Cooling - Case Fan

penguinpaul · #1 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 08:22 PM

Hi,

I've recently been monitoring the temperature on one of the machines in the office/study thing. Fujitsu Siemens, only a P4 HT, its a 3.06ghz, running Xp. The cpu temps have been about 65 idle, and it doesnt seem to measure the temp past 70 when its under load.

The case temp was about 49, and the hds were about the same, so I've gone and got an akasa 80mm fan for the case. The mobo wont power a case fan, so I'm using the 4 to 3 pin molex adaptor. The case temp is now around 30 - 35 ish, much better. But I'm not sure which way the fan should be blowing. Its blowing outwards at the moment, which I *think* my machine does.. Is this the best way for the air?? Its the machine with 3 blue LEDs on the front, which are also small vents.
I used compressed air and the hoover on the very dusty heatsink for the CPU and i think thats helped loads.. But anyway, if anyone could help with me with the airflow of the CPU fan it would be much appreciated

thanks,
Paul

dobhar · #2 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 08:29 PM

Hi penguinpaul...

I have mine setup per this diagram...
Keeping Your Computer's Case Cool - An Internal Airflow Strategy - CPUs, Boards & Components by ExtremeTech

I have 2 small case fans in the front and one large case fan in the back...plus the PSU fan...this works for me.

Some other "Google" hits on the subject...
computer air flow diagram - Google Search

penguinpaul · #3 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 09:06 PM

hey thanks man

thats good, i'll try and get some front fans as well

-Paul

Digerati · #4 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 09:42 PM

Yeah, you generally want unrestricted front to back air flow. Also bigger fans move more air at lower RPM - this is good because lower RPMs equal less noise. So if your case supports 92mm or 120mm fans, that's better.

Also, if you have flat ribbon cables for any hard or floppy drives, you could replace them with round cables. These restrict air much less, come in various lengths, and different colors, which is nice when tracing cables in a crowded box.

penguinpaul · #5 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 09:49 PM

yeh, i had a 90 but i had to buy an 80, the case only supported an 80..
because the mobo has no case fan output, im powering off a molex, so its running flat out (2500 rpm). Is this ok, or should I try and get some kind of voltage regulator??? I was just wondering if its very efficient at 2500RPM or not..

Thanks,
Paul

Digerati · #6 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

because the mobo has no case fan output, im powering off a molex, so its running flat out (2500 rpm). Is this ok, or should I try and get some kind of voltage regulator???

That is perfectly fine - that's how all fans used to be powered. And since it is running full speed, it is cooling better. The ONLY reason to use speed controls on fans is to control noise - if you got good ball-bearing fans, noise should not be bad.

penguinpaul · #7 (**permalink**) 19-02-2009, 10:26 PM

brushless so yeh... its alright sound wise.. its not me who uses it anyway

my mum and my sister, and theyre not fussy

time to order an arctic cooling alpine 7 GT for it

#8 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 10:38 AM

I have a desktop now, but I had a lappie once & there were overheating problems, I solved it by getting a twin fan cooling unit that a laptop stands on, cheap too, at £14.99!

penguinpaul · #9 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 03:38 PM

Do they actually work then??? Cos my old lappy gets very very hot and then it BSODs.. might be worth getting one

also, I couldnt get an Alpine 7 for the fujitsu, turns out its a 478 not a 775

got a thermaltake one coming tho

#10 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinpaul

Do they actually work then??? Cos my old lappy gets very very hot and then it BSODs.. might be worth getting one

also, I couldnt get an Alpine 7 for the fujitsu, turns out its a 478 not a 775

got a thermaltake one coming tho

They certainly do, although I live in England where it rarely gets above 65c, where I had the lap, in the summer, It'd top 80c quite often,