Maximum PC

I just transplanted my hardware into my new Antec 300 case with hopes of improving cooling. I installed 2 Scythe 1200 rpm front intakes, and left the Rear and Top as Exhausts. I re-seated my CPU cooler (A64 Freezer 7 Pro) to have the fan facing the Top 140 mm exhaust. I also reapplied IC Diamond grease, and now my CPU idles around 40-45 C. I dont know why the temps would increase coming from my cheap Rosewill Top mounted PSU case...

Should I once again re-seat the cooler? Or wait a few days for the grease to set in?

What is the CFM of the new front intake fans?





Ted

You may lose a couple of degrees when the thermal compound cures but no more than 5C at most.

Given that you improved everything else, I suspect you may have misapplied the compound .. if you use too much, it can act as an insulator and increase your temps.

If your temps are are way off, I'd definitely try removing the CPU, cleaning it and trying again.

You also want to make certain the front two fans are sucking air into the case. If they're reversed, then the cooling will go to 'pot'...as there will be major air disruption. What you want is a smooth, laminar flow over the components for best cooling. That 300 case is one of the best...in terms of cooling. MicroCenter loves to see me walk in. I've probably bought and built at least 20 in the past seven months.

Well this is the perfect timing for a new cooler, as I was getting disappointed with the affectiveness of the A64 Freezer 7. I ordered a Hyper 212+ which should be here Monday, hoping that + IC7 cools my Phenon II down.

Finally installed my Hyper 212+ and made sure the cpu surface was extra clean. With a fresh application of ICD7, its idling at around 30-32 C so far, and a prelim test of Prime95, it got to 53 C. Thats about a -10C improvement!

Glad it all came together for you. I actually like the 'clean' look of the Antec 300. It is a nice case, for not alot of money. I actually modded mine prior to Antec doing it at the factory level. I de-rivetted the harddrive cage and cut it to allow massive videocards in SLI or X-fire. I blended all the edges and used protective edge guards while I was at it. I also used the chassis punches at work to cut the base plate to allow removal and installations of various CPU fans and heatsinks...without removing the motherboard. The case will serve me for years to come. I may do a semi-custom paint job next. Nothing too fancy...just something a bit different than the standard black.

Sounds good like some creative work.

I think Im going to order 2 fans to replace the stock 212+ fan, and run a push-pull config

Just remember to order two fans of different flowrates. The fan which receives flow last (aft fan), must have more volume than the first one (foward fan) for you to see any additional temperature drop.