GUIDE: ThermalTake Big Typhoon & Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6/DS4 (+ HSF Air-duct mod)

[GAM]

Hi all,

I present to you,

Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6/DS4 &
ThermalTake Big Typhoon
with Crazy Cool... guide
And, Part 2...
- HSF-Duct Mod



Installed Big Typhoon on a DQ6 over the top of the Crazy Cool heatspreader.

See pictures and commentary:
http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/dq6ttbt/index.html [3MB]

See also - Part 2 - HSF-Duct Mod (Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6, ThermalTake Big Typhoon):
http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/dq6ttbt/dq6ttbtduct.html

And now, Part 3 (or Duct Mod - Part 2!), new duct from new materials, fitted to incorporate the latest window mod, etc:
http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/dq6ttbt/dq6ttbtduct2.html

Enjoy. :thumbsup:

Please return to discuss and/or ask questions in this thread.
ps. Please excuse errors and omissions for the time-being. Will update eventually.
[edit] Minor updates and some tips inserted - 11 Sept 2006

[Squid_Spit]

Well is it me/pics or does the base of the Bt look a little concave?

[GAM]

Concave at the edges. It was worse before lapping, however it was flat over the central region (70% approx). You can still see this in pics 5. and 6. as vertical stipes of reflected light along the edges.

The mating surface of the BT heasksink was a little dissapointing though for premium product.

[Navig]

Good looking guide. On your prototype duct, I might suggest using a fan with more pressure than the anemic stock fan--something like a Panaflo M1 or even a Sanyo Denki with a fan bus.


navig

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Navig

Good looking guide. On your prototype duct, I might suggest using a fan with more pressure than the anemic stock fan--something like a Panaflo M1 or even a Sanyo Denki with a fan bus.


navig

Thanks. Good suggestion. I've been wondering about required pressure once it is all closed in like that.

I admit though, I was quite happy with the TT fan as far as noise vs. performance went. I had it running full ball (14??rpm) and was surprised how quiet it actually was (at least compared to my spontaneous and mistakenly purchased Zalman F1C--@2300rpm, it's very noisy). With TTBT@1500 I don't hear it over other things but performance drops considerably.

FYI, I am leaning away from PanaFlo fans (at least mid-high rpm). I have two 120mm M1's (main intake and exhaust) in a SkyHawk aluminium mid-tower case. They're very effective but 2+ years on they're very noisy. If I slow rpm down to the point where fan noise is reduced, you then get an unpleasant squeal-no comprise. I am very happy with my SilenX 80 & 92mm fans. Funny, I was actually looking at replacements for 120mm M1's when I saw your post

[Navig]

Then consider a L1. 25mm thick fans just suffer a lot of back flow, especially if your only outlets are thru the mosfet heatsinks.

[Death^Dread]

get something with good pressure.

[GAM]

Noted re backflow on 25mmx120mm fans. Obviously I can enlarge the outlets if the air flow capacity is insufficient, but my compelling reason for the air duct-mod was to 'improve' the mosfet and northbridge heatsink cooling-particuarly northbridge as it gets very hot under OC conditions (50-<60c from memory).

I was considering replacing the M1 'case' fans on my other machine with SilenX 120mm versions (25mm too I believe). Any replacement is going to provide the M1's for testing this as well as the new fans for trials.

Cheers

ps. Navig, I like your cases. Very impressive. I have in mind things similar one day - in style at least (perspex and aluminium angle construction).

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Death^Dread

get something with good pressure.

Suggestions?

'CFM' does not equate directly to 'pressure', right?

[GAM]

Bandwidth Fixed

[Nebbie]

I just got a similiar setup at home, DQ6 and BT. I was all prepared to chop a hole in the motherboard tray to make room for the bracket, but I thought I'd try installing the motherboard just to see how it would fit.

The case I have is a Stacker 830, and apparently there was a problem with it before with PCI cards being pulled out of their slots. To fix this problem they supplied the case with longer standoffs. I was suprised to see that I had at least a good 1mm clearance between the standard BT screws and the motherboard tray with no modifications. Works great.

Thank you for writing a great guide, I did use most of it mounting the bracket and it saved a lot of time.

[Revv23]

for high pressure fan it doesnt really matter, just something that is 35mm, i love your duct idea, but you shoulud change the fan to suck air out, i feel like with that duct you are just keeping hot air out... might be a good experimient to try it both ways to see which is better.

[syne_24]

eh what is that blower fan there call? Looks like a little turbo spool lol

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Nebbie

I just got a similiar setup at home, DQ6 and BT. I was all prepared to chop a hole in the motherboard tray to make room for the bracket, but I thought I'd try installing the motherboard just to see how it would fit.

The case I have is a Stacker 830, and apparently there was a problem with it before with PCI cards being pulled out of their slots. To fix this problem they supplied the case with longer standoffs. I was suprised to see that I had at least a good 1mm clearance between the standard BT screws and the motherboard tray with no modifications. Works great.

