Fans, thermo compound, cooling help

[BuckeyeBOSS]

So w/ the help of this forum, below is what I'm getting. Now I'd like to know how to keep it as cool as possible w/out water. I plan to OC a little, but stability and longer life take higher priority than getting every last bit of speed for me. Thoughts on fans, thermo compounds, heat sinks, or possible case mods to cool better?

APEVIA X-CRUISER-AL Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811144152

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139005

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive 32 mb cache - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136319

EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130365

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7T-6GBPK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231230

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188039

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202

Vista Home Preminum 64 bit

 

[Shumway]

The main thin i would do is ditch that case and buy something like the antec 300 which has way better options for cooling

 

[BuckeyeBOSS]

The main thin i would do is ditch that case and buy something like the antec 300 which has way better options for cooling

I like the case I picked and can modify it, I know how to use tools very well. I just need to know what should be done for better cooling?

Should I modify the top of the case to able to use 2 120mm fans for exhaust, put a 120mm fan in the rear for intake, then a 120mm in the front for intake?

It says it has a fan controller for up to 5 fans. It looks like the only mod to the case needed would be to make vents for 2 120mm fans on top. All the others would work as-is.

Or should I use 2 front 80mm's for intake and then 1 top and 1 rear as exhaust or ???

Welcome to Apevia.com | *X-CRUISER-AL

 

[zmatt]

meh apeiva cases are poorly built and are all show, no substance. Shumway is right.

But about your question.

The only good air cooler I know of that will work with core i7 is the Thermalright ultra 120 extreme. They made an LGA1366 bracket for it. Dor some reason Newegg doesn't carry it anymore, but if you dig around you should be able to find it.

outfit your case with these: Newegg.com - Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan - Case Fans

They are loud but nothing pushes air like Ultra Kaze's

And when you get your heatsink, use this thermal paste:
Newegg.com - Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Thermal Compound / Grease

TX-2 is THE BEST. None of those more expensive pastes can beat it. Not AS-5, not Ceramique. Nothing.

 

[BuckeyeBOSS]

meh apeiva cases are poorly built and are all show, no substance. Shumway is right.

But about your question.

The only good air cooler I know of that will work with core i7 is the Thermalright ultra 120 extreme. They made an LGA1366 bracket for it. Dor some reason Newegg doesn't carry it anymore, but if you dig around you should be able to find it.

outfit your case with these: Newegg.com - Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan - Case Fans

They are loud but nothing pushes air like Ultra Kaze's

And when you get your heatsink, use this thermal paste:
Newegg.com - Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Thermal Compound / Grease

TX-2 is THE BEST. None of those more expensive pastes can beat it. Not AS-5, not Ceramique. Nothing.

Cool, thanks. What would you recommend for the fan layout? Such as modifying the top of the case for 2 of those fans (necessary?), where to put intakes, exhausts, etc?

 

[zmatt]

Your case doesn't support mounting the psu on the bottom so a top exhaust fan wont do much. I would say intake on the front, exhaust on the back. Two fans on both ends.