How to cool my GPU? [PICS]

[GeorgeGeee]

Here is the inside of my PC.

This is with the side fan:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1530/dsc0008jy.jpg

This is without the side fan:
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6299/dsc0010xj.jpg

This is the area where the GPU is:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8753/dsc0004vi.jpg

In the second picture, I was thinking of adding a 120mm out-take fan to push air out the back (below the PSU), which would decrease the overall temperature of the case, which would hopefully decrease the temperature of the GPU.

Other than that, how could I decrease the temperature of the GPU? There's no place for a fan down the bottom of the case, and it seems that hot air is just getting processed over and over down the bottom by the GPU.

 

[ra1212]

Well have you filled up all the spots in the case to put fans in? That would help as a start.

Or maby you should get some GPU watercooling.
Thats the only things i could think of.

 

[skaz]

Wow those backwards pictures threw me for a loop haha. Yes add a rear fan, first thing I noticed was that empty spot that is extremely important to remove the hot air. Dont depend on the psu to exhaust hot air.

I can't say that filling all fan spots is a good idea for all pc cases. Airflow direction is equally important and the optimal set up isn't with all fan mounts occupied in some cases.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Well have you filled up all the spots in the case to put fans in? That would help as a start.

Or maby you should get some GPU watercooling.
Thats the only things i could think of.

Well as I mentioned, I'm adding a 120mm out-take fan below the PSU on the back of the case, but other than that there's no other places to put fans. I can't really afford to get watercooling just yet, I'm looking for simpler solutions.

 

[stickg1]

You really need an exhaust fan below that PSU. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a case that doesn't come with one. Is there any place for a fan behind the front bezel of the case? And is your side fan intake or exhaust?

 

[ra1212]

As Skaz said the back spot is one of the most important, sry i didn't mention that before read the thread fast

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Would this drop my GPU temperature at all?

 

[GeorgeGeee]

You really need an exhaust fan below that PSU. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a case that doesn't come with one. Is there any place for a fan behind the front bezel of the case? And is your side fan intake or exhaust?

The side fan is intake, yes.

 

[ra1212]

Would this drop my GPU temperature at all?

Should do.

 

[skaz]

Yeah it will. By The pictures you have nothing exhausting hot air except the psu. So your gpu is probably currently recycling hot air to cool itself.

 

[geofelt]

You have no airflow in the case.

It looks to me in picture 3, that there are two places to install intake fans. I would do that first.

Adding a rear exhaust fan would help too.

I think I would remove the 4 rear panel i/o cover plates. Opening up that area will allow airflow from the intake in the front to the rear, giving the gpu fan cool air to suck in to the cooler.

While you are at it, why not install a tower type cooler like the cm hyper212. It will cool the cpu bettern and direct the cpu air out the back.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

You have no airflow in the case.

It looks to me in picture 3, that there are two places to install intake fans. I would do that first.

Adding a rear exhaust fan would help too.

I think I would remove the 4 rear panel i/o cover plates. Opening up that area will allow airflow from the intake in the front to the rear, giving the gpu fan cool air to suck in to the cooler.

While you are at it, why not install a tower type cooler like the cm hyper212. It will cool the cpu bettern and direct the cpu air out the back.

In picture 3 ( http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8753/dsc0004vi.jpg ) where am I able to install 2 places? I don't see anywhere..

 

[amuffin]

Fix the cables, and add a front intake fan.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Fix the cables, and add a front intake fan.

When you say front intake fan, I don't see where I could add one at the front? There's no place for them from what I see? I'm new to this so sorry if I'm missing something obvious.

 

[JKatwyopc]

What is the actual Temperature of the GPU? I don't see it mentioned anywhere. Depending on what your temps are now you may not need to add anything.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

What is the actual Temperature of the GPU? I don't see it mentioned anywhere. Depending on what your temps are now you may not need to add anything.

My temps reach 77C in Crysis 2.

It's not too high, I know.
If you really want to know why I want to cool my system, read this thread and the replies (the replies show a lot of progress in terms of realising the issue, especially the replies of DjScribbles)
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/362132-15-250fps-screen-tearing

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Done some researching and I've found this fan:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/antec-spotcool-system-cooler-10934173-pdt.html

It effectively makes it possible to install a fan anywhere in your PC, e.g. down by my GPU. So I could take off those back panels and push hot air out them, or something of the sort.

