible.

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