Thank you for writing a great guide, I did use most of it mounting the bracket and it saved a lot of time.

Good to hear Nebbie. I'm glad it helped you.

Did you install the BT on a DQ6 or DS4 with the Crazy Cool heat spreader in place? If so, I'll add another 'tip' to the guide pointing out the possibility of your preferable circumstances, as it really becomes a nuisance if you have to start drilling/cutting holes. (Not that this bothers many of us ).

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Revv23

for high pressure fan it doesnt really matter, just something that is 35mm, i love your duct idea, but you shoulud change the fan to suck air out, i feel like with that duct you are just keeping hot air out... might be a good experimient to try it both ways to see which is better.

Cheers

Noted re 35mm for pressure. I will try out the old Panaflo M1--noisy bugger now it is aging, but quite powerful.

Hopefully it won't be long and I will have my board back and can post some test results.

I will consider reversing the HSF flow direction. It may not be obvious, but the HSF-side fan duct lines up with a 120mm hole in the side of the case allowing the ambient outside air to be drawn straight in over the BT heatsink and subsequently out over the mosfet sinks of the DQ6/DS4. Hopefully the latter will offer more cooling to the mosfets/NB than is achieved from the circulating case air alone.

I have noted a 5-10c difference in CPU temp from this outside-to-CPU HSF arrangement with my current setup (Zalman FS-C77 with 120mm tube from side of case to above HSF).

[GAM]

Originally Posted by syne_24

eh what is that blower fan there call? Looks like a little turbo spool lol

'Sirocco - DC Blower model YX2530 12v/200ma Sleeve Bearing', Taiwanese.
(a 'no name' as far as I'm concerned)

I picked it up one day wandering the aisles of Jaycar Electronics (in Sydney). I saw it and thought, 'mmmm, that could be useful.'

I haven't used it yet, but when I tested it in the shop I liked the volume of air it was pushing and thought it would be useful to cool RAM or some other hot spot. I had in mind installing it to the duct as indicated in the photos, but I really didn't have a 'hot ram' issue at the time and haven't felt the need to install it. 'Food for thought'.

[GAM]

I pulled my main machine out from it's alcove for its overdue weekly vacuum.

Just check the dust/dog hair build up after 2 weeks!


This is with the existing(current) 120mm tube to FS-C77 HSF mentioned. I typically vacuum these every 1-2 weeks with a mini vac while everything is running. I used to do the same with a full size 'Dyson' vac. and I believe this is why the PanaFlo M1's are noisy now --the Dyson is just a little too strong and usually upsets a fan's rotation Not a healthy practice.

BTW, all my intake fans have these fan grills. They do a great job of keeping most of the dust out and vacuum back to 100% clear in seconds.

Please excuse the shoddy workmanship here. I will be modding further, creating a plexy window one day and will reinstall the 'sacrificed' latch (up or down where ever it fits) once I am working with plexy rather than 'steel'. BTW, you can't use a holesaw in this stuff. That 120mm hole was cut by my bro using a 100mm angle grinder (you can just make out burn marks on the edges[right, bottom]). He's rough as guts, hence the new scratches on the side which I had painfully avoided before this.

[Nebbie]

Originally Posted by GAM

Good to hear Nebbie. I'm glad it helped you.

Did you install the BT on a DQ6 or DS4 with the Crazy Cool heat spreader in place? If so, I'll add another 'tip' to the guide pointing out the possibility of your preferable circumstances, as it really becomes a nuisance if you have to start drilling/cutting holes. (Not that this bothers many of us ).

Yep, DQ6 with Crazy Cool spreader in place. I just used the backplate and the mylar, no foam, and the stock screws that came with the BT. That was with a brand new Coolermaster Stacker 830, but I think people with an older 830 can call Coolermaster to get new standoffs if they need them.

I was actually kinda looking forward to putting a hole in the try, since the Stacker 830 has the same ventilation on both sides of the case I was gonna see if putting a small quiet fan blowing on the Crazy Cool heatsink would make a difference. Oh well, I got my computer up a little bit quicker because of this.

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Nebbie

Yep, DQ6 with Crazy Cool spreader in place. ...

Excellent! I know now that I am not alone

Originally Posted by Nebbie

...I was gonna see if putting a small quiet fan blowing on the Crazy Cool heatsink would make a difference. Oh well, I got my computer up a little bit quicker because of this.

There's always the future

I was thinking the same things about a 'backside' fan. I will plan removal of a section appropriate to accommodate an 80 or 92mm fan. Probably unnecessary but can't hurt. If it makes no difference, it can be removed.
One issue with this though, is the differences between MB CPU locations.

The original side tube is located directly above the CPU/HSF of the GA8i945Pro. The DQ6 locates the CPU differently, hence the top, slanted section of the air-duct. So if I decide to change MB's in future and the CPU is located differently again, I may have an inappropriatly located hole behind the CPU socket. No big deal though. New MB might warrant a new Case... Hmmmm, "Sorry Darling, I HAVE to buy a new case as this one doesn't fit, see?..."

