Hello Bit-Techers... I've got a question for you... I'm going over which CPU Cooler to get for my budget build. The build will consist of: Case: Xigmatek Utgard CPU: Phenom 2 555BE MoBo: MSI 870 - G45 Ram: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2GB DDR3 1600 I have the GPU, HDDs, Optical and Monitor so that's all I need to buy for now. I've read good reviews about the Thermaltake Frio all over the web. Probably the only knock on it, is that it is a tad big and will overhang the first RAM slot, but that is to be expected from these things and almost all of them do that. It won't be a problem for me since the MoBo I'm buying has 4 slots so the overhang won't keep me from using the other 2 open slots. This thing comes with 2 120mm x 25mm fans rated at 101.6 CFM @ 2500 rpm I think that 106 CFM is combined for both fans... If not; I guess I and just point them downwards and make a Xigmatek hovercraft The one thing that I don't like is that the fans come with a RPM control POT for fan speed control --- 3 Pin connector. Don't really like this as I'd prefer PWM Fans going to the CPU Fan Header on the MoBo --- 4 pin connection. Oh and according to the Thermaltake site those fans are rated at 6W max consumption each. My questions: 1. What is the power rating of the CPU Fan Header on that MoBo? I checked the MSI website; downloaded the MoBo manual and there is no mention anywhere of the power rating of that header. 2. Let's say I get the TT Frio; and the CPU Fan header can handle the load.... Could I connect those two fans to it with a 4-pin to 3-pin Y adapter? And would they allow for PWM? I read somewhere that you can do PWM on 3 wire fans too, but not sure. The TT Frio is about U$60.00 from the Egg and includes the 2 fans. For that money I could buy a TR Ultra 120 Extreme Rev C (CrazyPC), but I'd need to get fan(s) separately. I was thinking one of these: http://www.crazypc.com/products/afc1212d-58170.html And since it is PWM there would be no problem in controlling it from the BIOS. 3. That delta is rated at 9.6W max power draw... Is the CPU Fan Header on the MoBo just going to start crying if the fan goes up to 100% speed? EDIT CrazyPC offers Optional Lapping of the HS. Is that something that would bring any benefit? Or is it better to leave the contact plate as is? Ok guys... I await your responses. Thanks Sebastian
PWM can not be possible on a 3 pin connector. whatever HSF you use, i'd reccomend grabbing a pair of Akasa black apache PWM fans, and the Akasa PWM fan splitter cable. the Akasa splitter feeds the power to the fans from a seperate molex connector, so no risk of popping the CPU mosfet. all you plug into the mobo is the RPM and PWM cable. then connect the 2 apache fans to 2 of the 3 out plugs. (or do what i did with a friends PC and daisy-chained several akasa splitters, replaced all the case fans with PWM ones and had the whole PC be thermally regulated by the CPU temperature.)
Thanks for the response WZ... I did not know about the splitter cable... that's a good idea on powering the fans straight from the PSU and only using the CPU Fan Header to control the PWM... As for the Apache fans... hmm... I'd rather spend the money on Deltas and use the cable splitter with them... I know it may be overkill, but overkill is always fun. I think you've just given me the out that I needed... Akasa PWM Fan Splitter cable + Delta PWM fans = WIN for me & the MoBo is safe!!!! The Utgard has 2 fan controllers built in and I'm going to use those for the intake/exhaust fans for now, but if those controllers ever break, I'll do the daisy-chain trick with the cables as you suggest and forget about manual control of fans. Thanks bud. Sebastian
Motherboard Hey watch out for the coolers. I have the same motherboard and if you are going for dual channel ram, you must either put the ram in slots 1 and 2, or all 4. Can't dual channel any other way with this board. So make sure your cooler if it does overlap channel one a bit it won't interfere with the ram. Good luck with the build.
Thanks for the heads up upgrayedd... I'm going with the TRUE and a Delta 120mm x 25mm fan... And the RAM I'm getting is the Mushkin Black lines (low profile DIMMS) so I think it should be OK.
