Hey everyone, i'm new to these forums and iv got a question.

I currently have Antec Reference Silver Thermal Compound and I was wondering if it was worth it to buy some Arctic Silver 5? What is the general difference between these two. I know that some Silver Compounds dont actually contain Silver according to the arctic silver site. Is this tru with the Antec Reference Compound? Should I use Ceramique?

Have you installed the HSF yet? If so, and your temps are acceptable, why would you want to change? If you haven't yet, Artic Siver is the gold standard. Ceramique is more forgiving as it is not conductive, if you apply properly, AS5 is the way to go.

I just bought the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer for my Radeon 9700 Pro. I haven't installed it yet, and I was wondering which thermal compound I should use. I have already used the Antec on my CPU, which decreased the temperature 0.5C from the stock HSF.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane I just bought the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer for my Radeon 9700 Pro. I haven't installed it yet, and I was wondering which thermal compound I should use. I have already used the Antec on my CPU, which decreased the temperature 0.5C from the stock HSF.

1-2 degrees is all the difference you'll see between HSF compunds. I would stick with what you got, and if your loot is really burning a hole in your pocket, you can send it to me

Reason why I got the Arctic Cooling VGA silencer was the fact that my Radeon 9700 Pro cant function without a room fan blowing on it. I have my side door open and room fan blowing into my machine. Without that, it would just crash regularly when I played any game. However now, even with the room fan it crashes as well. Hopefully this will help.

So i take it from everyone's replies that my Antec Silver compound is good enough?

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Reason why I got the Arctic Cooling VGA silencer was the fact that my Radeon 9700 Pro cant function without a room fan blowing on it. I have my side door open and room fan blowing into my machine. Without that, it would just crash regularly when I played any game.

Sounds like you got other problems to worry about. What kind of cooling do you have on the case (not the room fan) and how many fans do you have in the case now. How are they blowing? And what is your ambient temp?

Umm, yeah this is gonna be embarassing.

I have two outtake fans on my case. That's about it. I am planning to go and buy an intake fan. Another problem i guess i have is airflow, but that is a problem i have no solution for seeing as all the cables in my case are too long. Even the rounded IDE cables. I also have that long Audigy Platinum cable running down the middle of my case. Essentially, all the cables are bunched up in the middle of my case. I was planning on getting a HD cooling kit to put in my 4th 5.25" bay, so i can install 2 intake fans.

From my motherboard software....Hardware Doctor or something, it measures the CPU temp to be 43.5 C (P4 2.66 Ghz) and the Case Temperature to be 35C.

Oh yeah, here are my system specs:
P4 2.66 Ghz
SOYO P4X400 Dragon Ultra Platinum
Mid Tower Turbogamer Aluminum case with 420 W PSU (yes i kno :S)
Radeon 9700 Pro
512 MB Corsair XMS3200
SB Audigy 2 Plat

Those temps don't look bad. But first off, you should always try to balance out the airflow. Have one fan pull in fresh air, one blow out hot air (not including your power supply.) Then when you upgrade, you can change them around to maximize air flow, but try to maintain the balance. This should allow you to shut your case without cooking you video card.

As far as cable management, wire tie them out of the way to allow better airflow.

Thanks, i did just use wire ties and tucked some cables behind some stuff, so it looks alot better, but still a mess. I'm gonna buy an intake fan tonite, maybe 2. Iv attached what my case looks like without the hard drive in it.

However, in your opinion do you think i should buy AS5? or keep my Antec Silver Compound?

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Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Thanks, i did just use wire ties and tucked some cables behind some stuff, so it looks alot better, but still a mess. I'm gonna buy an intake fan tonite, maybe 2. Iv attached what my case looks like without the hard drive in it. However, in your opinion do you think i should buy AS5? or keep my Antec Silver Compound?

Thermal compound isn't going to make much difference for you, and your cables dont look like they'd impede airflow too much, if you had some. Case that size you need those fans, all four, you could even get som pretty ones with blinky lights.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Thanks, i did just use wire ties and tucked some cables behind some stuff, so it looks alot better, but still a mess. I'm gonna buy an intake fan tonite, maybe 2. Iv attached what my case looks like without the hard drive in it. However, in your opinion do you think i should buy AS5? or keep my Antec Silver Compound?

Where are both of your fans. Are they both in the back, if so buy one or two (whatever) and put it on the side pointing down on your CPU and one pointing on your ATi card or in between if you want one. and stick one fan on top to get airflow coming in from the top.

As far as your comp crashing, did you oc it. cuz if you did you might wanna take it down a notch. if not, then check driver updates and go from there.

Ok, bought 2 80 mm fans for the intake.....prob is, they dont fit. I have those wierd clip in slots for the fans, and the fans themselves are about 1 mm too long. Funny thing is, the current outttake fans are exactly the same size and dont fit. I picked up 2 Antec Blue LED fans for 9.99 each ( plus confound CA new 8.75% tax )

I haven't O/Ced my computer and i wasn't planning on it . All my drivers are up to date.
Put the fan on the side? I dunno if i trust myself to cut a hole in my acrylic window. Any suggestions about that?

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Ok, bought 2 80 mm fans for the intake.....prob is, they dont fit. I have those wierd clip in slots for the fans, and the fans themselves are about 1 mm too long. Funny thing is, the current outttake fans are exactly the same size and dont fit. I picked up 2 Antec Blue LED fans for 9.99 each ( plus confound CA new 8.75% tax ) I haven't O/Ced my computer and i wasn't planning on it . All my drivers are up to date. Put the fan on the side? I dunno if i trust myself to cut a hole in my acrylic window. Any suggestions about that?

Leave your two fans you have where they are at, they will do you no good if you put them in the back as they will draw in the hot air your PSU puts out.

As far as cutting acrylic, be patient, cut slowly, tape it off, and in general dont rush. if you do then you will crack it.

how dose copper compound perform?

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Ok, bought 2 80 mm fans for the intake.....prob is, they dont fit. I have those wierd clip in slots for the fans, and the fans themselves are about 1 mm too long. Funny thing is, the current outttake fans are exactly the same size and dont fit. I picked up 2 Antec Blue LED fans for 9.99 each ( plus confound CA new 8.75% tax ) I haven't O/Ced my computer and i wasn't planning on it . All my drivers are up to date. Put the fan on the side? I dunno if i trust myself to cut a hole in my acrylic window. Any suggestions about that?

Get a piece of sand paper and sand down that 1mm difference. Might not look too pretty, but definitely a function over form issue right now.

LoL just what i was about to do Thx man

Quote: Originally Posted by jcarkeys Get a piece of sand paper and sand down that 1mm difference. Might not look too pretty, but definitely a function over form issue right now.