[Nebbie]

If you are curious, I just started overclocking with this setup (haven't done this since the days of the celeron 300!) and I have my E6600 @ 3.6G and 1.47V so far, 2.5hours ortho and its still going. I'm very happy with this board

[GAM]

Originally Posted by Nebbie

If you are curious, I just started overclocking with this setup (haven't done this since the days of the celeron 300!) and I have my E6600 @ 3.6G and 1.47V so far, 2.5hours ortho and its still going. I'm very happy with this board

Nice one m8

Check out some of the overclocking threads to see how it compares, get some tips and take it further.

[GAM]

Board's back, changes made, tests results to come!

[GAM]

Okay people, I finally have some basic test results for you. You've probably moved on by now, but nevertheless, I think the results are worthy of mentioning and speak for themselves.

I'll try to summarise, but scrutinise the results for youselves and let me know your thoughts
Duct-Folding-dual cores-26.1c ambient
Cores-max: 51c
No Duct-Folding-dual cores-26.1c ambient
Cores-max: 55c
Case Open-Dual Prime-26.5c ambient
Cores-max: 55c

4c benefit on core temperatue AND NB (sys) temperature with duct!!!

Interesting that Dual Prime (small/large fft’s), which from experience creates a lot more heat, shows no difference between; case closed and no duct; and with the case open (well 0.4c given rise in ambient).

(Damn, no image support yet. Spent some time massaging results table for a nice pic summary. Nevermind, will update asap.) Here is a text summary in the meantime:

2006-09-23_17-30-00-Duct-Folding-dual cores-26.1c ambient
Version     EVEREST v3.01.715 Beta
CPU Type     Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 3200 MHz (8 x 400)
Motherboard Name     Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6
                                        
               Min     Max     Avg
CPU1     %     100     100     100
CPU2     %     100     100     100
Motherboard °C 34      36      35.5
CPU     °C     27      40      34.4
CPU #1 /#1 °C  46      51      49.8
CPU #1 /#2 °C  44      51      47.6
GPU     °C     47      50      48.2
HDD1     °C    33      35      34.5
HDD2     °C    33      35      34.6
HDD3     °C    33      35      34.5
HDD4     °C    41      41      41
CPU Core V     1.28     1.3     1.28
+3.3 V   V     3.25     3.26    3.26
+12 V    V    11.58    11.65   11.64
DIMM     V     2.02     2.03    2.03
                                        
2006-09-23_16-43-45-No Duct-Folding-dual cores-26.1c ambient               
Version     EVEREST v3.01.715 Beta
CPU Type     Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 3200 MHz (8 x 400)
Motherboard Name     Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6
                                        
               Min    Max    Avg
CPU1     %      99    100     100
CPU2     %     100    100     100
Motherboard °C 34      38      35.2
CPU     °C     29      50      39.1
CPU #1 /#1 °C  47      55      52.4
CPU #1 /#2 °C  45      55      50.8
GPU     °C     50      54      51
CPU Core V     1.28     1.28    1.28
+3.3 V   V     3.25     3.26    3.26
+12 V    V    11.58    11.65   11.62
DIMM     V     2.02     2.03    2.02
                                        
2006-09-23_16-04-15-Case Open-Dual Prime-26.5c ambient 
Version     EVEREST v3.01.715 Beta
CPU Type     Dual Core Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 3200 MHz (8 x 400)
Motherboard Name     Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6
                                        
               Min     Max     Avg
CPU1     %      99     100     100.0
CPU2     %     100     100     100.0
Motherboard °C  38      40      39.9
CPU     °C      34      50      43.7
CPU #1 / #1 °C  51      55      53.6
CPU #1 / #2 °C  50      55      53.1
GPU     °C      53      56      54.4
CPU Core V       1.28    1.28    1.28
+3.3 V   V       3.25    3.26    3.26
+12 V    V      11.58   11.65   11.61
DIMM     V       2.02    2.03    2.02

Note, this is using the original 'cardboard' prototype, which at time of writing is unchanged and operating now for several days-no fires, no no burns, no smells, no other undue excessive heat issues! (reminder link for convenience, if required: http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/dq6ttbt/dq6ttbtduct.htm)

Spent some time spacing things out in a monospace font presentation and it still didn't want to cooperate... so 'code' format it is.

Cheers

[GAM]

Hello all, I have updates!

My TTBT / DQ6 HSF Air-Duct Mod has now been upgraded and customised to fit my recent window mod. Material used is a poly carbonate 'sunglaze' or some such product. TTBT HSF replaced with an old PanaFlo L1A 120mm fan.

Web page with a few pics, some results, but no instruction or commentary as yet:
(Please excuse the state of the website, it's a 'works in progress', amongst many others )
http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/dq6ttbt/dq6ttbtduct2.htm
Sample: