Need help with case airflow

[m2rter]

Under gaming load (especially during GTA V) CPU hits peak around 96-98 (all temps will be in C), while averaging around 91-93. GPU hits just 60.
Idle temps are around 40-50 for CPU and 30 for GPU, while room temperature is 21-25.

 

CPU: i5-4460, stock cooler

GPU: R9 290 Sapphire Tri-x

Case: Cooler Master K350

Fans: 1 bottom-right intake, 1 top-left exhaust.

 

Set-up image: http://oi59.tinypic.com/mb06mv.jpg

 

Problems that I think exist:
1) That huge GPU blocks the airflow.

2) Hot air from the GPU rises to the CPU.

 

What would be the best way to get the CPU to 70-80 while under load? Case has a fan mounting possibility on the side-panel, could that help or should the stock intel cooler be replaced with a tower cooler or possibly both?

 

About the power cables, psu isn't modular so I tried my best to get cables away from the intake fan and most routing is based on the reach of the cable, would have wanted to route them all from the back but most cables didn't have the length for that.

[AlwaysFSX]

Change your CPU cooler. That'll give you the biggest benefit.

[don_svetlio]

Reseat your CPU cooler with new thermal paste. It's highly likely that you haven't installed it properly. My CPU @ stock cooling used to max out at about 70*C under stress testing.

Also, your cables should be routed behind the motherboard to improve airflow. The case fans you have should be enough.

EDIT: Follow your topics @m2rter

[m2rter]

Reseat your CPU cooler with new thermal paste. It's highly likely that you haven't installed it properly. My CPU @ stock cooling used to max out at about 70*C under stress testing.

Also, your cables should be routed behind the motherboard to improve airflow. The case fans you have should be enough.

 

Are you sure about that theory? Computer was built 3 days ago, cpu cooler was placed right on top of the chip, wiggled a bit and then pushed shut.

 

Also, as I said in my opening post, all ugly routed cables are because they don't reach their destination when routing from the back, I tried every cable, those that did reach were routed from back, those that didn't were routed from front, back of the 5.25 bay.

 

 

Change your CPU cooler. That'll give you the biggest benefit.

 

Thanks for the input, appreciate it.

[don_svetlio]

Are you sure about that theory? Computer was built 3 days ago, cpu cooler was placed right on top of the chip, wiggled a bit and then pushed shut.

 

Also, as I said in my opening post, all ugly routed cables are because they don't reach their destination when routing from the back, I tried every cable, those that did reach were routed from back, those that didn't were routed from front, back of the 5.25 bay.

 

 

 

Thanks for the input, appreciate it.

I am 100% sure that the PCIe cables will be able to reach the card from the back. PSUs are made to be able to do that so as to avoid clutter.

As for the cooler, did you hear all 4 of the push-pins snap in place? If you didn't, try and reseat it. Also, check the bios for the fan settings, is the fan working properly? What are the RPMs. Under load it should go to about 1800 RPM (about 60-70% load).

Still worth a reseat imo.

[m2rter]

I am 100% sure that the PCIe cables will be able to reach the card from the back. PSUs are made to be able to do that so as to avoid clutter.

As for the cooler, did you hear all 4 of the push-pins snap in place? If you didn't, try and reseat it. Also, check the bios for the fan settings, is the fan working properly? What are the RPMs. Under load it should go to about 1800 RPM (about 60-70% load).

Still worth a reseat imo.

 

All 4 pins snapped, lifted the mobo and checked the backside, all 4 black pins were pushed out.

As for bios, I'm using default msi cooling pattern. Seen cpu rpm around 1500 for sure, so I don't think there's a problem with that.

[don_svetlio]

All 4 pins snapped, lifted the mobo and checked the backside, all 4 black pins were pushed out.

As for bios, I'm using default msi cooling pattern. Seen cpu rpm around 1500 for sure, so I don't think there's a problem with that.

Hmmm, what is the voltage that the Bios reads?

EDIT: Also, what are the temps the bios reads? Not all software is trustworthy.

[m2rter]

Hmmm, what is the voltage that the Bios reads?

EDIT: Also, what are the temps the bios reads? Not all software is trustworthy.

 

CPU temps in bios is around 55, CPU core voltage is 1.008 V and ring voltage 1.038 V.

[don_svetlio]

CPU temps in bios is around 55, CPU core voltage is 1.008 V and ring voltage 1.038 V.

