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Resolved Question

Cooling Issues

Sep 10, 2014 5:34AM PDT

I've been toggling between high end air cooling and simple water cooling my PC, more specifically my CPU. I've read time and time again that there's really no need to water cool unless you're overclocking OR the environment is hot. Now I'm not planning on overclocking, if I do it'll be very reserved. So needless to say I'm teetering more towards air cooling than water cooling.

The only thing is after beginning to buy parts, I haven't noticed much change with my temperatures.
Now I know you can't cool the computer lower than room temperature via air cooling.



The room is roughly 76 degrees F, my computer is running over 100 degrees F while idle. Again, it's not an insane set up, it's not even really a gaming set up. It's more or a less a simple computer running a Core I3 with 8GB of RAM. Like I said, simple build.



Now every so often I do put a strain on it by playing a game every now and then; older less intense games. Of course I put my fans on 100% and try to limit my gaming so internal components don't get too hot for too long.

My life story out of the way, I had a few questions.
Should I get an all-in-one water-cooler for the CPU to cool it down or will that do little more than the fans?
Should I add more directed fans?
Am I over-thinking this?





Case is a Cooler Master HAF X w/ the stock fans
Intake: Front (230mm), Side(200mm). Outtake: Top(200mm), Back(140mm). Additional (140mm) fan "free floating" blowing on GPU
Current Heat Sink: Evo 212 (in push-pull)

Wiring is mostly out of the way of all fans by design
Case is on a table so lots of space
Room Temperature 76 degrees F

Not over-clocked (though considering it in the future)

Discussion is locked

TheOnlyBuster has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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What problem?
Sep 13, 2014 11:53PM PDT

Do you have a problem? You say your computer is running well within tolerance and yet want to add cooling. If you're under 140 degrees F, no problem.

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Answer
Something like this one?
Sep 10, 2014 5:51AM PDT
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No Subject
Sep 10, 2014 9:20PM PDT

I think you should re-read my question(s) and concerns. I'm not looking for a liquid cooler, but input.

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My thought is that you may like that one.
Sep 10, 2014 11:53PM PDT

It's #1 for good reasons. Tomshardware has a site just for coolers and the hardware forum is full of prior and current long discussions about cooling. For me the stock cooler is fine. I replace the compound, make sure the heat sink is on proper and it's done.

There are some that want more so why not the #1 seller?
Bob

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Data
Sep 13, 2014 2:23AM PDT

Input would be based on data: You state ca 100 F when idle, which is within the norm. So what is the max. temp. when running at full blast? If that is within the norm, then there is no reason to be obsessive about additional cooling. It would also answer your question whether you are over-thinking this.

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Answer
The
Sep 11, 2014 12:13AM PDT

stock cooler of an i3 in a HAF case is more than enuf. I don't even use the front and top fans in a similar case but then again I don't have any HDDs or super hot GPU in it, only an SSD and mid-range GPU. I tossed the water cooler after all the hassle, noise and no discernable benefit. Lastly, after umpteen tweaks resulting in instability, I also gave up oc. If I were you, I would live with it for now and then get a Broadwell system by year's end; your temp issues should disappear then.

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Answer
Heat stress
Sep 11, 2014 12:58AM PDT

You can't have enough cooling. You already stating that you will now and then be gaming. HEAT is an ever present threat against your PC. So, why wait get the best cooling you can afford and install it. if you ever look at OEM based PCs you will notice that they don't mess around, they are installing huge heatsinks for a typical PC. These are even more impressive than the std. HSF that comes with a new cpu(retail kit) and that shows its important. The variable heat range when a decent cooling HSF is installed means it will deliver when it needs to. While you're asking about the cpu, in general its about cooling the "whole PC" thus exhausting it out. The benefit of water cooling setups is they tend to place the radiator outside of the PC and provides a welcome exhaust of the heat on its own. You can check all those setups online and review them, but overall as you stated water cooling provides a simple yet effective method, the negative being if it fails, aka "leak". But yeah, basic air cooling should be enough, it's you that makes the grade because only you know how you plan to use the PC.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Correct to be concerned about heat...
Sep 13, 2014 6:30AM PDT

BUT, as another has pointed out, water and electricity really don't mix.

Therefore, my newly built custom computer is air cooled. It has four cooling fans - One PureX Technology 120mm DLF-120T sucking air in from the
front, one PureX Technology 120mm DLF-120T sucking air in from the side, one
stock blowing air out the back and one PureX Technology 120mm DLF-120t blowing
air out the top. This is in addition to the fan on the processor and video cards each. The case is a Corsair Carbide Series® 300R Compact PC Gaming Case.

You can see my computer's complete specs in my profile here to make comparison to your own specs. My computer has an air flow temperature as well as operating temperature of right at 27° C which equates to just 80.6° F with a room temperature set at 73°. The caveat is that I am not an online gamer. I have just have a few simple action games installed. But, as I've had problems with heat in past computers, when I built this one, I truly wanted to remedy that issue once and for all. It looks as if I may have just succeeded! Wink ...at least to a point, eh? LOL!

I hope this helps you in some way. Good Luck! Grin

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No Subject
Sep 14, 2014 2:31AM PDT

Not sure if you simply didn't read my post or you just wanted to talk about your computer build...
And yes water and electricity don't mix, but I'm referring to water-cooling, not tossing my computer into a pool of water.

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@theonlybuster
Sep 15, 2014 4:08AM PDT

"Should I get an all-in-one water-cooler for the CPU to cool it down or will that do little more than the fans? Should I add more directed fans?"

Yes, I DID read your post. The above quote from your post told me that you wanted a comparison of water cooling to air cooling. While I could not give you that particular comparison, I still tried to help you, anyway.

No, I am NOT the egotistical one here. I simply used my machine as just ONE example of what could be accomplished with fans only. Your machine only runs three fans. Mine runs just one more, but is cooler than yours. This is a fact that I thought that you could learn some inkling of information from - that is, that you could conceivably and more inexpensively just add another fan or two to get your temp down more to your liking.

I apologize if I offended you by trying to help you out. However, I do wish you well with your objective. Happy