VOGONS


Help cooling down a Pentium 3

Topic actions

First post, by idan182

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I have this P3 case without a back fan.

20220605_073504.jpg
Filename
20220605_073504.jpg
File size
193.86 KiB
Views
1116 views
File license
Public domain

Only a front one.

20220605_073513.jpg
Filename
20220605_073513.jpg
File size
266.08 KiB
Views
1116 views
File license
Public domain

From Everest:
When I turn on the computer:

Motherboard temp: 25c
CPU temp (733mhz 370 in a slot 1 adapter): 39c
GPU temp: 58c (5600FX AGP)
Hard Disk temp: 25c

After 10 min
Motherboard temp: 36c
CPU temp: 45c
GPU temp: 72c
Hard Disk temp: 45c

When pushing it and on games, CPU can reach even 60-65. and motherboard to 40+
is it normal? Can I fit a better 80mm front fan? don't think it makes something.
PSU gets very hot and is built weird with inside fan and not a fan that gets the heat out of it:

20220605_075312.jpg
Filename
20220605_075312.jpg
File size
133.93 KiB
Views
1115 views
File license
Public domain

Reply 1 of 42, by Sphere478

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

A psu with a bottom fan would help. (If yours doesn’t already have one)

Also what cooler are you using?

As for is it okay? Cpus tend to crash when they are too hot. Is it crashing? 65c is hot but not insane.

Attachments

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)

Reply 3 of 42, by Sphere478

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
idan182 wrote on 2022-06-05, 05:03:

No crashes yet.
All original hardware from 99. I don't think it's a branded fan.

Lemme see the cooler. Might be able to recommend a better one

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)

Reply 5 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
idan182 wrote on 2022-06-05, 05:10:

No sticker or anything. just a generic 80mm fan.

Re. the existing front fan...

- remove and give it and any case vent holes* a good clean
- *from your pics it doesn't look as if there are many / any vent holes behind the fan
- lose the card support bracket as its just an unnecessary blockage to any airflow (you may then need another way to attach the fan - screws / adhesive pads)
- there may be ways to marginally improve airflow e.g. spacers behind the fan, cut out more / larger vent holes, replace fan with higher airflow model. Unless you dremel a larger hole it looks as if 80mm is your limit.

Do you have a pic of the slot 1 adapter & cooler / fan in use - my guess would be the original config may have been designed for a large passive cooler using the PSU fan airflow for cooling

Reply 6 of 42, by Sphere478

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

I was talking about the cpu cooler 🤣

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)

Reply 9 of 42, by Repo Man11

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

These Coolermaster Socket 370 coolers are available on Ebay for a decent price ($9.99 US), and would be much better than what you now have. When combined with the above recommendation for a modern power supply with a large cooling fan you should be all set.

Attachments

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 11 of 42, by Repo Man11

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

That front fan appears to be oriented so that it is an exhaust fan rather than an intake one - you generally want the front fan blowing in, and any rear fans you have to be blowing out.

Attachments

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 12 of 42, by idan182

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
Repo Man11 wrote on 2022-06-05, 06:59:

That front fan appears to be oriented so that it is an exhaust fan rather than an intake one - you generally want the front fan blowing in, and any rear fans you have to be blowing out.

It is blowing in but not that much, I guess after all these years.

Reply 13 of 42, by PC Hoarder Patrol

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
idan182 wrote on 2022-06-05, 07:01:
Repo Man11 wrote on 2022-06-05, 06:59:

That front fan appears to be oriented so that it is an exhaust fan rather than an intake one - you generally want the front fan blowing in, and any rear fans you have to be blowing out.

It is blowing in but not that much, I guess after all these years.

It may also help out with static / stale air pockets developing in the case if you add an internal fan to push more air upwards - maybe secured to the unused motherboard holes thus

plus_fan.jpg
Filename
plus_fan.jpg
File size
295.77 KiB
Views
1045 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Reply 14 of 42, by Hoping

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Yeah, the psu fan is reversed, somebody modified its positon, it is blowing the hot air of the psu against the cpu and inside the case. That should be an exaust not an intake. Just open de psu and reverse it.

Reply 15 of 42, by Sphere478

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

I like this cooler

The one posted above looks nice also. But these kinda of coolers (both) clog easier, because of the smaller fins.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/173850646045?hash=it … CQAAOSw8d9U1YWa

Attachments

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)

Reply 16 of 42, by devius

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Those PSUs that blow hot air into the cpu were actually designed that way on purpose, and meant to be used with slot 1 systems. However it didn’t take long for manufacturers to realize this was a terrible idea, so you should find another PSU that blows air out of the case. Not sure if reversing the existing fan would be enough.

The case fan does look like it’s set up as exhaust, and if you feel any air movement it’s because, as others suggested, there’s not enough ventilation holes and so the air bounces back. You can be sure about the direction of airflow if you take out the fan and look around the sides. It should have arrows indicating the direction.

Reply 18 of 42, by Hoping

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I've never seen a PSU blowing it's hot air inside the case, that doesn't make any sense, if somebody designed it that way....well, I've nothing to say. But consider that even XT power supplys take the hot air outside the case. The front fan won't do much if the psu heats the air inside even if it's taking air out because the hot air of the PSU will heat everything as it pases by. That's basic, take the heat out. From my point of view the CPU cooler is good enought

Reply 19 of 42, by Sphere478

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
Hoping wrote on 2022-06-05, 11:47:

I've never seen a PSU blowing it's hot air inside the case, that doesn't make any sense, if somebody designed it that way....well, I've nothing to say. But consider that even XT power supplys take the hot air outside the case. The front fan won't do much if the psu heats the air inside even if it's taking air out because the hot air of the PSU will heat everything as it pases by. That's basic, take the heat out. From my point of view the CPU cooler is good enought

They did that to cool pentium 2s if I recall. They tried to reinvent the whole cooling and mounting system for processors with the pentium 2 I recall something about reverse cooling on pentium 2 setups. Though I could be remembering wrong.

Sphere's PCB projects.
-
Sphere’s socket 5/7 cpu collection.
-
SUCCESSFUL K6-2+ to K6-3+ Full Cache Enable Mod
-
Tyan S1564S to S1564D single to dual processor conversion (also s1563 and s1562)