Need Mild OC / Cooling advice
Need Mild OC / Cooling advice
I’ve attempted several builds before, but this one is quite different in scale and type, which is why I’m reaching out for guidance from those with more experience. My current configuration includes:
Graphics: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 R5
Processor: AMD FX-9590 Black Edition - MILD OC (4.8 / 5.1)
Memory: 16GB (4x4GB) Kingston HyperX Fury 1866 (KHX1866C10D3/4G)
Video: Gigabyte GTX 960 Windforce 4GB
Power Supply: Evga Supernova 750 B2
Case: DIYPC Skyline-07
For cooling, I’m using:
CPU: Antec KÜHLER H2O 950 (Dual 120mm fans in Push-Pull mode, exhaust directly out of the case)
Fans: Dual 120mm front intake
Dual 120mm top exhaust
Dual 120mm side intake
Single 120mm bottom intake
(Rear exhaust routed through radiator/fans)
Monitor readings show temperatures between 13°C minimum and 50°C maximum with the cooler on silent. The HWmonitor also displays TMPIN0 at 30/31, TMPIN1 at 34/51, and TMPIN2 at 12/51. The TMPIN2 is fluctuating rapidly between 22 and 31, and the CPU is throttling to 1.4GHz, which I suspect is due to the VRM.
My main concern is that the radiator placement may not provide sufficient airflow for the chipset heatsinks to function optimally. The radiator is about 2 inches thick plus the intake fan, and the exhaust fan is mounted externally. Based on what I’ve read, these heatsinks are meant to utilize extra airflow from standard CPU cooling arrangements. Additionally, I’m worried about the exhaust capacity—there’s a lot of positive pressure inside the case, and removing a bay cover would allow more air to escape, which could affect performance.
For your requirements I would consider the NH-D15. The larger cooling fans will assist in circulating air over your chipset heat sinks, though you should still ensure proper case cooling. My FX 8370 runs at 5.05Ghz and can be pushed higher, but I also have eight 120mm case fans drawing cool air from the front, bottom, and sides while expelling warm air through the top and rear of the case.
The FX 9590 is already overclocked to its maximum, so additional gains may be limited. You should be able to reach at least its turbo clock of 5Ghz for regular tasks, though higher speeds are unlikely. Of course, some users have achieved rates above 5.5Ghz on the FX 9590, so results can vary.