Thursday, April 05, 2007

WOW!

I have my new CPU cooler installed... the Enzotech Ultra-x.
Here are the numbers that I can't believe! They are all 'under load', running 2 instances of Prime95 for at least 20 minutes.
65c/53c = CF800 from ZEROtherm.
40c/33c = ULTRA-X from Enzotech.

I was hoping for a 10 degree improvement! I've got 25 degrees cooler on the CPU!!! The temps under load are LOWER THAN IT IDLED with the CF800!
I did make an alteration or two though.
1st, I sanded down the top of the processor using paper with a grit of around 600 or 800 to give it a smoother finish and better contact with the heatsink.
2nd, I took the stock fan off of the ULTRA-X and replaced it with a Thermaltake Blue LED Smart Case Fan. That was purely for aesthetics but let's see the specs:
EU = 1200 - 2500 RPM
TT = 1300 - 2800 RPM
EU = 24.5 - 38.5 db
TT = 17.0 - 46.5 db
EU = 35.8 - 62.67 CFM
TT = 38.6 - 93.7 CFM

According to the Asus pc probe software the TT fan is spinning at 2700 rpm, we're under full load for 25 minutes now, cpu is at 40c still, and I can certainly hear this fan! I'm definitely going to see if I can't slow it down some. The fan in the CF800 was practically silent in comparison (27 db) but it's max flow is 42.8 CFM according to their site. I'm going to play with the Asus Q-fan settings to see if I can't quite things down some :)

This Enzotech cooler is freakin awesome!

*Edit*

Okay okay... I'm such a noob. These TT fans all came with jumpers on the pins to make them run at full speed! I had to take the jumpers off (no small feat with everything installed) and now they're running slower and just about silent. The rear intake 80mm and front intake 120mm are both running at 730 - 740 RPM - that's below the specs on the box (1300 RPM for both) and the Asus software alarm goes off at 800 RPM! Arrrrgggg!

Right... so you'd think the same is happening with the 120mm TT fan I have on the heat sink. Nope! I took it's jumper off and it stayed at 2700 RPM no matter what the Q-Fan settings were. So I attached the thermal probe to this fan and stuck it into the northbridge's heatsink. I've yet to see that fan go above 1400 RPM. 30 minutes of full load and the temps are 52/43 and still climbing. So on top of the power cables being too short on these fans (about 6 inches) it looks like I'll have to rewire them in order for the BIOS to be able to control their speeds. It's either rewire them or mount fan speed control knobs which is NOT what I want to do. I WANT the BIOS to be able to control the speed based on temperature! I suppose I could wire them all up with their temperature sensors...

One last thing... I ordered a UV LED ring puk... I recieved a RED LED ring puk. I will let them know about this but I kinda like the look the way I have it so I'm not going to send it back. I might order another UV LED ring puk and tell them to check 10 times before shipping the next time. It's 2 a.m. now and I've been working on this crap since about 4 p.m. I cut a hole in my case to route wires from the PSU also and that required taking it all apart to just the aluminum rails. It's been a fun day and I do have pics :)

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