Creating a Air-Cooled setup w/ ~$100...ideas?

[Star Fox]

My goal is to get as close to water cooled temps as possible, for under/around $100 (including cooling CPU, GPU, N/B, and RAM).

Why?
I believe a proper AC system cheaper than a more expensive WC setup and nearly/just as effective.

System will be a e6400 (OC'ed, of course) with 2GB pc6400 ram w/ 4-4-4-12 (stock) timings, a x1800GTO 2 gpu, and a DS3 mobo.

Edit: Another thing I forgot to mention, noise is not a deciding factor for me. I've got a hearing condition and so if I'm not actually trying to listen to something below 45dB, I don't even hear it. As long as it's quiter than a leaf blower, I should be fine.

 

[joemama]

I get mid-range water cooling temps with this combo:
120mm 56cfm intake
SI-128 using Zalman STG-1 thermal paste with Aerocool Extreme 89cfm 120mm (surprisingly quiet full speed)
120mm 56cfm Exhaust
120mm on psu

As we speak Core Temp is showing 26c core #1 and 28c core #2 on my A64 4400+@2.5

 

[Arcygenical]

Wow... If leaf blower is your noise requirement... I think you answered your CPU fan question!

 

[RobotChild]

Wow... If leaf blower is your noise requirement... I think you answered your CPU fan question!

Haha, that made me laugh.

Leafblowers blow out warm air though.

 

[Star Fox]

So far, I've been thinking of getting this setup:
Zalman CNP9500 (blue LED one ) for CPU
Zalman ZM-NBF47 for NB
ZALMAN VF700LED for GPU
And, 2-3x Rosewill RFA120L-B 120mm Sleeve 4 Blue LEDs for directed flow/ventilation purposes (case already has 4x 92mm fans)...

Note: I am not a Zalman die-hard fan-boy. I've just read they're really good in alot of threads/etc...if someone shows me something better, I'd change my mind in a heartbeat.

 

[bmx]

id at least get the vf900 for vid card

 

[joemama]

So far, I've been thinking of getting this setup:
Zalman CNP9500 (blue LED one ) for CPU
Zalman ZM-NBF47 for NB
ZALMAN VF700LED for GPU
And, 2-3x Rosewill RFA120L-B 120mm Sleeve 4 Blue LEDs for directed flow/ventilation purposes (case already has 4x 92mm fans)...

Note: I am not a Zalman die-hard fan-boy. I've just read they're really good in alot of threads/etc...if someone shows me something better, I'd change my mind in a heartbeat.

The setup (SI-128) I showed you above actually outperforms the Zalman...and if you like led's the fan I suggested has a really cool 4 blue led and silver fan blade effect. If full speed 89cfm doesn't bother me with noise then you won't hear it at all.

SI-128 http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...=20441&zenid=e546733c912338625b20b9ad5791a932

Fan http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...d=3879&zenid=e546733c912338625b20b9ad5791a932

Good prices, great service with performancepcs

 

[-(Xyphox)-]

i am working on finishing up my mod "Cool Blue" i wanted to see how cool and quite i could get a pc with just using air. Tonight i should be able to finish it up and post it in the Case Mod Gallery, Take a look. I used a totally of 10 fans and best in class cpu,gpu cooling. GPU never hits about 30 with a massive overclock and cpu never hits about 38 with nice OC as well. Stay Tuned

 

[Arcygenical]

I like the zalman stuff too. The HSF you chose for your CPU is very sexy, one of the prettiest ones on the market. But, you can get equal performance for a bit less money.

The Scythe Ninja, nine times out of ten, is better than (or at least equal to) the zalman CPU HSF you chose. The Scythe, however, has the advantage for priceerformance ratio. It costs about HALF of what the zalman will... AND you can paint the very top fin black and have a custom logo on it or something (for pure 1337-ness of course). Just dont use the sticky foam on the back plate!

The NB cooler is a great buy. You might need some airflow across it though. Mine is in the path of an 80mm fan (like 6" away from it, so...). I have the non "fan" version (the straight blue one cuz of size constraints) and it keeps my NB at about 34'c. The Fan version is said to be even better.

Get the VF900 for your graphics card if you care about overclocking it at all.