Best cooling for my graphics cards and soundcard.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 22, 2014

Hi guys!
As described above, I want to know how I can get the best cooling for my setup. Ever since I've got my Asus Xonar Essence STX soundcard, the air in my case have got extremely hot, and when i shut down my PC and touch the soundcard, it is also very hot, betwen 60 and 70° C. Is this temp normal for the soundcard? Can you actually get a water cooler for the soundcard? Even when my PC is idle, the soundcard is so hot, that I can't keep my hand on it for long. I know I ain't supposed to touch my components when my PC is running, but is just had to know these things. :-/

I wanted to water cool my graphics cards, but I've been searching, and it dosent really look like there is no waterblock for my cards. I have 2 Gigabyte windforce GTX 770 4GB OC'et version. Can you suggest any way I could get them water cooled, or how I can cool them down the best way? I don't really mind the noise from fans, but it would be a plus if you could find some really good fans which are also quiet.

It's pretty important to me that i get some good coolers, because lately, when i play Battlefield 4, approximately 30 min into a game, my PC would blue screen and then crash. This happend ever since I got the soundcard.

I've been thinking about putting some Noctua fans in my case, do you think i should do that?

My specs:
Case: Cooler Master HAF X
CPU: Intel Core I7 3770K, not OC'et
GPU: 2x Gigabyte windforce gtx 770
RAM: Kingston HyperX 2400MHz
Soundcard: Xonar Essence STX

Thanks in advance!!

tiny voices · Mar 22, 2014

Your GPUs have GOOD coolers and will be perfectly fine. As long as you case has an intake fan at the front and an exhaust fan at the back there will be no issues.

What are your Load CPU and GPU temps?

What are your using the sound card for? Editing professional audio? Running a 7.1+ surround setup?

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 22, 2014

tiny voices :

I dont exactly know what load and temps they have, because every time I've tried to measure it with the MSI Control Panel, it stops working and i have to shut it down with task manager. Can you recommend me a good free software to measure the temps and load?

I have plans about getting a better water cooler for my CPU, because the one i have right know is REALLY bad, and i will then be able to have an exhaust fan. Curently, I have no exhaust fan, but i have just turned the side fan around so that works like an exhaust.

I don't use the soundcard for 7.1, I only use it for normal stereo.

tiny voices · Mar 22, 2014

USe PRime95 to run the CPU at 100% and use a GPU benckmark burn too like Furmark to run the GPUs at 100%.

Measure the temps with HWMonitor.

I would not get a water cooler. For less money you can get an air cooler that cools better.

Also, what about my sound card question?

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 22, 2014

tiny voices :

Alright, I'll give it a try...
I only use the soundcard for stereo.

tiny voices · Mar 22, 2014

What stereo? Chances are it does nothing at all your motherboard can't do. Motherboard audio is basically as good as most sound cards and internal sound cards and becoming a thing of the past.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 22, 2014

tiny voices :

Okay.
I can see in the xonar program menu, that I have set the card to run at 8 channels, 48KHz PCM and the 7.1 virtual speaker shifter is turned off, this is basically what I can see and what I know
I can hear when I play games, like BF4 and skyrim, that my soundcard is much better than the onboard sound. I can hear foot steps lauder and much clear, sound is richer, I can hear where shots are fired from, etc.
Anyways, when i run Prime95, my CPU temps are between 55 and 65 C, and when i run the futuremark benchmark, I get temps on 55.

tiny voices · Mar 22, 2014

Your GPUs are WELL below their normal temps. Normal would be 70-80c The CPU is running cool as well .No issues there at all.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 22, 2014

tiny voices :

When I'm playing BF4, my gpu temp is 75-80 C.

tiny voices · Mar 22, 2014

Thats fine. As long as it isn't over 85c no problem at all.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 23, 2014

tiny voices :

How does it come, that my PC keeps crashing? It only crashes when I'm playing, or doing something that stress the PC. When I'm surfing the web, there's no problem, and the air is not nearly as hot.

tiny voices · Mar 23, 2014

What PSU do you have?

Run these tests:

Prime95 for 15 mins and check CPU temps.

Furmark for GPUs run for 15 mins and check GPU temps.

Tell me these temps.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 23, 2014

tiny voices :

It's a Cooler Master M2 1000W.
I only have the free version from steam, it can't run 15 min. Should I just start the benchmark over and over again till 15 min is gone?

tiny voices · Mar 23, 2014

No just run it as long as possible and see what the GPUs do temp wise.

Also post the CPU prime95 max temps.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 23, 2014

tiny voices :

Yes, I'll post them within a hour or.

EPiC-PoTaTo-chiP · Mar 23, 2014

tiny voices :

I'm sorry i didn't posted the answer as promised, but the temps are as following...
CPU: 60-70 C GPU: 55-65 C.

tiny voices · Mar 23, 2014

Those temps are perfectly fine. The CPU is a bit warm but nothing to worry about at all. Those are fine temps.

Best cooling for my graphics cards and soundcard.

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