if LTT has taught me one thing...

[type2human]

I'd say I have a pretty decent rig, the one people might say "it's just about all you need" with Ryzen 5 2600X and GTX 1070 Founder's Edition.

 

With the current COVID-19 situation, I started folding@home to lend my computer power, but as you may have noticed, I have a Founder's Edition graphics card. I do really like the look of it, but it doesn't do as well in the cooling department with the single blower style fan. While folding, the temperature hangs out around 80 degrees, but has gone up as high as 83.

 

Which reminded me of the very first LTT video I ever saw (and what got me into this mess): 

 

That video was a cringe to watch even when I didn't know anything about computer hardware and what a Titan was. However, that got me thinking. I'm not trying to make my card into a single slot card. Could I just take the cooling component of this video?

 

 

This is my original rig without any "modifications" that was about to happen. I have 2 additional Riing 14 fans in the front of the case (not shown), 1 in the back, and 2 corsair ML 120 fans up at the top pushing air out. As you may have noticed also, I have 2600X with double fan setup of Noctua NH-U12S (in their best fan color) which is more than enough even under load. Especially since my GPU doesn't pump out hot air into the case, the fans at the top is practically being useless, so I decided to put them to use.

 

For those with allergic reaction to jank, please hit the back button on your browser.

Spoiler

 

 

After applying some love with cheapo dollar store duct tape, the "duct" was complete. The fans are connected to the fan headers on the motherboard, and set at a pretty high RPM, as I noticed at lower RPM, it wasn't doing much. Yes, it is significantly louder, but I use headphones (even if it is an open back Massdrop x Sennheiser HD6XX) as my audio and I am okay putting up with a little noise for the greater good.

This entire "procedure" took about an hour to complete and to "perfect," including the intake fan being held up by a spare SSD. The big question now is, was it worth it? I think so. It doesn't make it run any faster (since I didn't do anything to it to boost clock speed or anything) but it does run 6-7 degrees cooler. There is almost no air leaking so it is definitely pumping cool air into it, and the back fan pumps out warm air nicely.

 

It won't be a permanent solution (or it might be if I get lazy to take it down) but it definitely works and I'll have it up for at least awhile to help my poor GPU even a little bit while it works to make the world a better place.

 

Finally, going back to the title of the post... If LTT has taught me one thing...

Spoiler

It ain't stupid if it works.

 

Thank you for reading this journey. Not sure if this belongs here or if it should be on the FAH page, but it is still related to air cooling so I guess it's fine here

 

 

 

[Theguywhobea]

Wait 83c isn't even bad? Is this just to quite it down?

[type2human]

4 minutes ago, Theguywhobea said:

Wait 83c isn't even bad? Is this just to quite it down?

 

Nah, if anything, it's louder because the two fans I added is running at a high RPM.

 

I've always believed that lower temp is better so instead of having it run at 80-83 all the time, if I can help cool it a bit, I thought it would be worth it.

 

I must say though, honestly thought it was gonna have a bigger impact, but now that I have it set up, didn't want to take it all down because it wasn't as effective as I originally thought. It still does something and I'm okay with that for now.

[LogicalDrm]

I would say that repasting the card might have been easier solution. But yeah, 83C under full load isn't bad. My 780 Founders does that with limited fan speed and gaming load.