ive got a problem with my PC i built this past winter... the stock heatsink wasn't doing the job for me so I bought a Xigmatek Dark Knight heatsink. supposed to be the best for my processor (phenom 2 3.4ghz) but due to how it's mounted, it isn't cooling very well either. while playing a game, my cpu temp will get up to 52c and the gpu temp will be around 67c when the mobo starts beeping at me. i guess that means it doesnt like being that hot. anyway heres a pic of my setup. if I could mount the heatsink to blow horizontally, id be fine. it would blow the heat right out that exhaust fan. however, it only will blow up or down, so i can either have it blow hot air down into the GPU or up to the PSU. any suggestions??

http://thewolfweb.com/photo_photo.aspx?user=36223&photo=516665

[Edited on July 31, 2010 at 5:29 PM. Reason : pic]

7/31/2010 5:27:31 PM

that's some seriously poorly designed HSF if it only points up or down and not out.

my suggestion would be to get another HSF that seats properly and blows the air in the proper direction.

ok, so aside from buying a new HSF, blow it towards the GPU and put a fan in the front of the case to bring more cool are into the case.

7/31/2010 7:27:32 PM

The Dark Knight is just a black Xigmatek 1283. It is an excellent HDT cooler. It's a shame you cant mount it normally.

7/31/2010 7:40:26 PM

oic, he just can't mount it normally because of the mobo?

7/31/2010 8:01:37 PM

it can mount in any orientation if i had an intel processor because of intel's square mounting bracket. however, because of my AM2/AM3 mobo, it will only mount blowing up or down

7/31/2010 8:32:30 PM

Buy a Cooler Master Hyper 212+. If you can't change the orientation of the heat sinks, then you can't really fix the problem.

7/31/2010 11:35:13 PM

Umm, a CPU temp of 52C under load is actually quite LOW, and well within the acceptable range for a Phenom 2. Overheating is 70C+. Honestly I'd say there's nothing at all wrong with your CPU and HSF if that temp is accurate. Go into the BIOS and make sure the overheat/warning temperature is set at 70C (which it should be by default).

Now the GPU is a different matter. 67C is well towards too hot. What video card are you using?

8/1/2010 3:19:41 AM

67 isn't too hot, most high end cards get in the 80s loaded on the stock HSF.

8/1/2010 7:42:32 AM

the gpu is a 9800gt. maybe the mobo thinks it's overheating because i was supposed to set the default max temps in the bios wheni built it, and i didnt? and btw i forgot to mention these are the temps i get under load after underclocking from 3.4ghz stock to 3.0ghz and turning down cpu voltage to compensate for the heat

8/1/2010 3:29:42 PM