Best way to lower ambient temps?

**Rakeesh** · 12-12-07, 01:49 AM

I noticed that my motherboard reports 57C ambient temp, and video card reports 64C ambient. This is way too high. Ironically enough, my CPU runs cooler than that, so I have a feeling that this is probably nothing but an airflow issue inside of the case, and my guess is that I can probably do something to improve this cheaply.

Problem is, I am not sure what exactly.

For starters, I have an aluminum case. Also I already have one 120mm fan blowing in front near the bottom, though it is somewhat obstructed by the hard disks that it is blowing directly on to. And I have a 120mm fan in the back near the top by the PSU. On top of those two, I have an 80mm fan blowing inward directly on top of the Zalman 9500 cooler I am using.

There shouldn't be any issues with cables blocking much as I don't use any ribbon cables, and they are tucked away inside of the drive bays. I figure even though the front fan is blowing directly on to the hard disks, there should be enough air flow to prevent the GPU from reading 64C ambient. What am I doing wrong here?

Q · 12-12-07, 07:56 AM

Could you post a picture of your case?

Long video cards can wreak havoc on case air flow. In addition, I've noticed that two 120mm fans and an 80mm just don't cut it with quad core and high end graphics cards.

I'm thinking that, worst case scenario, you will need another case. I've always mounted extra 120mm fans IN my case at points where I know hot air builds up. I use zip ties and insulated electrical wires to do so. I usually point it to force air from building up under the 8800. That's the biggest problem I've had.

Again, post some pics of your case or just a floor model of it and we'll dissect the airflow for you and get you fixed up!

**XDanger** · 12-12-07, 07:27 PM

The sensor for the ambient temp on the motherboard ,wheres it at?

By the voltage regulators?

**Rakeesh** · 12-12-07, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q

Could you post a picture of your case?

It is an Ultra Aluminus ULT-31825

Pictures here:

The front fan isn't visible from that pic, it is right behind the front cover, in front of the removable hard drive bays. I got this case free after rebate about a year ago.

Full spec and details here:

http://www.ultraproducts.com/product...&productID=411

**Rakeesh** · 12-12-07, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDanger

The sensor for the ambient temp on the motherboard ,wheres it at?

By the voltage regulators?

Not sure, I am looking for it in the manual right now. FWIW, it is a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L.

LORD-eX-Bu · 12-12-07, 10:05 PM

cut some holes on the top and get two or three 120mm fans blowing into the case.

**Rakeesh** · 12-12-07, 10:38 PM

Something I am trying to figure out - the grill on the lower part of the side panel, what is that intended for? Is it meant for air to go in or out? I know it is part of some kind of intel spec but I've read conflicting information about what exactly the idea behind it is in terms of how it effects airflow.

LORD-eX-Bu · 12-12-07, 10:40 PM

hmm... I thought that having fans on the side panel would cause more turbulence and disript airflow, shows how much I know

turn up the AC?

**Rakeesh** · 12-12-07, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LORD-eX-Bu

hmm... I thought that having fans on the side panel would cause more turbulence and disript airflow, shows how much I know

turn up the AC?

Yeah part of the newer intel spec for cases is that you have a side fan blowing into a cone directing air to the CPU. In fact if you read the CPU manual for newer CPU's they even mention this as a requirement. It does work btw, if I turn that fan off the CPU temps increase.

Oh, and I already have two 120's BTW.

LORD-eX-Bu · 12-12-07, 10:51 PM

you have two 120mm fans blowing from the top of the case down? so you already modded your case? man, must be a pretty hot room you're running your computer in. Hows your cabling and everything look like? is it organized?

I wouldn't know about the whole fan blowing onto the cpu spec from intel, I have mines water cooled

**crainger** · 12-12-07, 10:59 PM

I thought it was best to have the top fan suck to extract heat from the top...

