Stock Cooler and the Silverstone SG13 - Too Hot

[Derkle]

Hello,

I am in the process of finalizing a build I am doing for my friend. He was planning on buying a console but I talked him into getting a PC instead and offered to build it for him. Here are the specs:

- Intel Core i5 2500 (non k)
- Intel DQ67EP Mini-ITX Motherboard
- Sapphire R9 380 Compact ITX
- WD Caviar Blue 1tb 3.5" HDD
- EVGA 500 W1 80+ Power Supply
- Silverstone Sugo SG13 Mini ITX
- Stock Intel Cooler
- Generic Front Intake Fan (approximately 1200-1300 rpm)

I wanted to go with a mini ITX build because of the portability and to make it most like consoles. I had a tight budget and this was the best I could get in a mini ITX form factor. My problem is the thermals. I know the stock fan is sub par but it assumed it would be fine since we are not overclocking. I get usually low 40s on idle but it gets to the 90s under stress tests and in game and will auto shut down if run for too long.

I need some suggestions on what I should do. I first had the power supply drawing cool air in the top but that had worse temps than I have now. I flipped it over to act as an exhaust and it lowered idle quite a bit but under load it didn't make much of a difference (probably because the power supply's fan doesn't seem to spin any faster under load). I also don't like feeding the power supply such hot air all the time. What would you suggest I do to make this build work? I don't have much money to work with. Would you suggest getting a better intake fan such as a pwm fan that can reach higher speeds? or should I invest in an aftermarket cpu cooler? If so, which one?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Geekwad]

Yes, a much better intake fan will be money well spent. Can also try a better thermal paste and/or re-seating your CPU. If you are still running the stock CPU cooler, a better cooler will also help a lot. An extra $25-50 will go a long way in a small build in getting temps under control during heavier loads.

 

[Derkle]

Yes, a much better intake fan will be money well spent. Can also try a better thermal paste and/or re-seating your CPU. If you are still running the stock CPU cooler, a better cooler will also help a lot. An extra $25-50 will go a long way in a small build in getting temps under control during heavier loads.

Thanks for your reply. $50 would be a bit expensive to spend for my budget (thats about 10% of the entire build cost) so it would probably be an either or. Do you suggest a different intake fan over a different cooler? Do you have any suggestions on which fans/coolers?

Also I have thought about reseating the stock cooler but the thermal paste should only make a few degrees difference. I will try reseating it.

 

[Geekwad]

I would definitely do that first. I've had to have done hundreds of seats over the last 30 years now, and every now and then I still goof one. After ensuring that's good, then I'd look to the CPU fan itself. If it's still stock from a Sandy unit, replacing the fan (pretty inexpensive) could help. After that, a case fan. In those small cases, developing good pressure is going to a long way to overall case cooling.....and I see your case can take a 140mm with a little moving inside. Ditch the cheap stock 120mm and get the 140mm, and see how your thermals are looking.

 

[Derkle]

I would definitely do that first. I've had to have done hundreds of seats over the last 30 years now, and every now and then I still goof one. After ensuring that's good, then I'd look to the CPU fan itself. If it's still stock from a Sandy unit, replacing the fan (pretty inexpensive) could help. After that, a case fan. In those small cases, developing good pressure is going to a long way to overall case cooling.....and I see your case can take a 140mm with a little moving inside. Ditch the cheap stock 120mm and get the 140mm, and see how your thermals are looking.

Thanks for the reply, I will try the reseat tomorrow. As for the stock cooler it is a brand new one so the fan should be fine. As far as putting a 140mm fan in, i tried but the 3.5" hard drive gets in the way so a 140mm is a no go. Do you know of any good 120mm fans to try? I kinda like the corsair af led fans because throught the front mesh an led would look cool.

 

[Geekwad]

This is just my take, but in those small cases a USB LED strip centered in the case looks better. That way (it can be added later) the whole case has a gentle glow out of all screening, vs the nuclear reactor look only in the front. That's just my take.

This would be a good fan choice:

http://www.microcenter.com/product/389218/Air_Series_SP120_High_Performance_Edition_120mm_Case_Fan