HTPC Cooling Help

[bigrod]

I recently built an HTPC for my living room with the following configuration:

Case: Antec ISK 300-150 - Comes with one 3 speed 80mm case fan
Motherboard: Asrock A75M-ITX
CPU: AMD A6-3500
Memory: Corsair Vengance 1866 Low Profile
HDDs: 64 GB Crucial M4 SSD, 500 GB Western Digital
Optical: Sony Optiarc Slot Load Blu Ray
Tuner: Hauppage 2250

Initially, I had just installed the stock AMD cooler and left the additional 80mm case fan slot empty. The system was a little loud and the temperatures weren't great (it actually froze up once due to overheating just watching TV). I never measured specifically idle/load temps, but probably somewhere around 45C idle and 65C load. So, I decided to go ahead and put an after market HSF and thermal paste on it to quiet it down and cool it off. The case is obviously tiny, so I didn't really have a lot of options that would fit. I ended up going with the Arctic Cooling GT 64 and some good old Arctic Silver 5. I also added an old 80mm Silencer fan I had lying around to the extra case fan opening. I tested it after doing this and it idled even higher than what I remember with the stock fan, and when I ran Prime95 on it, after only maybe 10-15 minutes it was approaching 70C so I shut it down. I let it just work normally for a few days hoping the AS5 needed some time to break in, but this morning I watched TV for a few hours and checked temps and they were around 66C CPU and 56C Core. Now I've taken the HSF off, cleaned it well, reapplied AS5 using the directions from their site this time (which I didn't do before, I just put a small dab on the CPU heat spreader), and now the stupid thing is idling at 48C CPU and 36C Core. Is this just what I should expect for such a small system, or could there be something I did wrong? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[dma0991]

The casing is cramped and can't get the hot air out fast enough, you can't do much about the heat. What's more important is not to meddle with the CPU cooler and focus on improving the case airflow. If cables are tangled and messy, tidy it. Set the case fans max speed as exhausts instead of intake, the negative pressure should force hot air out much faster in a small space.

As long as you're running less than 70C, you should be safe. The case looks rather small to handle a 65W TDP processor. Looks more fitting for a lower TDP processor like Intel Atom or AMD E-450. If all else fails, mod a mesh panel to the case, should help a lot with the cooling.

 

[bigrod]

I have cleared cabling as much as possible. Cables are, for the most part tucked out of the way. I do have the one adjustable fan on the highest setting and both are exhausting, but even then they don't push a lot of air. I'm just mainly concerned that with the aftermarket cooler and as5 it isn't cooler than it was.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dma0991]

If that is the case then it is fairly evident that the stock heatsink is better than the aftermarket cooler you've bought. Another method is to reduce the factory CPU voltage. If I am not mistaken, the factory voltage is higher than it needs to be and can be reduced a little which in turn drops the temps as well.

I've seen others done it with some improvement in temps, ~5C or more reduction in temps is possible depending on how low you're willing to drop the voltage to an extent where it is still stable.

 

[bigrod]

That's my thought as well, but could as5's break in time be a significant factor still?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bigrod]

Also, I've read differing opinions on Core vs. CPU temps, and the consensus seems to be that Core is more important. Which one is it that the manufacturer's rating would refer to though?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dma0991]

Never used AS5 although I came to know about it since it was new and probably the best TIM in the market. There are newer formulation of TIMs that outperforms it. As for break in period for AS5, I'm not sure as I've never used it before but I've not seen a significant drop in temps just from break in. My usual routine with TIM(complimentary TIM that comes with the block), put a rice grain sized, squish it with the block mounting pressure, run F@H at overclocked speeds for a couple of hours. Worked fine so far, no noticeable difference in temps whether it is freshly installed or a few hours later.

I believe Core has more importance in this matter as the temps reading comes from the CPU itself instead of a motherboard temp probe situated near the socket.

 

[bigrod]

Cool. I went with as5 because it was familiar to me, but I had only ever used original arctic silver. The directions say it will take 200 hours to break in, so I guess I'll give it some time.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bigrod]

Looks like I may have spoken to soon. After resetting the heatsink and running the TV for a few hours, it is settling around 55C CPU and 40C Core. Hopefully that took care of this.

