Need some help with this build!

[yiplong]

I am putting together this build:

- PII X3 720 BE
- Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
- GSkill Ripjaws 2x2gb DDR3 1600
- Xigmatek HDT-S1283
-NZXT BETA EVO case
- Three 120mm case fans

Sorry, I can't post any URL because this is my first post.

This case has plenty of ventilation, I can put 2 fans on top, or 2 in the back or 2 on the side panel or 2 up front. That's 8 possible total fans, but I have only 3, so please help me position the fans to maximize the air flow in the case.

I am thinking I would put one fan on top to exhaust hot air out, and orient the Xigmatek to blow up rather than back. Then I will put 1 fan in the back and 1 fan on the side panel to pull in cool air. No fan in the front of the case. What do you think of this set up?

As I read the manual for the mobo, it suggest that if I want to OC or use ACC (presumably to unlock the 4th core) I will need to add a heatsink to the VRM area of the mobo.
I have no idea where the VRM area is, and I have read on some site that this mobo needs a heatsink over the MOSFET region. I am a little confused. Is the MOSFET = VRM?

I am wondering if I can face the Xigmatek CPU fan in the general direction of the VRM and blow some cool air that way to cool it a bit, so I don't need to buy a separate heatsink?

You can see that this case has 2 ventilation holes on the side panel where I can put two 120mm fans, would it be a good idea to put a case fan right over where the VRM is, and pull in some cool air?

Has anyone tried OC'ing with this mobo without using the VRM heatsink that the manual talked about? Any good results?

I appreciate your advice.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This case has plenty of ventilation, I can put 2 fans on top, or 2 in the back or 2 on the side panel or 2 up front. That's 8 possible total fans, but I have only 3, so please help me position the fans to maximize the air flow in the case.

I am thinking I would put one fan on top to exhaust hot air out, and orient the Xigmatek to blow up rather than back. Then I will put 1 fan in the back and 1 fan on the side panel to pull in cool air. No fan in the front of the case. What do you think of this set up?

This should work IMHO. You will also need to consider the cooler on your graphics card too.

As I read the manual for the mobo, it suggest that if I want to OC or use ACC (presumably to unlock the 4th core) I will need to add a heatsink to the VRM area of the mobo.
I have no idea where the VRM area is, and I have read on some site that this mobo needs a heatsink over the MOSFET region. I am a little confused. Is the MOSFET = VRM?

I am wondering if I can face the Xigmatek CPU fan in the general direction of the VRM and blow some cool air that way to cool it a bit, so I don't need to buy a separate heatsink?

You can see that this case has 2 ventilation holes on the side panel where I can put two 120mm fans, would it be a good idea to put a case fan right over where the VRM is, and pull in some cool air?

Has anyone tried OC'ing with this mobo without using the VRM heatsink that the manual talked about? Any good results?

I appreciate your advice.

The VRM area is where the MOSFETs are located near to the CPU.

The picture indicates where the VRM is located on your motherboard.



Having some cool air blowing onto the VRMs does help when overclocking.

A few of these heatsinks stuck to the VRMs should help:

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/product/Sw...ers_11959.html

http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/adva...sink&x=17&y=15

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Therm...or-HR-03RevAV2

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Zalma...-River-product

[yiplong]

Thanks for your reply. I found a heatsink for the MOSFET on newegg for $20 including s/h. This doesn't seem too bad but is still more money than I would like to spend. I guess I will first try to OC w/o it and see what happens. If the MOSFET turns out to be problematic, then I will get it.

What temperature is consider normal or high for the MOSFET? I have heard that most MOBO devices can operate pretty well in the 70-80c range. Video cards also work fine in insanely hot environment, unlike the CPU. Is this true for MOSFET as well?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks for your reply. I found a heatsink for the MOSFET on newegg for $20 including s/h. This doesn't seem too bad but is still more money than I would like to spend. I guess I will first try to OC w/o it and see what happens. If the MOSFET turns out to be problematic, then I will get it.

What temperature is consider normal or high for the MOSFET? I have heard that most MOBO devices can operate pretty well in the 70-80c range. Video cards also work fine in insanely hot environment, unlike the CPU. Is this true for MOSFET as well?

Be careful otherwise the MOSFET will burn out!! It would be better to keep temperatures under 70C.

[yiplong]

Be careful otherwise the MOSFET will burn out!! It would be better to keep temperatures under 70C.

The MOSFET temperature only goes up when I increase voltage on the CPU right? Or does it go up whenever I up the CPU frequency?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The MOSFET temperature only goes up when I increase voltage on the CPU right? Or does it go up whenever I up the CPU frequency?

IIRC,it should be when you increase the voltage.

[yiplong]

IIRC,it should be when you increase the voltage.

Great thanks. What utility should I use to monitor MOSFET temperature? I normally uses CPUCool, and it only shows MOBO Temp, CPU temp and video card temp. Normally the value for MOBO temp is for the north bridge right?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Great thanks. What utility should I use to monitor MOSFET temperature? I normally uses CPUCool, and it only shows MOBO Temp, CPU temp and video card temp. Normally the value for MOBO temp is for the north bridge right?

AFAIK,only some motherboards monitor the temperature of the VRM!

I would check this link:

http://support.asus.com/faq/asus-faq...2-9AAD6D44BD00

This hardware monitoring software is quite decent IMHO:

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

[Chopski]

CAT-THE-FIFTH is a computing god! King of the robots even!

I've been wandering round posts and you're everywhere!

When I need a new build I am coming to you sir.

EDIT: Sorry got so excited I forgot to mention I have just specced up a new build for my work. But I suppose that deserves its own thread.

[yiplong]

AFAIK,only some motherboards monitor the temperature of the VRM!

I would check this link:

http://support.asus.com/faq/asus-faq...2-9AAD6D44BD00

This hardware monitoring software is quite decent IMHO:

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

Thanks. That helps a lot.
This is what I found on Newegg.com that will fit on my MOBO, but at $21 it is really pricey (considering that my MOBO itself costs $70), plus I am not sure if there is room for it next to the Xigmatek cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-016-_-Product

I don't know yet if my MOBO monitors VRM temp. Maybe I should just touch it to see how hot it is.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks. That helps a lot.
This is what I found on Newegg.com that will fit on my MOBO, but at $21 it is really pricey (considering that my MOBO itself costs $70), plus I am not sure if there is room for it next to the Xigmatek cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-016-_-Product

I don't know yet if my MOBO monitors VRM temp. Maybe I should just touch it to see how hot it is.

The Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P is only $70 in the US!! In the UK it is around £70 or around $114!!

Be careful touching the VRMs in case you burn yourself. You probably do not need to actually touch them if they are running quite hot.

[yiplong]

I have some questions regarding the unused air vent on the case. Should I cover those up or leave them open?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have some questions regarding the unused air vent on the case. Should I cover those up or leave them open?

The best thing is to check the temperatures with the vent open and then covered - then you can decide which is the best option.