 

[stickg1]

Here, I took your picture and put red rectangles where you need to add fans.

Looks like 2 80mm in the front and 1 120mm in the back. You do this and you will have decent enough airflow. Actually you could just put 1 80mm up front as intake, leave the one on the side as intake, and get a nice >75CFM 120mm fan for the back and you will have decent airflow. Dont take out your expansion bay covers, it invites more dust into the computer.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Here, I took your picture and put red rectangles where you need to add fans.

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t473/stickg1/dsc0010xj.jpg

Looks like 2 80mm in the front and 1 120mm in the back. You do this and you will have decent enough airflow. Actually you could just put 1 80mm up front as intake, leave the one on the side as intake, and get a nice >75CFM 120mm fan for the back and you will have decent airflow. Dont take out your expansion bay covers, it invites more dust into the computer.

I see what you mean, thanks for the advice.

I have found this:
http://store.antec.com/Product/cooling-cooling_fan/v-cool/0-761345-75060-8.aspx

It takes up two slots, and it blows cool air onto the GPU. Reviews are all stating a 4-10C difference in temperature. Forget my previous post about the Antec SpotCool, I think I'm going to go with the Antec VCool.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

It looks like this when it's installed btw:
http://www.zdnet.de/wp-content/uploads/legacy_images/news/200503/antec_vcool.jpg

 

[stickg1]

Yeah those are cool but your first priority could be getting cool air into the case and expelling the hot air out the back. If you do this you dont need all that stuff. Just put the fans in. It WILL make a difference. And if you want it even cooler then go for a GPU fan if you want.

You need to pull the front cover, or bezel, off of the case. Then measure from hole to hole where the fan is mounted to get a size. IF I had to guess it would be 80mm but be sure of it before you order fans.

These fans are great, I run 5 of them in my 2 machines, they come in blue or red LED if you want also: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226042

It is practically silent and still moves a ton of air.

Here is some 80mm fans that are good too:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209001

 

[GeorgeGeee]

Yeah those are cool but your first priority could be getting cool air into the case and expelling the hot air out the back. If you do this you dont need all that stuff. Just put the fans in. It WILL make a difference. And if you want it even cooler then go for a GPU fan if you want.

You need to pull the front cover, or bezel, off of the case. Then measure from hole to hole where the fan is mounted to get a size. IF I had to guess it would be 80mm but be sure of it before you order fans.

These fans are great, I run 5 of them in my 2 machines, they come in blue or red LED if you want also: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226042

It is practically silent and still moves a ton of air.

Here is some 80mm fans that are good too:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209001

My case doesn't have any sort of actual place for air to come in at the front though. As in, some cases have a mesh with grills for the fan to pull air through, where-as my case has a full plastic front, no grills etc.

 

[stickg1]

I see, well you can still place a fan there and it works in increasing the circulation of air in the case. It gives it a slight vacuum effect where it generates air circulation and the rear exhaust fan will push it out.

So definitely pick up a 120mm for exhaust, grab a 80mm too cus it's only $5 and it will help. Check out your side fan and see what the biggest highest airflow fan you can place there is and think of replacing it unless it has better specs than available options. And I'm not sure how much those GPU slot coolers are but you can look into one of those too. I think the exhaust fan is most important though.

 

[GeorgeGeee]

I see, well you can still place a fan there and it works in increasing the circulation of air in the case. It gives it a slight vacuum effect where it generates air circulation and the rear exhaust fan will push it out.

So definitely pick up a 120mm for exhaust, grab a 80mm too cus it's only $5 and it will help. Check out your side fan and see what the biggest highest airflow fan you can place there is and think of replacing it unless it has better specs than available options. And I'm not sure how much those GPU slot coolers are but you can look into one of those too. I think the exhaust fan is most important though.

Cheers for your help!

I only need to drop like 5C, so Im hoping the rear exhaust and that 2-slot 'VCool' fan will combined drop 5C, what do you reckon?

 

[stickg1]

Cheers for your help!

I only need to drop like 5C, so Im hoping the rear exhaust and that 2-slot 'VCool' fan will combined drop 5C, what do you reckon?

What are your current idle temps? Because 77C load isn't too alarming. Do you use multiple monitors or just one?