Hmmm, not sure then. Try with an open case. If temps don't go down then you can safely rule out ambient temps being the cause.

[m2rter]

Hmmm, not sure then. Try with an open case. If temps don't go down then you can safely rule out ambient temps being the cause.

 

Opened the sidepanel, haven't noticed any change. Even raised the fan's rpm by 200 to 1750 while opened and nothing, no change.

 

Edit: I think I have to agree with you, having so high temp with opened case and just sitting in bios shows that something must be wrong with the cooler. I'll try applying new thermal paste sometime, if that doesn't help then it might be the time to get a better cooler. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, appreciate it.

[don_svetlio]

Opened the sidepanel, haven't noticed any change. Even raised the fan's rpm by 200 to 1750 while opened and nothing, no change.

If your cooler is seated well then the issue is not the cooler or the ambient air temperature but someone may prove me wrong.

[tomas710]

Under gaming load (especially during GTA V) CPU hits peak around 96-98 (all temps will be in C), while averaging around 91-93. GPU hits just 60.

Idle temps are around 40-50 for CPU and 30 for GPU, while room temperature is 21-25.

 

CPU: i5-4460, stock cooler

GPU: R9 290 Sapphire Tri-x

Case: Cooler Master K350

Fans: 1 bottom-right intake, 1 top-left exhaust.

 

Set-up image: http://oi59.tinypic.com/mb06mv.jpg

 

Problems that I think exist:

1) That huge GPU blocks the airflow.

2) Hot air from the GPU rises to the CPU.

 

What would be the best way to get the CPU to 70-80 while under load? Case has a fan mounting possibility on the side-panel, could that help or should the stock intel cooler be replaced with a tower cooler or possibly both?

 

About the power cables, psu isn't modular so I tried my best to get cables away from the intake fan and most routing is based on the reach of the cable, would have wanted to route them all from the back but most cables didn't have the length for that.

First, get  a cpu cooler, they are not expensive, in fact you can get a 15 bucks cooler that will be SO much better than the stock. My guess is for whatever reason, the stock cooler is not getting good contact, if you buy a low end cooler, you won't use the pins, therefore, you'll have good contact.

Second, you don't have an optimal case when it comes to airflow, mainly the cables, so, put the biggest fan possible on every fan mount, they don't have to be expensive fans, but you gotta make sure you are providing the most airflow possible, specially when you are dealing with overheating. 

CM Hyper T4/T3

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-TX3-RR-910-HTX3-G1/dp/B0028Y4S9K/ref=sr_1_29?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1437606576&sr=1-29&pebp=1437606596645&perid=06NJ4VX5FBTD1V0AMADG

I would go with the T4, but what your budget allows

http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Sleeve-Computer-Cooling-ROCF-13001/dp/B00KB8CB9O/ref=sr_1_34?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1437606576&sr=1-34&pebp=1437606698458&perid=06NJ4VX5FBTD1V0AMADG

Nothing fancy about this fans, but a 4pack is 10 bucks, so if you need 4, even 3, i recomend this.

http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Cooling-Computer-2-Pack-RFBF-131411/dp/B00K960BFY/ref=pd_sim_147_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=124X2AY2A8M2122WMRRM

In case you need 140mm fans

http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-ROCF-11004-Hyperborea-120mm-Case/dp/B006DKEQV0/ref=pd_bxgy_147_text_y

This one has decent static pressure, so if you got a place with restrictive airflow (drive cages, cables) this would do a better job

 

This is not an exhaustive list, it's simply products at decent prices that i think would help with your situation. If you need thermal compound, the one that comes with the heatsink should be enough, if you need more, there are many high quality ones and honestly, if you're not overclocking high performance TIMs are a non issue

[LogicalDrm]

I built PC with that CPU not so long ago. And that having first Intel stock cooler I've installed for long time, I got it wrong first time and idle temps went over 55C. Reseat with some NT-H1 and I got nice idle temps around 40-45C. So yours is definitely higher than it should be.

 

Also, GTA V is one of the most CPU intensive games. You will still get high temps while running that. Good thing is that Intel will thermal throttle at 100C or so. So reaseat, get temps 5-10C lower and you are already on safer side. Or just buy better cooler and clean some of that cable mess. Since your GPU is fine, you can move cables closer to PSU and use cable ties or other measures to tie them together.