Cooling Upgrade: Zalman Air or...

[FadingTheory]

I've noticed since I first built my computer (sig) that my computers been running a bit hot under stock cooling. I frequently have 45-50 idle on cpu, and 40-45 on system RAM and motherboard. I'm almost afraid to know what my video card is running at. In anycase, I thought I might as well decide to cool the thing: and if I'm going to cool it, I should cool it well.

At first, I thought perhaps a Zalman pair of fans would do the trick.

Video Card Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-117&depa=0
$39.00

CPU Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-115&depa=0
$52.00

Total:
$91.00

And though they look big, and supposidly work well, I thought perhaps I could do better. So, my question is: is there a better air cooling solution for this at the price, and would it be possible to up my budget to $150 dollars and get a decent water cooling system? I don't know where to start, and browsing the forums dosn't give me any really good idea of how I'd go about that business.

I thank you in advance.

Oh, by thhe way: I will overclock once I get this good cooling installed.

 

[aj2003]

no with that budget its not worth going to water cooling. if u did ull end up with the bog standard cheap stuff really. them two fans uve put on there are really really good. are quiet aswel. make sure they have a decent amount of air blowing into ur case and at least one case plus your psu fan/s blowin out. its pointless blowing hot air onto a hot heatsink now isnt it.

 

[Vampire_Slayer]

I would say those zalman fans are your best bet around that price, and you should also get a good thermal compound like artic silver 5.

 

[FadingTheory]

ALready have a few tubes at home... bought WAY too many when I built my computer.

 

[diabloII]

your gfx card will OC, your cpu won't

with that value ram, you can barely push up that fsb

 

[FadingTheory]

Hmmm... oh well. Graphics card is what needs the push anyway.

Whats the max you can get out of value ram... I have it running at 225 with no problem. Wont it be able to go up to.... perhaps 250 with better cooling (better cooling=better voltage)?

 

[diabloII]

value ram aren't made for OCing at all

you're really lucky to get it up to 225

 

[FadingTheory]

Hmmm.... how odd. Its not even unstable.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Mine can only get to 204.5 Mhz or my computer fails to POST completly.... Lucky ass got good value ram

 

[FadingTheory]

Sorry.... but hey, just keep in mind I got the shitty processor that wont overclock without jumping in temps that are unheard of (My CPU becomes unstable and 2.2 GHz. Thats odd for a 3000+, isnt it?)