Update: After 45 minutes of prime95, it's sitting around 64C CPU and 57C Core. Hasn't really gone up since the 10 minute mark. Not too bad considering the circumstances. Hopefully some break in will drop temperatures more.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[wanner]

I built a very similar system today and can share my experience so far,

Case: Antec ISK 310-150
Motherboard: Asrock A75M-ITX
CPU: AMD A6-3500

However, i replaced the stock cpu cooler with a Scythe Shuriken rev B (not big Shuriken), and the case fan with a Noctua NF-R8. As you can see on the image below i had to move the power connector inside the case since it wouldnt give room for the Shuriken otherwise.

Also, accidently i installed the casefan in the wrong direction (?), so it sucks air into the case instead of blowing the hot air out...

Anyway, i have not stresstested my setup yet, but its idling in windows with core temps: 18C - 28C
CPUTIN: 37C

I watched a movie in XBMC for about 1½ hour and coretemps didnt went above 40C - 50C.

Im running my fans kinda slow (turned them down in bios with a target temperature of 50C), and the system is really quiet! \o/

I will try to reverse the case fan and see how that affects temperatures
Might also try to install a 2nd case fan (the one that came with the case).

 

[bigrod]

I didn't think about moving the power connector like that. I actually looked at that cooler but ruled it out because of the power connector. What thermal paste did you use? Did you undervolt at all? Right now, I have it idling around 42 cpu and 23 core, so about 5 degrees worse than you and probably a bit louder. Probably will try some under- volting of CPU and ram before I get too crazy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[wanner]

I didn't think about moving the power connector like that. I actually looked at that cooler but ruled it out because of the power connector. What thermal paste did you use? Did you undervolt at all? Right now, I have it idling around 42 cpu and 23 core, so about 5 degrees worse than you and probably a bit louder. Probably will try some under- volting of CPU and ram before I get too crazy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I was about to pack down my Shuriken and install the Stock cooler before i realized i could just put the power connector inside the case. It's not an optimal solution by any means, but i really dont want to use the stock cooler. However I have not tried it so I dont know how it performs . If you can live with having the power connector inside the case i can recommend the Shuriken rev B!

I used the paste that came with the cooler. No idea what it is, unbranded in a small plastic bag . I have not undervolted at all.

However, I think that 23C core temps are really quite good considering you are using stock cooling?

 

[WT]

Another Scythe Shuriken rev B user here. After using mine for 6 months with the fan pointing up, I turned the fan upside down and it now blows air down on the HS itself, cooling the mosfets on my MSI Media Live board.

Temps were around 34-35c, and after the fan flip the temps dropped to around 28-29. Not bad at all, and not what I expected to have occur. Its quiet as well, so I'm happy.

 

[wanner]

Another Scythe Shuriken rev B user here. After using mine for 6 months with the fan pointing up, I turned the fan upside down and it now blows air down on the HS itself, cooling the mosfets on my MSI Media Live board.

Temps were around 34-35c, and after the fan flip the temps dropped to around 28-29. Not bad at all, and not what I expected to have occur. Its quiet as well, so I'm happy.

Just curious. How did you manage to get your shuriken to fit?

 

[WT]

wanner, I am using a very old case rather than the modern Antec you used. I needed a case that would fit a full sized PSU so I bought an Ultra Micro Fly years ago and continue to use it, simply because it just works without any need for a more modern case.

 

[bigrod]

It's not quite stock, but clearly not a lot better. I put an Arctic Cooling GT 64 on it with AS5. Supposedly it takes 200 hours to break in, so maybe in a couple of weeks I'll be down to your temps .

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bigrod]

I sort of wish I'd gone with a slightly larger uATX case. The old OCer in me can't stand temps this high with not much room for improvement.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[wanner]

It's not quite stock, but clearly not a lot better. I put an Arctic Cooling GT 64 on it with AS5. Supposedly it takes 200 hours to break in, so maybe in a couple of weeks I'll be down to your temps .

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I think the Shuriken will clearly outperform the Arctic Cooling GT 64. Im happy with my setup. Would be nice to beeing able to have the power connector the way its supposed to, but could by a pico psu or something which will probably give more room for a third party heatsink (perhaps that will even give room for a big shuriken?

 

[bigrod]

Yeah, that's probably true. Have you seen this thread on the xbmc forum http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=128009? This guy did some crazy stuff with a really similar setup.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2