LITTLEBLACKDOG.COM

Stray Dog Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 4

My system has been running fine for a while (read: 10+ months), but now I'm having heat issues. Everything is a bit hot (but not too bad), but VRM2 is running at 66+ (hits 66 and alarms go off so I shut it down). With a giant box fan instead of the side of the case, I get a temp of 57 on that unit. The strange thing is that the other temperatures are maxing at 51 (without the box fan, the VRM can be 10-15 over the next hottest unit).

Here's the setup:
Mobo: Tyan S2460 (Dual Athlon 1700+)
HSF: both are Thermaltake Volcano 6
Video: GeForce 4 4400
Case: Xoxide X-turbine
Case Fans: 6: 2 front intake, 2 rear exhaust, 1 side intake, 1 top exhaust
PSU: Antex 600 W

Other things in there that shouldn't effect cooling
2HDD, NIC, Creative Audio

Now, here's the tough part:
The VRM is wedged in a corner between CPU2, the case wall, and the video card, so I can't get a fan over it, and it's a set of coils so I can't add a heat sink, even if I found one that would fit.

Any Ideas?
Thanks!

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 1:12 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum! Big Smile

If it's wedged against the case wall, can't you just cut a hole in the wall, and maybe put a case fan there (or if there isn't room for a fan, you could just put a grill there)? Or maybe perforate the wall with some drilling?

Stray Dog Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 4

The wall it's against is the back of the case (aka, where all the ports are) and there's no room for a fan Sad

Nor am I good enough with my hands to trust myself on that mod. I tried popping out the template for the extra com port, which is right where I need a hole, but no difference at all. It's quite troubling.

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:15 pm Post subject:

Would either of these help?

Stray Dog Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 4

The slot cooler can't help since the AGP port is the top slot and the heat problem is above the AGP card.

The other fan enclosure might be helpful. How does it mount? Can I get some more info?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:21 pm Post subject:

The other mounts on the PCI screws. Still too low for your needs, though. Best bet would be upgrading your current fans, or switch to water cooling.

Moderator Joined: 05 Dec 2000 Posts: 5941 Location: USA

Welcome to the LWD community theFool - how about one of these - w Question

f!

Stray Dog Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 4

Thanks for the advice and the welcomes Smile

I managed to turn a fan sideways and get it to blow directly on the offending area. Helped cool it enough that my alarms don't go off, but the mod was a quick hack that consists of wedging the fan sideways in the hole in the case, which is not going to last me too long. I think I will try to find some L brackets at a hardware store and mount it with them.

I can send pictures of the offending problem if anyone wants to help me find a more elegant solution.

Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 12:50 am Post subject:

Many cases have another slot cover above the AGP slot. This is where I put the audio I/O plates on both of my systems.

Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:48 am Post subject:

JustAnEngineer wrote:
Many cases have another slot cover above the AGP slot. This is where I put the audio I/O plates on both of my systems.

Thats not exactly true, it depends on if your motherboard has 6 PCI slots and an AGP slot or just 5 PCI slots and an AGP slot. With my Abit KX7-333 I didn't have a slot free above the AGP slot, but with the Asus A7N8Xs I do.

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 10:58 am Post subject:

Try cleaning out dust bunnies. I cleaned out my CPU heatsink and got it to drop down by 10 degrees C.

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:40 am Post subject:

Simply glueing a passive heatsink on the offending VRM will probably do the trick. Make sure you use the right stuff to glue on the heatsink. I suggest Artcic Silver thermal adhesive.

EEps · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2003 1:11 am Post subject:

Not sure how many dogs would be willing to mod their mobo. Shocking Smile

Since the hot side of the VRM is touching the mobo and dissapates the heat into the mobo...why not just unsolder it from the mobo, gently stand it up 90°, and slap a decent heatsink on it. Kinda like how the ones in the power supply are setup. Keep the heat off of the mobo... Wink Smile

I'm sure that would get it much cooler and more stable... Big Smile