How to get better case airflow

[Navin]

Hello all

I've got my K6-3 400 @ 450 (100 FSB times 4.5 multiplier) with 2.6 volts. Windows programs run great, but I do experience crashes here and there in Quake 3 after the PC's been running for awhile. The airflow in my case right now is horrible, and I don't even have thermal paste on the CPU(working on that).

I need some advice on how to get better flow. I have the normal heatsink and cooling fan on the CPU, and one case fan blowing from the front of the case (inside the case) onto the motherboard. From what I've read, this is probably doing no good however, as I'm just blowing all the hot air off of my CPU all over the case with no way for the air to escape.

Here is a link to the picture of my case:
http://www.ditcorp.com/detail1.asp?PRODUCT_ID=CSMM%2DATX

My case fan is on the inside of the case right behind the blue area on the front.

Any good suggestions?

[Richard_Cranium72]

Most fans in the front of the case Pressurize the case, most power supplies Exhaust air from the case. Check this and see if you have a "balanced draft system", may need to fab in a fan in the top of the case for exhaust flow. If you run a 7200 rpm HD get a small fan for it too, make sure the cabling is not blocking the airflow over the cpu. Is the video chip getting hot, feel it, if you get burned, cool it. Get some monotoring software or a Radio Shack indoor outdoor thermometer and superglue it to the side of the heat sink as close to the processor as you can. Don't worry about the glue, it'll pop right off when you want to remove the bulb. If the ambient temperature is normal ie a Home, your setup should be OK. Overclocking the k6 400 as some others have said is pushing it a little, I've heard that these tend to run a little warm, what is the cpu temp. If really hot, take the side off the machine and put a 24" box fan blowing inside it till you get a more permanent solution. Make sure the cooling fins on all heat sinks are clear of debris, this is sometimes not visible with a cursory examination. You may have to remove some stuff to get at it. Is the cpu next to anything else hot, ie the power supply? Radio Shack has the thermal grease. get back, with more info, DrVette



[This message has been edited by Richard_Cranium72 (edited 08-04-2000).]

[krusty the klown]

I'd back her down (MHz and volts) until you get some thermal paste, just to be on the safe side http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Navin]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I've got the wife sent out today to get me some thermal paste and a thermometer from Radio Shack. The paste will be applied this evening.

Power supply is blowing air out. Cables are tied and out of the way of the motherboard and CPU. Heat sink has been checked and free of debris. The fan idea on the top of the case sucking air out may be my
solution. What kind of fan do you suggest for this? My inside case fan isn't that robust - it does the job but it's nothing special - I could use that for the "suck air out" fan and a better fan for the inside. Should I make a hole for the inside fan and try to draw in cooler air, or is my current set up acceptable?

[Raphaël]

if you have enough place, try to put a front down in case fan. If case holes are not big enough, drill them to 5mm. This will give cool air inside the case (for video and CPU).

K6-III 450@500 (2.7v)
FIC PA 2013 rev.2 2MB L3
2x128 PC133 SDRAM
Guillemot 3D Prophet SE
GlobalWin CPM32 & 3 case fans

[drizzle]

Navin, here's what I did to my case in order to better the air flow. I don't think air was flowing much at all before I did this...although the plexi-glass 'window' isn't necessary. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum17/HTML/000429.html

You'll also find a link in there for more details. Not shown in the pic, there's also a fan at the very top pulling air out.

[thekingofpain]

here is one way to increase your airflow: http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum17/HTML/000522.html