SLI/PSU closeness... - Page 2

frostybrad · August 19th, 2007

is ther a way to monitor the temps of the PSU?? I dont ever revall seeing a program for that. I would guess Im just checking the CAse temp then... Wish I had one of those digital thermal guns that the air conditioning had in our shop the other day... pretty cool, LED display, and he was just pointing the gun about 30 feet and it was reading the temp.... man that little gun would come in handy!!! :)

Dr. V · August 19th, 2007

You're fine. Simply take some obvious and regular steps to check your GPU temps to make sure something odd/unseen isn't happening.

**One4yu2c** · August 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST!X

You're fine.

That's far from a given - there's a reason PSUs are equipped with an intake fan, and I can assure you it's not to draw in warm/hot air. Keeping those internal components are cool is one of the major areas that separate a reliable name brand unit from a generic...

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostybrad

is ther a way to monitor the temps of the PSU??

Not that I'm aware of, but put your hand on the PSU's exhaust after running a load for a period of time, such as a gaming session, and see how hot the air feels. If it's luke to moderately warm, then you should be in good shape. But if it's pretty toasty, then consider abandoning the idea (again, I personally would abandon it from the get-go).

Elysium · August 19th, 2007

Couldn't you move the GPU to the upper black PCI-E slot?

frostybrad · August 19th, 2007

well i thought I read in the manual I need to use the 2 outside ones for SLI. pretty sure of that. MIddle is for physics or something. Plus I dont think if I use the black one the LSI strip form card to card will reach.....

Elysium · August 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostybrad

well i thought I read in the manual I need to use the 2 outside ones for SLI. pretty sure of that. MIddle is for physics or something. Plus I dont think if I use the black one the LSI strip form card to card will reach.....

Your supposed to use the two black slots for SLI. If you move the card to the very top BLACK PCI-E slot, you shouldn't run into any problems.

Stormcrow · August 19th, 2007

The problem is he wants to go SLI, so by testing the 8800 in that slot first he can see if going SLI is possible or if to not bother. That board is from when manufacturers thought that a third card would be added for physics processing. ATi may still be doing this, but nVidia is going with integrated with it's Quantum Physics technology so that third slot will never be used.

I'm with One4 on this, the PSU fan shouldn't be considered an exhaust fan as its primary purpose is to cool those transformers and regulators which get very hot very quick. One of the main purposes in the bottom mounted PSU design is so the fan isn't sucking in the heat rising to the top of the case, allowing the components inside to stay cool. Even if the blower of the 8800 is staggered, the card itself still generates an ambient heat that raises the temperature all around the card.

In that configuration, the PSU is going to be sucking away the ambient heat produced by the 8800 and not cooling the components properly. While this might not even pose a risk, the G80 likes to make heat, and having your PSU make a nice popping noise which fries your system a year or so from now due to improper cooling is the threat. It could never happen, but it's going to be a risk you have to take if you want to go SLI with this board and case setup.
I personally would do anything possible to keep my system running as long as it can without unnecessary risks, especially to the PSU which can make all your hardware useless burnt silicon at a whim. So I would either replace the motherboard, or more likely see about remounting the PSU or getting a different case. In all honesty, I would say don't bother SLI'ing the 8800 and saving the cash for a 9800 when it comes out (supposedly) this winter.

Pete · August 20th, 2007

I think that you should eliminate the problem completely and get a Thermaltake Case. They you'll have another set of problems but at least those are the lesser of the evils... ;)

Just Kidding... You should be fine, just to what everyone else is saying and monitor those temps. Make sure you have good airflow to those components.

frostybrad · August 20th, 2007

if this helps, I do place a small air purifier which pumps out a heck of alot of cool air (almost feels like a airconditioner......) right infront of the computer... well kinda on a 45 angle to it so it sucks the air in on both the front of the case and the sid eof the case (side fan mounted drawing air in......).... not that this is an arguing point, but figured Id post all the aspects of it.... :)...

Stormcrow · August 20th, 2007

It's worth a shot to try for a couple of days and see, as said it's a risk you'll probably never encounter. Watch the temps on the card during heavy load, and check the PSU's exhaust for a rough measure of the internal heat. If at any time you don't think it's cool enough, don't trust it. But otherwise give it a whirl and see how it floats.

August 19th, 2007	#11
frostybrad Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... is ther a way to monitor the temps of the PSU?? I dont ever revall seeing a program for that. I would guess Im just checking the CAse temp then... Wish I had one of those digital thermal guns that the air conditioning had in our shop the other day... pretty cool, LED display, and he was just pointing the gun about 30 feet and it was reading the temp.... man that little gun would come in handy!!! :)

August 19th, 2007	#12
Dr. V Yes - the Doctor is back. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,840	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... You're fine. Simply take some obvious and regular steps to check your GPU temps to make sure something odd/unseen isn't happening.

