NZXT Phantom + 580 GTX SLI = Heat Problem!

[Hunk]

Hey guys,

I'd already started a thread in the "graphics card" section but I figured I might talk about my problem here too.

Well here's my current rig:

i7 2600K

ASUS P8Z68 V Pro

2x MSI 580 GTX Lightning

Noctua NH-D14

2*4GB DDR

64go SSD

1TO HDD

Corsair AX850 PSU

Everything in a NZXT Phantom.

I've had this PC for about 5 months now and I absolutely love it. It's just that last week I bought an additional 580 GTX Lightning.

The performance gain is huge and I absolutely love this SLI BUT I now have a major heat issue with GPU1.

The top card, with demanding games and benchmarks, reaches almost all the time the 99°C limit. After a little while the card goes into safe mode and the PC just reboots.

Here's what it looks like from the inside

My question is simple: How do you think I can get more air towards the top card?

I'm kinda new at this and I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to aircooling.

I could be adding a 200mm fan on the door of my Phantom but because the NH-D14 is so huge, it won't fit. I could still add a fan and not fully close the door. That might work but would the top card really get cooler?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Rastalovich]

This is formulative of my criticism of directly top-down fans as coolers for gpus. A slight angle to them and a grill at the pci slot for hot air to immediately leave the case is essential imo. Otherwise, as you know, incremently the temps of each card in an sli/xfire setup starts as plus 10 (atleast) as you go up.

Single card - the problem is manageable in an average setup with regular case fans.

However, expecting your rear case fan to shift the same amount/rate of air volume as the fans collectively do on the cpu, would mean to me that is isn't helping the overall temp of the stagnant air elsewhere.

(looking at your pic....)

It's mod-time imo. I'd be putting a plynth from the top pci backplate all the way over to the drive bays to section off the cpu area from the gfxcards. Then take off the vacant pci backplates that the gfxcards don't take up. Stick a case fan or 2 to the right of your gfxcards - and see how the air exits the rear of the case via the backplates I took off.

To go a step further, maybe even section off the gfxcards from each other with another plynth.

If at all possible, use fan headers that can be adjust by heat.

Best of luck.

 

[Dolph123]

Have you got a fan in the front? It does help a lot. The two on the side just blow air right through to the other side. Also, 20mm thick fans should fit on the side over the NH-D14 and contribute a little.

 

[Hunk]

No I have nothing in the front. Just below the DVD rack you mean?

 

[Dolph123]

Yes. I had an old fan in the front of my Phantom which ran on a molex all the time. Once i took it out, my temps started to rise and the system got noisier. It will definitively help, but i don't think it's enough.

 

[sheroo]

No I have nothing in the front. Just below the DVD rack you mean?

Take one of the 120 off of the side panel and stick it in the bottom front, also take out that drive cage that you are not using - if I remember its held in by some screws in the back of the motherboard tray and a couple in the bottom - that may help you get more air from the front fan to your gpu. As mentioned don't bother with the 2 x 120 side panel fans in their default position they just distrupt the air flow.

 

[ThatBattlefieldGuy]

Did you try my idea with the fan between the cards?

 

[Hunk]

Did you try my idea with the fan between the cards?

You mean a fan that'd be placed on top of the bottom card? Would it fit? There's very little space between the two cards

 

[Dolph123]

You mean a fan that'd be placed on top of the bottom card? Would it fit? There's very little space between the two cards

I think he meant having a fan on the side blowing air directly between the cards.

 

[ThatBattlefieldGuy]

Yeah, ill draw you a picture lol.

It's pro i know. I dont know how you will mount the fan, but you'll find a way. Remember to open that pci slot between the cards, or buy an aftermarket vented one.

Blue is cool air, hot air is... you guessed it red

EDIT: I've just noticed that the lightnings intake not exhaust, i should know lol. Anyway you should get the overall jist of the diagram. Also, the 2nd SLI connector is unneccesary, and might be blocking some airflow. Just a thought...

 

[yassarikhan786]

If you are not able to do what ThatBFGuy Suggested I think Sheroo's suggestion would be your best bet. That extra drive cage will prevent efficient air flow if and when you place a fan at the front as an intake.

 

[Hunk]

Thank you so much guys

You've all been very helpful!

 

[yassarikhan786]

Thank you so much guys

You've all been very helpful!

Your welcome mate

.

 

[ThatBattlefieldGuy]

No problemo mate

 

[sheroo]

Report back it'd be interesting to know if you can get good temps.

 

[Hunk]

I haven't had time to get to it yet because of work but as soon as it's done I'll let you know guys

Thanks again!!

 

[Bladehawk]

you could always but some additional fans

silent and powerful

gentle typhoon

enermax magma

cougar vortex (my favorite)

or go with a extreme option

and get some deltas

good luck

 

[feznz]

I have almost the same setup 2500k + asus evo + 2 ngtx lightning I am almost certain it is you psu I have same problem I am getting a 1200w tomorrow basically msi recomends 12v@42A for each card = 82A

I have hx850 corsair rated at 12v @ 72A on single rail ie I am already eceding my psu by 10A without powering motherboard etc

 

[ruthless_villain]

I have almost the same setup 2500k + asus evo + 2 ngtx lightning I am almost certain it is you psu I have same problem I am getting a 1200w tomorrow basically msi recomends 12v@42A for each card = 82A

I have hx850 corsair rated at 12v @ 72A on single rail ie I am already eceding my psu by 10A without powering motherboard etc

the psu is affecting his temps? btw corsair power supplies will do alot more than what they say on the box. especially the ax850

 

[feznz]

the psu is affecting his temps? btw corsair power supplies will do alot more than what they say on the box. especially the ax850

As I said I have almost the exact same setup with exactly the same problem I had a corsair hx850 I replaced it with an enermax 1500w (overkill?) problem solved I can only offer this explanation the fans do not get full power and spin alot slower who knows but no more over heating no more shut downs problem solved.

the box on the msi card clearly states 42A available for each card = 84A

cosair state maxium of 70A delivery

if I do my math correctly that is 70-84= -14A FOR THE REST OF THE SYSTEM THE AX850 IN THEORY SHOULD NOT EVEN BOOT SO IT IS DOING AMAZINGLY MORE THAN THE STATED 70A AVAILABLE

DO YOU WANT PICS OF MY SYSTEM?