Cooling Noob

[richieuk]

I'll eventually be investing in an Antec 300 chassis, and will be cooling an overclocked q6600 with a Xigmatek big heatsink. However, do I need to buy a separate fan for the HS?

I assume the Q6600 comes with one, but would that fit, and also the 300 has two fans already aimed directly at the processor.

Whats the best, cheapest way of keeping a small case like that cool?

[staffsMike]

The xigmatec comes with a pretty nice fan. The intel fan wouldn't fit and is rubbish lol

The 300 should have two fans facing away from the processer. That way they take all the hot air from around it and all other hot air out of the case

The xigmatec fan with then point in the same direction as them so it blows towards the fans suck the air out.. if that makes sense.

[richieuk]

Yup that helps

Would you say its worth buying a couple of cheapish case fans to improve airflow any more? I know what heat damage can do when its extreme (Laptop fan packed in for my ex, practically snapped the laptop in half ) So I REALLY would like a cool system. Between cool and humming or silent but hot, i'd choose the first

And is a fan controller essential?

[Zhaoman]

You could buy an intake fan or two, but the 300 has good airflow as it is so I don't think heat will be an issue... If you just like to make sure then I guess getting 2 nice looking LED fans for the front wouldn't hurt

Fan controllers aren't essential if you buy nice quiet fans. And since you don't seem to be too fussed about noise then I'd suggest you fit the fans first before deciding on a fan controller.

[richieuk]

Vents from SCAN

Would they fit the Antec? I assume they would, worth £3 you think?

[Emirzan]

Yeah they'll fit any pc, all they do is replace the solid brackets that cover the expansion card slots. I wouldn't say they are necessary in any pc that has decent case fans. And the Antec three hundred has more than enough space for those already!

Won't do any damage though, and it will allow more air into the case but not a significant amount. And on that case you already have a large slotted grill next to the motherboards expansion slots on the side panel.

[Zhaoman]

Those are vents for the pci backplates aren't they? I don't think they would add much to cooling performance but at £3 you could give it a stab. My main concern is dust getting into your case after you fit those because the 300 has dust filters at the front. I think it would be better to add a fan or two at the front to cool your hard drive(s) and leave it at that. Almost every review has said that the 300 has very commendable cooling performance.

[Emirzan]

Pci backplate covers would be a better description and was what I was aiming for

As for letting dust in, that will happen, but the three hundred already has a large vent on the side panel as I mentioned (picture) which has no dust filter. These covers would probably make little difference to the air flow or dust blocking properties of the case.

Also although the top fan is an exhaust I've always found top fans let a lot of dust. Especially if you forget to cover the vent when the pc is off.

[richieuk]

dust.

nuff said

[Zhaoman]

Completely forgot about the side vent lol. Been eyeing up too many full tower chassis(es)...

[richieuk]

So how much would a watercooling solution cost, and how easy are they to fit?

[Zhaoman]

http://www.custompc.co.uk/labs/19220...0-compact.html

That's extreme CPU cooling for noobs and tramps (I would buy one if I had the money...)

[richieuk]

High-end cooling at a fraction of the price.

HAHAHAHAH!! £117? SOD THAT ^_^