Cooling Upgrade: Zalman Air or...

FadingTheory · 04-19-2005, 07:14 PM

I've noticed since I first built my computer (sig) that my computers been running a bit hot under stock cooling. I frequently have 45-50 idle on cpu, and 40-45 on system RAM and motherboard. I'm almost afraid to know what my video card is running at. In anycase, I thought I might as well decide to cool the thing: and if I'm going to cool it, I should cool it well.

At first, I thought perhaps a Zalman pair of fans would do the trick.

Video Card Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-117&depa=0
$39.00

CPU Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-115&depa=0
$52.00

Total:
$91.00

And though they look big, and supposidly work well, I thought perhaps I could do better. So, my question is: is there a better air cooling solution for this at the price, and would it be possible to up my budget to $150 dollars and get a decent water cooling system? I don't know where to start, and browsing the forums dosn't give me any really good idea of how I'd go about that business.

I thank you in advance.

Oh, by thhe way: I will overclock once I get this good cooling installed.

aj2003 · 04-19-2005, 07:37 PM

no with that budget its not worth going to water cooling. if u did ull end up with the bog standard cheap stuff really. them two fans uve put on there are really really good. are quiet aswel. make sure they have a decent amount of air blowing into ur case and at least one case plus your psu fan/s blowin out. its pointless blowing hot air onto a hot heatsink now isnt it.

Vampire_Slayer · 04-19-2005, 07:42 PM

I would say those zalman fans are your best bet around that price, and you should also get a good thermal compound like artic silver 5.

FadingTheory · 04-19-2005, 07:44 PM

ALready have a few tubes at home... bought WAY too many when I built my computer.

diabloII · 04-19-2005, 08:16 PM

your gfx card will OC, your cpu won't

with that value ram, you can barely push up that fsb

FadingTheory · 04-19-2005, 08:30 PM

Hmmm... oh well. Graphics card is what needs the push anyway.

Whats the max you can get out of value ram... I have it running at 225 with no problem. Wont it be able to go up to.... perhaps 250 with better cooling (better cooling=better voltage)?

diabloII · 04-19-2005, 09:16 PM

value ram aren't made for OCing at all

you're really lucky to get it up to 225

FadingTheory · 04-19-2005, 11:33 PM

Hmmm.... how odd. Its not even unstable.

charles_scott · 04-20-2005, 12:08 AM

Mine can only get to 204.5 Mhz or my computer fails to POST completly.... Lucky *** got good value ram

FadingTheory · 04-20-2005, 12:24 AM

Sorry.... but hey, just keep in mind I got the ****** processor that wont overclock without jumping in temps that are unheard of (My CPU becomes unstable and 2.2 GHz. Thats odd for a 3000+, isnt it?)

04-19-2005, 07:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
FadingTheory I Rule You Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 543	Cooling Upgrade: Zalman Air or... I've noticed since I first built my computer (sig) that my computers been running a bit hot under stock cooling. I frequently have 45-50 idle on cpu, and 40-45 on system RAM and motherboard. I'm almost afraid to know what my video card is running at. In anycase, I thought I might as well decide to cool the thing: and if I'm going to cool it, I should cool it well. At first, I thought perhaps a Zalman pair of fans would do the trick. Video Card Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-117&depa=0 $39.00 CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...118-115&depa=0 $52.00 Total: $91.00 And though they look big, and supposidly work well, I thought perhaps I could do better. So, my question is: is there a better air cooling solution for this at the price, and would it be possible to up my budget to $150 dollars and get a decent water cooling system? I don't know where to start, and browsing the forums dosn't give me any really good idea of how I'd go about that business. I thank you in advance. Oh, by thhe way: I will overclock once I get this good cooling installed. __________________ Iraq... whee.

04-19-2005, 07:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
aj2003 Monster Techie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,083	no with that budget its not worth going to water cooling. if u did ull end up with the bog standard cheap stuff really. them two fans uve put on there are really really good. are quiet aswel. make sure they have a decent amount of air blowing into ur case and at least one case plus your psu fan/s blowin out. its pointless blowing hot air onto a hot heatsink now isnt it. __________________ AMD x2 5000+ black edition at 3.3GHZ zalman cnps 9700-NT MSI K9N diamond 3072mb: OCZ ddr800 gold MSI 7800GTX for 20" viewsonic MSI 7300LE for 42" lg plasma Sunbeam Transformer Case - Blue Antec NeoPower 480W ATX2.0 PSU WD raptor x2 in raid0

04-19-2005, 07:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
FadingTheory I Rule You Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 543	ALready have a few tubes at home... bought WAY too many when I built my computer. __________________ Iraq... whee.

04-19-2005, 08:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
FadingTheory I Rule You Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 543	Hmmm... oh well. Graphics card is what needs the push anyway. Whats the max you can get out of value ram... I have it running at 225 with no problem. Wont it be able to go up to.... perhaps 250 with better cooling (better cooling=better voltage)? __________________ Iraq... whee.

04-19-2005, 11:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
FadingTheory I Rule You Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 543	Hmmm.... how odd. Its not even unstable. __________________ Iraq... whee.

04-19-2005, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Vampire_Slayer Super Techie Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 315	I would say those zalman fans are your best bet around that price, and you should also get a good thermal compound like artic silver 5.

04-20-2005, 12:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
charles_scott Wizard Techie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,418	Mine can only get to 204.5 Mhz or my computer fails to POST completly.... Lucky *** got good value ram __________________

04-20-2005, 12:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
FadingTheory I Rule You Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 543	Sorry.... but hey, just keep in mind I got the ****** processor that wont overclock without jumping in temps that are unheard of (My CPU becomes unstable and 2.2 GHz. Thats odd for a 3000+, isnt it?) __________________ Iraq... whee.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode