Cooling for a Compaq D510 SFF

[Atarithejedi]

Okay I know I'm going in the weeds here, but I have a Compaq d510 SFF running XP and Windows 98. I upgraded the CPU to a 3.06 GHz from 2.4 plus I have a graphics card and a sound card in it.  I noticed my machine whenever I would start like a Windows 98 game or something The fan kicks into overdrive especially for the CPU. I took out the extra old modem card to free up some space and to draw just a hairless power I also don't have my extra controllers hooked up unless I need them. I've also replaced all the leaky type capacitors with slightly bigger ones and higher values which I know can draw away heat a little better. With the higher CPU I put in nicer thermal paste. In addition I also recap the power supply with newer high quality capacitors that again will help draw heat away.The good thing is I have this unit in my garage cuz I'm going to use it mostly for burning ROM chips for my arcade machines so it's nice and cool in the garage but I'm wondering is there another way I can cool my unit even further? Is there some teeny tiny little water cooling device I could throw in there to help take some of that pressure off the fan? The fan works fine I just hate to hear it get so loud whenever I try to play a game or something. If I'm riding a word dog or something like that it doesn't kick on. Thanks for any advice 🙂

[Atarithejedi]

Wanted to answer my own question My system was beginning to really hot not quite overheat but close to it. I discovered one of the latches holding down the heat sink had popped open so I placed an extra little tiny bit of thermal paste and locked it down The CPU is running a warm but nowhere near what it was. Still wouldn't mind finding if there was like a tiny water cooling system or something that I could squeeze into an SFF. That wouldn't draw more power than what it's good for

[Raj_05]

Hi @Atarithejedi,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It’s great that you’re taking such care to cool your Compaq D510 SFF, especially with the upgraded components! Given the small form factor (SFF) of your machine, adding a full water-cooling solution would be very challenging, as there simply isn't much space. However, there are a few other ways you can optimize cooling without causing more power draw or taking up too much space.

Compact Air Cooling Solutions:

• Low-profile CPU coolers: There are low-profile air coolers designed specifically for SFF or small chassis. Brands like Noctua, Cooler Master, and Scythe have coolers that are designed for smaller cases. These might offer better cooling performance than the stock fan while keeping noise down.
• Better thermal paste: You’ve already done this, but if you haven't, you could try a high-performance thermal paste like Arctic MX-4 or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, which can improve heat transfer a little further.

External Cooling:

• USB-Powered Fans: These are small, external fans that can be placed near your computer’s intake or exhaust to help dissipate heat. You can run them off your computer’s USB ports, and while they won't provide major cooling, they can help reduce internal temperatures a little.
• Laptop Cooling Pads: You could also consider using a small cooling pad or external fan designed for laptops. Some of these are very thin, so they can be placed underneath the desktop chassis without taking up much room, and they can help improve airflow.

Water Cooling (Limited Options):

• There are miniature water cooling systems available, but most are designed for compact desktops or all-in-one solutions. An example is the Corsair Hydro H55 (single 120mm radiator) or Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L, but both would require modifications to fit into an SFF case and might draw more power than you’re comfortable with. However, if you’re looking for something less intrusive, there are small DIY cooling kits or small systems intended for electronics that might fit the bill. Keep in mind that these solutions are tricky to install in a case as small as yours.

Improve Case Ventilation:

• Extra Case Fans: If possible, adding additional case fans to the intake or exhaust sides (or even modding the case to add them) can improve airflow. Even a small fan can have a significant effect, especially if you have the case in a relatively cool environment like your garage.
• Fan Ducts or Airflow Optimization: If you can, optimize the airflow inside the case. Ensure cables are neatly arranged and there’s no obstruction to airflow. Adding a small fan duct to direct air to the CPU or GPU might also help concentrate airflow and cool specific components more effectively.

Check Power Supply and System Load:

• Efficiency of Power Supply: The power supply is often overlooked when it comes to cooling, but an inefficient PSU can generate extra heat. A more efficient, high-quality PSU could help reduce internal temperatures. You've already recapped your power supply, which is great. Just ensure it's not running at full load, especially if you're running extra components (like your sound card or graphics card).
• System Load Management: It might help to monitor the system's load more closely and adjust performance settings when not gaming. For example, reducing the clock speeds of your CPU when doing non-demanding tasks could prevent excessive heat generation.

[Raj_05]

Note:

While it's difficult to fit a full water-cooling loop into an SFF case, the combination of better thermal paste, efficient low-profile air cooling, and optimizing airflow might help significantly reduce fan noise and cooling load. You’ve already done a lot to improve the system’s cooling, so these additional measures can help keep things running quieter and cooler.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support