Intermittent crashing

[GZ]

I have suggested configuration changes to the fan setup. Has this been done yet?

 

[Agent766]

Oh yeah, sorry, I was checking them all when I found that side fan locked up. All the fans are in the proper configuration now. I know I've messed with the fans in the past, but I've heard a lot of conflicting stuff about fan orientation. The manual mentions "The LanBoy Air’s cooling system allows up to 15 inward-facing fans to create positive internal air pressure, blowing dust and heat out through its panel perforations."

http://puu.sh/7CQ4t.jpg The EasyTune and HWMontor temps are a bit different, but I believe that's just cause HWMonitor samples more often. EasyTuner still shows the CPU temp spiking. I'll try Safe Mode and BIOS later tonight.

 

[GZ]

Yes. There is a lot of debate over the different styles of cooling, and the lanboy "mesh" case is set up for a positive pressure type of cooling but, in my experience, full positive pressure setups end up creating hot spots and eddies.

Even in positive pressure setups I always recommend at least one high volume fan (top fan in most cases) to create a consistent upward flow of air to pull the heat from the inside of the case.

One last thing... Unless the fans are all filtered and cleaned regularly, positive pressure setups will not keep dust from accumulating inside your case.

EDIT:

And, although, BIOS/EFI temperatures are generally the most accurate representations of chip temperature, they can ONLY be used as a baseline because the system is under virtually no stress in the BIOS/EFI environment.

 

[Digerati]

full positive pressure setups end up creating hot spots and eddies.

And too much negative causes hots spots and null (dead air) spots too.

I don't worry about positive and negative. I want flow. Flow is what moves the hot air out. And since you never need to be inside a PSU and since PSU fans exhaust hot air out the back, so too should case fans - thus a desired "front-to-back" flow (though up through top or "blowhole" fans are very effective too). Note that Antec may support a 200mm "Fatboy" fan. :) They move massive amounts of air but very very quietly. A very good thing.

 

[Agent766]

Okay, so since my last post and up until today everything's been mostly running smoothly. Today my computer's been crashing very consistently doing the exact tasks I was yesterday. If I reboot and fire WoW back up, I'll crash in about 5 minutes. I'm leaving it off for now to see if it's any better tomorrow after some time to cool down.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Stock CPU fan. I've been attempting to play World of Warcraft and watch Netflix or Twitch. Chrome playing video seems to warm up my CPU. I have 5 fans, two on front blowing out, and the two on the side and one in back blowing into the case.

Just a thought: On the front of the case IMO those fans should be blowing into the case, generally it's the least resistance of obstructed air flow into the case. The rear fans are the ones that should be exhausting/venting the case, that's where most of the heat build up is and those fans can quickly vent the hot air....

Damn...I see GZ has all ready suggested this.

 

[Agent766]

I don't think it's really helping that I have 4 HDDs in front of the front case fans. And the side fans are blowing below the GPU which I think may be creating two separate air flow sections if that makes any sense. But I don't get why it'll be fine for a week and then constantly crash for a day.

 

[Digerati]

But I don't get why it'll be fine for a week and then constantly crash for a day.

How have your ambient (room) temps been the last week? As Summer approaches (at least in the northern hemisphere) room temps increase too and that will directly affect internal temps.

As noted several times, you generally want front to back flow through the case. So fans in front draw air in, fans in back exhaust hot air out.

I would try with side panel fans disconnected (not spinning) as they can, without wind tunnels directing the flow) cause too much turbulence and disrupt that front to back flow. You end up with the heated air just tumbling almost in place. Or go extreme the other way and remove the side panel completely and blast a desk fan in there and see how your temps are.

In any case, you need to be constantly monitoring your temps. I use and recommend CoreTemp for newer Intel and AMD CPUs. Speedfan is very popular but it does have problem properly matching sensors to labels.

Damn...I see GZ has all ready suggested this.

As did I, but it is worth reiterating.

Also, for the record, I always want to make sure I am providing good, clean power to my systems - especially when troubleshooting intermittent problems. So if me, I might also swap in a spare, but known good PSU and see how it goes.

 

[Agent766]

Yup, first thing I thought was a PSU issue. I bought a new Corsair 750W PSU, had the same issues, and was luckily able to return it. My computer's actually in the basement which has an extremely cool ambient temperature. I'll try the side fan stuff when it starts consistently crashing again.