Hello!
I am looking for some advice. My system is as follows:
pcpartpicker.com
Here are some pictures, to which I'll refer to :
The chassis fan is configured as intake and the CPU fan is configured also as intake, blowing towards the motherboard. I am a big "fan" of only adding additional cooling when it's needed. I'm in a situation where I definitely need it, and am looking for a recommendation on what to try next. My machine is located in the bottom of a cabinet (pictured) that has no door. It also doesn't have any venting in the rear.
So, I have tested a few different workloads. The first, is low CPU, low GPU and a steady workload to the two 3.5" drives. Here are my temperature measurements. I give the minimum temperature (the machine has been off for 1 hr, this represents starting state) and the maximum after 1 hour:
I am happy with this configuration. I would like to keep my 3.5" drives at or below 40C.
The following data is with the same HDD workload, but adding Prime95 run at its default settings. Slightly higher ambient, but I'm happy with these CPU numbers, but have concerns about the 3.5" HDD numbers being at 44 C.
This data is with Heaven GPU workload, at max settings. I still have the HDD workload enabled. You can see that as the GPU heats up, we are significantly heating up the 3.5" HDD. Heat is getting trapped into this portion of the case, and the PSU fan being turned inward is dumping more heat here.
Ok, the ultimate torture test. Yeah, this is too hot.
So, let's discuss!
I am looking for some advice. My system is as follows:
System Builder
pcpartpicker.com
Here are some pictures, to which I'll refer to :
The chassis fan is configured as intake and the CPU fan is configured also as intake, blowing towards the motherboard. I am a big "fan" of only adding additional cooling when it's needed. I'm in a situation where I definitely need it, and am looking for a recommendation on what to try next. My machine is located in the bottom of a cabinet (pictured) that has no door. It also doesn't have any venting in the rear.
So, I have tested a few different workloads. The first, is low CPU, low GPU and a steady workload to the two 3.5" drives. Here are my temperature measurements. I give the minimum temperature (the machine has been off for 1 hr, this represents starting state) and the maximum after 1 hour:
| Sensor (HDD workload, no CPU or GPU workload) | Minimum (system off for 1 hr prior) | Maximum (1 hr test) |
| Mainboard | 31 C | 34 C |
| CPU | 32 C | 50 C |
| Chassis Fan | 365 rpm | 775 rpm |
| CPU Fan | 639 rpm | 1071 rpm |
| CPU Package | 32 C | 51 C |
| HGST 3.5" HDD | 33 C | 41 C |
| 1TB nvme | 33 C | 43 C |
| NVIDIA | 28 C | 34 C |
| GPU Fan | 1496 rpm | 1504 rpm |
| Rear of Entertainment Cabinet | 23.2 C | |
| Ambient (outside Entertainment Cabinet) | 19.8 C |
I am happy with this configuration. I would like to keep my 3.5" drives at or below 40C.
The following data is with the same HDD workload, but adding Prime95 run at its default settings. Slightly higher ambient, but I'm happy with these CPU numbers, but have concerns about the 3.5" HDD numbers being at 44 C.
| Sensor (HDD workload, Prime95 CPU workload, no GPU workload) | Minimum (system off for 1 hr prior) | Maximum (1 hr test) |
| Mainboard | 32 C | 48 C |
| CPU | 31 C | 86 C |
| Chassis Fan | 457 rpm | 1465 rpm |
| CPU Fan | 759 rpm | 1802 rpm |
| CPU Package | 31 C | 87 C |
| HGST 3.5" HDD | 38 C | 46 C |
| 1TB nvme | 37 C | 44 C |
| NVIDIA | 39 C | 39 C |
| GPU Fan | 1495 rpm | 1506 rpm |
| Rear of Entertainment Cabinet | 22.8 C | |
| Ambient (outside Entertainment Cabinet) | 20.3 C |
This data is with Heaven GPU workload, at max settings. I still have the HDD workload enabled. You can see that as the GPU heats up, we are significantly heating up the 3.5" HDD. Heat is getting trapped into this portion of the case, and the PSU fan being turned inward is dumping more heat here.
| Sensor (HDD workload, Heaven GPU workload, no CPU workload) | Minimum (system off for 1 hr prior) | Maximum (1 hr test) |
| Mainboard | 29 C | 52 C |
| CPU | 34 C | 59 C |
| Chassis Fan | 410 rpm | 1027 rpm |
| CPU Fan | 667 rpm | 1445 rpm |
| CPU Package | 33 C | 62 C |
| HGST 3.5" HDD | 30 C | 53 C |
| 1TB nvme | 33 C | 47 C |
| NVIDIA | 29 C | 81 C |
| GPU Fan | 1494 rpm | 2322 rpm |
| Rear of Entertainment Cabinet | 27.9 C | |
| Ambient (outside Entertainment Cabinet) | 20.4 C |
Ok, the ultimate torture test. Yeah, this is too hot.
| Sensor (HDD workload, Heaven GPU workload, Prime95 CPU) | Minimum (system off for 1 hr prior) | Maximum (1 hr test) |
| Mainboard | 23 C | 60 C |
| CPU | 34 C | 93 C |
| Chassis Fan | 262 rpm | 1475 rpm |
| CPU Fan | 438 rpm | 1816 rpm |
| CPU Package | 31 C | 95 C |
| HGST 3.5" HDD | 21 C | 57 C |
| 1 TB nvme | 32 C | 50 C |
| NVIDIA | 27 C | 82 C |
| GPU Fan | 1489 rpm | 2366 rpm |
| Rear of Entertainment Cabinet | 28.7 C | |
| Ambient (outside Entertainment Cabinet) | 21.2 C |
So, let's discuss!
- I need to turn around my PSU. I haven't done this because I am not sure my custom cable will reach in the other orientation. I'll work on this next.
- I don't have a lot of cooler options. The NH-U9S won't work with a intake fan on the side of the case and the NH-C14S won't work with the 2x3.5" mount.
- I could consider a single intake fan on the bottom-front location, which might address the HDD temperatures.
- I could also consider an exhaust fan on the rear, though in a closed cabinet I'm not sure this will help