August 19th, 2007	#14
Elysium Fields Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pacific Grove, CA Posts: 4,462	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... Couldn't you move the GPU to the upper black PCI-E slot?

August 19th, 2007	#15
frostybrad Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... well i thought I read in the manual I need to use the 2 outside ones for SLI. pretty sure of that. MIddle is for physics or something. Plus I dont think if I use the black one the LSI strip form card to card will reach..... E6600 Dual Core @3.4GHZ (1511 FSB)@1.325volts 2x 8800 GTX KO ACS3 PCI-E 630MHZ 768MB 2.0GHZ Raptor 74GB WD Caviar 250GB HD Antec 1200 Hundred Case 4 gigs of Corsair XMS2 TWIN -6400C4 2GB DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-12-2T 680I SLI LGA775 MOBO Samsung DVD+RW Enermax Galaxy 1000 wats PSU 24" Samsung SynMaster Cooling: Swiftech Dual rad Swiftech Micro Res Swiftech Apogee GT Cpu block 2x Koolance 8800 GTX Full Coverage Water blocks Feser One Blue Fluid

August 19th, 2007	#17
Stormcrow HL's Technomancer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Frozen North Posts: 1,168 Blog Entries: 1	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... The problem is he wants to go SLI, so by testing the 8800 in that slot first he can see if going SLI is possible or if to not bother. That board is from when manufacturers thought that a third card would be added for physics processing. ATi may still be doing this, but nVidia is going with integrated with it's Quantum Physics technology so that third slot will never be used. I'm with One4 on this, the PSU fan shouldn't be considered an exhaust fan as its primary purpose is to cool those transformers and regulators which get very hot very quick. One of the main purposes in the bottom mounted PSU design is so the fan isn't sucking in the heat rising to the top of the case, allowing the components inside to stay cool. Even if the blower of the 8800 is staggered, the card itself still generates an ambient heat that raises the temperature all around the card. In that configuration, the PSU is going to be sucking away the ambient heat produced by the 8800 and not cooling the components properly. While this might not even pose a risk, the G80 likes to make heat, and having your PSU make a nice popping noise which fries your system a year or so from now due to improper cooling is the threat. It could never happen, but it's going to be a risk you have to take if you want to go SLI with this board and case setup. I personally would do anything possible to keep my system running as long as it can without unnecessary risks, especially to the PSU which can make all your hardware useless burnt silicon at a whim. So I would either replace the motherboard, or more likely see about remounting the PSU or getting a different case. In all honesty, I would say don't bother SLI'ing the 8800 and saving the cash for a 9800 when it comes out (supposedly) this winter.

August 20th, 2007	#18
Pete Fried Rice Peddler Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 355	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... I think that you should eliminate the problem completely and get a Thermaltake Case. They you'll have another set of problems but at least those are the lesser of the evils... ;) Just Kidding... You should be fine, just to what everyone else is saying and monitor those temps. Make sure you have good airflow to those components.

August 20th, 2007	#19
frostybrad Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... if this helps, I do place a small air purifier which pumps out a heck of alot of cool air (almost feels like a airconditioner......) right infront of the computer... well kinda on a 45 angle to it so it sucks the air in on both the front of the case and the sid eof the case (side fan mounted drawing air in......).... not that this is an arguing point, but figured Id post all the aspects of it.... :)... E6600 Dual Core @3.4GHZ (1511 FSB)@1.325volts 2x 8800 GTX KO ACS3 PCI-E 630MHZ 768MB 2.0GHZ Raptor 74GB WD Caviar 250GB HD Antec 1200 Hundred Case 4 gigs of Corsair XMS2 TWIN -6400C4 2GB DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-12-2T 680I SLI LGA775 MOBO Samsung DVD+RW Enermax Galaxy 1000 wats PSU 24" Samsung SynMaster Cooling: Swiftech Dual rad Swiftech Micro Res Swiftech Apogee GT Cpu block 2x Koolance 8800 GTX Full Coverage Water blocks Feser One Blue Fluid

August 20th, 2007	#20
Stormcrow HL's Technomancer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Frozen North Posts: 1,168 Blog Entries: 1	Re: SLI/PSU closeness... It's worth a shot to try for a couple of days and see, as said it's a risk you'll probably never encounter. Watch the temps on the card during heavy load, and check the PSU's exhaust for a rough measure of the internal heat. If at any time you don't think it's cool enough, don't trust it. But otherwise give it a whirl and see how it floats.