Keeping PC cool

[Merak]

Hi,

a couple of days ago, I bought a GTX 970 from MSI. I am very happy with the card, but there is one thing that is worrying me. When I play especially more demanding games like Witcher 2, my PC gets really hot and loud. The case just feels like a radiator. I got a programm to measure temperature (HWINFO), and my CPU was at about 40-60°C max. and my GPU even reached around 80°C max.. I am using a "Xigmatek Asgard III" case. So far my PC is cooled by one CPU fan, one rear fan, the PSU fan and the two GPU fans. Now my questions are: Are these temps normal/safe? How can I cool my PC better? Would more fans make a big/significant difference? What fans do you recommend? Are side-panel fans useful? According to the internet, my case only supports an additional front fan and two side fans. Any tips/comments?

Thanks in advance!

Here are my specs in case it helps:

Intel Core I7 2600k
MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G
1TB Hard Drive
8GB RAM
Asrock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 Mainboard

 

[Wraith]

You definitely need more air flow, a rear and PSU fan simply is not enough to cool a PC.

Take a look at this image for an idea of what you need.

 

[Thelosouvlakia]

Even the cheapest 5Euro fans will do a great difference! I personally suggest the Red wings by xilence. Cheap and quite quiet

 

[Merak]

Thanks for the quick replies! My PSU is top mounted and my case doesn`t offer top or bottom fans. I am also limited to one rear fan, two side fans and one front fan only. If i installed these, would the cooling be enough? Would merely a new front fan do the trick?

 

[Wraith]

A quality front intake fan would be enough to make a difference indeed, I don't usually advise on side fans as a rule as I don't see them as helpful when creating clean air flow, but in your case, you could add them as exhausts and set your rear fan as an intake. You would need to experiment with different configurations to see the best results for your system.

EDIT: Should you want more air flow from the single front fan mount you can look at a 120 to 140mm fan adapter Bitfenix do them, thus allowing you to use larger spinners.

 

[Davva2004]

I think that by adding one front fan you'll significantly improve the airflow in your case. Cold air will be drawn in by the front fan, and is being blown directly at the GPU helping it run cooler. Some will also rise up to your CPU, feeding the CPU fan cooler air, and then finally all the warm air will be exhausted by your top fan and your PSU.

I would not use the side fan mounts at all.

 

[NeverBackDown]

In the future upgrading the case to something little less air restricted instead of the awkward fan layout you have now will give you better results and adding a fan will only improve on airflow

 

[Tolemac]

put it in the freezer

 

[Merak]

Ok, so i got the front fan working and the case definetely feels a lot cooler, but according to HWINFO my CPU is still at 60-70°C under load and the GPU reaches 70-80 C°. Is this safe? What else can i do without changing the case?

 

[Wraith]

To try narrow down things. Just a few questions.

Which configuration of fans are you using? (Intake & Exhaust)
When was your CPU last Pasted?
Which programs/games are you using when you hit these temps?
Which case fans are you using?
What is the speed of your fans?
What is your current Ambient room temp?
Are your cables in order and tidy?

 

[Merak]

1. One front intake and one back exhaust (not counting the PSU, CPU and GPU Coolers)
2. Good question . I bought the PC couple (about 3) of years back second hand so it could be a while
3. currently testing The Witcher 2 and Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag
4. the stanard Xigmatek one at the back and one from scythe at the front
5. I don`t know, but they spin faster and louder when under load
6. Around 25C° i guess. Could be higher. Summer is pretty hot here (over 30°C today)
7. They are tied down to parts of the case using cable binders. I did not use that much cable management...

The GPU and my Hard Drive are pretty close together, only letting a small space for air to flow through. Could that be a main problem?

 

[Wraith]

It couldn't hurt to re paste your CPU, as for HDD they generally have a safe working temperature around 50°C, mine are running at 34°C in a well ventilated case so you could also try relocating it somewhere else in the case.

Could you take a picture of your set up and show us how the internal lay out looks?

 

[Merak]

 

[Wraith]

Thanks for the pic dude, you could start by dropping your HDD to the bottom mount clearing a path for air from the front fan, side panel fans could work with your set up as you have a top down CPU cooler.. as I said previous you'll have to experiment with different configs to see which suits you best.

 

[MadShadow]

Is there any space in the back of your case for cable management? That's one thing which is really restricting airflow.

 

[Merak]

Hope you can still see the picture, it keeps getting taken out after some time for some reason. thanks for the tips! yes it has somt back space for cable management

 

[Feronix]

Thanks for the pic dude, you could start by dropping your HDD to the bottom mount clearing a path for air from the front fan, side panel fans could work with your set up as you have a top down CPU cooler.. as I said previous you'll have to experiment with different configs to see which suits you best.

Actually I'd move it to the far top position, or even better: Get a 3.5>5.25" adapter and tuck it away in an optical drive slot. If he moves it all the way down it will block the airflow to the graphics card.

Though to be honest by far the best thing you can do is just get a new case. For around 3 tenners you can buy some really decent stuff nowadays with 2x120mm front intake fans and a bottom-mounted power supply. Sometimes even 2x120mm top grills for heat to passively rise out the top.

Hope you can still see the picture, it keeps getting taken out after some time for some reason. thanks for the tips! yes it has somt back space for cable management

Yeah SPS and I fixed it a few times now but it seems to have stayed since yesterday

 

[Merak]

Could you maybe recommend a specific case?

 

[Feronix]

Could you maybe recommend a specific case?

Depends what you're willing to spend on it, what kind of future upgrades you want it to support and what kind of looks you are into

 

[Wraith]

Any of the corsair carbide "Spec" series cases are good, Zalman Z1 or Z3, Fractal core 1500, Antec GX-500, Bitfenix Neos or Comrade, NZXT Source 210 all great budget cases.