Help with Swiftech H20-120 kit

[Varroa]

Hi everybody, I just recently bought a Swiftech H20-120 compact and installed it in my computer. From the time I opened the box there has been problems. I have a Asrock 939 Dual Vsta board (don't laugh) with a FX-60 dual core processor. My mobo did not come with a backplate for mounting larger fans and the only backplate provided in the swiftech kit was for intel CPUs. I had to invent my own mounting method to get it to install properly (I just used two rubber backed washers and 2 bolts to screw the apogee waterblock to the motherboard). Is there any other method anybody could suggest to mount the waterblock or is this sufficient?

Second, my temperatures are not any better than the Arctic Cooler 64 Pro HSF I was using, my idle temps are in the mid 30s (36-38c) and under full load using the folding at home SMP client I am getting temps around 54-56c (ambient temps in my room are about 17- 19c). I am using a Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120mm cooling fan (1200rpm, 49CFM) and I have the rad mounted on the inside of my case with the fan sucking air through the rad and venting outside the case. Does anybody have any recommendations for improved cooling or is this the best that this little rad can do?

P.S. I have a Coolermaster cosmos case with 2 x 120mmx38mm case exchaust case fans and 2 x 120mm intake fans.

[sswilson]

I've played with one of these units and you certainly should be seeing better temps than what you were seeing with your old air cooling setup.

I'd suspect that your issue is with the lack of a proper mount. Doesn't swiftech have an add-on backplate for S939?

[Varroa]

I looked on their site and they do have a backplate available but I am not to sure this is the problem. I have the apogee tightened down all the way and it doesn't move one bit so it is making as good contact on the cpu (there was no space between the block and the cpu). The only thing that could be preventing contact would be the spacers provide with the apogee that are used to stand off the waterblock from the motherboard. If I remove those there will be nothing stoping me from tightening down the waterblock more but I would be worried about over-tightening it.

Originally Posted by sswilson

I've played with one of these units and you certainly should be seeing better temps than what you were seeing with your old air cooling setup.

I'd suspect that your issue is with the lack of a proper mount. Doesn't swiftech have an add-on backplate for S939?

[sswilson]

The only other thing I can think of is the temp inside your case......

Obviously if it's high at the fan/rad it's not going to cool the rad very well.

[Varroa]

I am going to play around with my fans tonight. I think my temperature in the case isn't that great (the cosmos is know for having poor case temps) so maybe if I go for a push/pull configuration or try one of my big 38mm 100cfm 120mm fans then it might make a difference. I'll give it a try tonight and let you know. In the meantime doesn anybody else have any insight into what may be causing the problem?

[frosty]

do you have the fan speed set on 7v or 12v?

[Varroa]

I have the fan connected to my fan controller and I have it set to 12 volts.

I am used the recommended fluid in the rad that was provided and mixed the entire bottle with 1/2 litre of distilled water (as per the installation instructions).

I am using AC5 with the setup and I applied an extremely small amount and spread it using a sharp platic edge until is was evenly spread across the entire heatspread. I am very experienced with applying AC5 so I am pretty sure this isn't the problem.

[MpG]

I'm for the backplate theory. Those Apogee GT blocks like a little extra pressure on them, but you need a proper backplate to do it right.

Also, not to question your application method for the AS5, but Arctic Silver has always been pretty definite that you should just be putting a rice grain in the middle for multi-core CPU's, then letting the heatsink spread it out. If you're putting on enough that you can actually spread it out, you might have too much on.

[Squeetard]

Take the side off your case, unscrew the rad and hang it out the side if you can, check your temps then.

[3.0charlie]

Push-pull fan config. definitely on that single rad. Install the rad outside the case, for cooler air too.