Maximum PC

Hello, I recently built an HTPC with a stock AM3 heatsink/fan. It is a bit noisy for the HTPC machine. I'm looking into getting a new cooling solutions, Anyone recommend anything?

My HTPC case is very low, the top lid will hit any card mounted on the PCI-E/PCI slot and it only using 2X40mm in the back, there is no place for the 120mm fan which used by most of the AIO watercooling. So the AIO watercooling has to be all in one piece and mounted on top of the CPU. Otherwise, the external watercooling may be the last choice. Thanks!

Watercooling on top of the CPU would be no better than aircooling on the CPU. I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine why that is the case. Hint: it is for the same reason that Corsair recommends pulling air from the outside of the case, over the rad and into the case.

If you want watercooling, you'll have to find a way to mount a rad on the outside of that box somehow ... and with only 2x40mm fanbays, that will be challenging. Alternatively, you could invest in one of the kits that provides an external rad and resevoir unit that sits on or beside your case.

What processor do you have? If its one of the low-voltage ones, a passive HSF might work.

I'm currently using AMD Phenom II, 955 BE.

That's too much power. 65W TDP is about the max for a passive HSF. I think rigging external liquid cooling is your best shot at silence.

Yes, definitely external watercooling solutions. I just don't like it when I have to move that box around.

Check out the zalman resevoir/rad combos. I think they come with the block hose and fluid along with the combo unit. Of course its not ment to be moved if you see a pic of it. I though it looked neat though.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have thinking over and over about it though I probably ended up getting a new mid ATX case since I will be adding more Hard drives on it. My current case only allow 2 drives which takes up 2x WD750 already and gotch....how much storage is really enough....getting a mid ATX could be the same price as getting a new cooling system but again....the advantage is to gain more room for more ridges. I truthly appreciate all your comments though, Thank You!

The cheapest solution would be to underclock and undervolt your processor and reduce fan speeds, if your motherboard allows. The Phenom II is pretty good, so even at lower frequencies it should still be able to handle all your HTPC chores. It's also pretty easy to do, as you basically do the opposite of overclocking. Again, if your motherboard allows.

What HTPC case is this? I'd like to take a look at the guts to figure out a solution. There's 80mm radiators, but are still pretty thick. Done a 2x80 rad in a Silverstone and Coolermaster SFF case, but It takes some hacking in the HTPC here.