LORD-eX-Bu · 12-12-07, 11:01 PM

thats probably right, I have mines the other way because the air is passing through a radiator and is only used to cool mosfets

12-12-07, 01:49 AM	#1
Rakeesh Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 6,853	Best way to lower ambient temps? I noticed that my motherboard reports 57C ambient temp, and video card reports 64C ambient. This is way too high. Ironically enough, my CPU runs cooler than that, so I have a feeling that this is probably nothing but an airflow issue inside of the case, and my guess is that I can probably do something to improve this cheaply. Problem is, I am not sure what exactly. For starters, I have an aluminum case. Also I already have one 120mm fan blowing in front near the bottom, though it is somewhat obstructed by the hard disks that it is blowing directly on to. And I have a 120mm fan in the back near the top by the PSU. On top of those two, I have an 80mm fan blowing inward directly on top of the Zalman 9500 cooler I am using. There shouldn't be any issues with cables blocking much as I don't use any ribbon cables, and they are tucked away inside of the drive bays. I figure even though the front fan is blowing directly on to the hard disks, there should be enough air flow to prevent the GPU from reading 64C ambient. What am I doing wrong here? __________________ Want to listen to audio without your computer going to sleep? Try this. Core i7 2600k 4.4Ghz 1.385v \| Corsair H60 \| 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 8-8-8-24 \| MSI P67A-G45 \| OCZ Vertex 3 \| Sapphire 7850 OC to Max settings

12-12-07, 07:56 AM	#2
Q Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,793	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? Could you post a picture of your case? Long video cards can wreak havoc on case air flow. In addition, I've noticed that two 120mm fans and an 80mm just don't cut it with quad core and high end graphics cards. I'm thinking that, worst case scenario, you will need another case. I've always mounted extra 120mm fans IN my case at points where I know hot air builds up. I use zip ties and insulated electrical wires to do so. I usually point it to force air from building up under the 8800. That's the biggest problem I've had. Again, post some pics of your case or just a floor model of it and we'll dissect the airflow for you and get you fixed up!

12-12-07, 07:27 PM	#3
XDanger Whaaat? Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,673	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? The sensor for the ambient temp on the motherboard ,wheres it at? By the voltage regulators?

12-12-07, 10:05 PM	#6
LORD-eX-Bu Horus the pointy master Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,609	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? cut some holes on the top and get two or three 120mm fans blowing into the case. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

12-12-07, 10:38 PM	#7
Rakeesh Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 6,853	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? Something I am trying to figure out - the grill on the lower part of the side panel, what is that intended for? Is it meant for air to go in or out? I know it is part of some kind of intel spec but I've read conflicting information about what exactly the idea behind it is in terms of how it effects airflow. __________________ Want to listen to audio without your computer going to sleep? Try this. Core i7 2600k 4.4Ghz 1.385v \| Corsair H60 \| 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 8-8-8-24 \| MSI P67A-G45 \| OCZ Vertex 3 \| Sapphire 7850 OC to Max settings

12-12-07, 10:40 PM	#8
LORD-eX-Bu Horus the pointy master Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,609	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? hmm... I thought that having fans on the side panel would cause more turbulence and disript airflow, shows how much I know turn up the AC? __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

12-12-07, 10:51 PM	#10
LORD-eX-Bu Horus the pointy master Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,609	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? you have two 120mm fans blowing from the top of the case down? so you already modded your case? man, must be a pretty hot room you're running your computer in. Hows your cabling and everything look like? is it organized? I wouldn't know about the whole fan blowing onto the cpu spec from intel, I have mines water cooled __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

12-12-07, 10:59 PM	#11
crainger Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia Posts: 29,535	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? I thought it was best to have the top fan suck to extract heat from the top...

12-12-07, 11:01 PM	#12
LORD-eX-Bu Horus the pointy master Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,609	Re: Best way to lower ambient temps? thats probably right, I have mines the other way because the air is passing through a radiator and is only used to cool mosfets __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

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