Dell Precision 3650 MT CPU stock Heatsink/Fan Upgrade/Replace

Hi CdO.

Thanks once again for helping me out, confirming that this swap *is* possible. 

I am looking into finding someone selling this in Europe, to reduce cost since I live in Greece and total cost + shipment + taxes add up so much as to make even a liquid cooling system a vfm alternate option. 

I've also noticed that you don't propose to buy the vrm module along with the main heatsink. Is it because you think my system (being a 65w i7-11700 cpu) don't need it, or is it because of extra cost? 

There are two more things to ask for your advice: 

First: Are there any aftermarket low profile heatsink/fan system options (ideally total height should be up around 50mm) to replace the stock Dell combo, that would actually fit in this case and that you would recommend?

Second:  Do you think that a Corsair H60 liquid cooling system would fit in my MT case and that it would serve better my CPU  cooling needs? I've seen a comment about this but was installed on a 3630 Tower case and I really don't know how difficult it would be to fit this unit in my Mini Tower case. Dell is only popular in business environments here in Greece and there's hardly any user experience and experimentation from individuals so actually no one to ask.

This is the thread I was talking about: https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/precision-fixed-workstations/dell-precision-3630-liquid-cooling-with-corsair-h60/647f8484f4ccf8a8de3666cd?keyword=3650%20precision%20corsair%20H60 

I will be looking into it and if I come up with something interesting I'll post it here for everyone to know.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me out with this, too.  
Take good care of yourself! 

ef.chi

Sorry, I forgot about your location and providing link to US, which is where our community is base.

You are correct with your assumption, no VRM heatsink was suggested due to both, cost and requirement.  That was a good thread with many valuable information about liquid cool for your system as the chassis is very similar.  However, I can't confirm if the H60 will fit as I did not use one.

Besides confirming that Dell premium CPU cooler would work, upgrading the top fan to a 120 mm will be another resolution to resolve thermal issue as they both working in combination to remove heated air from you system instantly.   

While many of low profile coolers from Noctua, Silver Stone, and others may fit well in your system, they don't improve much if they will just circulating the heated air around inside.

@Chino de Oro​ No need to be sorry. US market is by far the best cost effective market for us, even with European wages. It's the shipping/tax costs that add up considerably and make this option a bit on the pricey segment. There are potential sources in Europe, too, especially through Germany. I may even ask Dell Greece to see if they can provide me one at a reasonable cost (although unlike to be the cheapest).

But you have one more valuable suggestion here (upgrading the top fan to an 120mm), along with the stock Dell heatsink that is. Thank you! This would certainly help and it will be the first to try...

I have to say that these days we're under severe heat attack and air temperature inside the house is about 30 degrees Celcius (about 86 degrees Fahrenheit) when temperature outside (and under shade) reaches about 43 degrees Celcius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit). I think this too, puts a burden to the i5-10600 stock dell heatsink/fan combo I use with my i7-11700 65W CPU. 

So, I will look into the proposed solutions, evaluating cost/effectiveness and maybe come back here to report the solution I finally used to solve it, for the rest of us to use, if need be. 

Once again, THANK YOU!

Take care,

@ef.chi 

Just checking in and wondering if you were able to use the premium Dell CPU cooler in your MT? I'm looking to make the same upgrade on my I7 and hoping it works better for cooling.

@JamesKeen820​ 

Hi, there!

I did try to buy a Dell premium CPU cooler but shipment expenses and tax to EU are comparatively high, and it was not a justified purchase. 

Instead, I got my hands on a Thermalright AXP90-X47 low profile full copper cooler (a full review here https://www.caselabs.org/coolers/axp90-x47) that with a little tweak I managed to replace the original stock Dell cooler without the need to take the motherboard out.* I also purchased the Dell VRM Heatsink 7NPYV 125W just to make sure I get the best possible cooling conditions to the system chips.

Finally, I bought an Arctic P12 MAX 120mm Case fan that I placed on the up front of the case, getting the HDD case to the bottom of the system, to make sure I get more fresh cool air to the cramped area over the cpu. 

The outcome was to have a noticeable quieter system and fans working at low speed most of the time. And when there's need to rave up the system almost instantly cools down and things get back to normal. 

I am very satisfied with the final outcome but still wonder if it could be easier for me to just buy the stock premium Dell cooler instead and avoid all this procedure. This is a question you have to answer but if I was you and you have access to a reasonable priced unit, I think it would be wiser to go with the Dell option that will be easier to implement. In any case I think you SHOULD upgrade the CPU cooling system since the i7 generate more heat than the one the i5 stock cooler would be able to handle! In my case (I upgraded my i5 to the i7 CPU) and for the short period I used the old one cooler, I had constantly fans raving up too often, even when I opened one or two browsers with multiple tabs.

I hope I was able to provide some useful info. If there's anything else, pls ask.

Take care,
ef.chi

*PS. If you decide to go my way, I could send you detailed photos and instructions as to how to install the Thermalright CPU cooler with the minimum hassle. To be more precise the whole 'problem' is to fit the heatsink screws to the motherboard wholes, without the need to take out the motherboard and place underneath the supplied plate. I found a way and it works.

@JamesKeen820​ 

Hi, James!!!

Let me first say that I had an i5 system that I upgraded the CPU to an i7. Upgrading the system cooling system was a must since more than often, the stock i5 heatsink/cooler I originally had in the system, raved up in speed and noise.

I tried to buy a Dell 125W cooler but pricing for dispatch to EU was unjustifiable. So I got my hands on a Thermalright full copper heatsink/cooler (have a look of it here: https://www.caselabs.org/coolers/axp90-x47) that proved to be more than adequate at a better price point.
 
I also purchased the Dell stock VRM heatsink 7NPYV 125W to make sure every part of the CPU system is protected. Finally I got an Arctic P12 max case fan that I placed on the upper front area of the system case (and moved the HDD case found there to the bottom of the case) to get fresh air to the cramped area around the CPU.

It works fine and I am really happy with the outcome. But in the end I can't but wonder if it would be more wise to have gotten the original stock 125W Dell heatsink/cooler to avoid all this hassle, because I was lucky to find a tweak to place the new heatsink/cooler without taking out the motherboard to place underneath a plate that was supplied with the unit. If I had to take out the motherboard, my decision would be unjustifiable!!!

So if you live in the US, I suggest you go for this premium Dell 125W CPU stock solution. It will be much easier to implement and protect the whole system much better than any other stock Dell heatsink/cooler for i5/i3 models. If you don't and considering following my way, I will be happy to give you info on how to install the heatsink without much trouble.

If there's anything else, pls ask.

Take care,
ef.chi

Thank you for the long and detailed response. I have been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to get the CPU to cool down. I've added a Noctua case fan to the front in the same position you mentioned; however, it hasn't made much of a difference.

I don't think the issue is case airflow, as I’ve tried pointing a full-size desk fan into the case, and it didn’t make much of a difference. I believe the stock CPU fan is the problem because when I run all the fans at 100%, the issue seems to be less severe. Replacing the thermal compound with Arctic MX6 also shaved a few degrees off.

I looked at the Thermalright as a possible option, but I couldn’t see an obvious way to mount it. If you’ve found a way to install it, I would love to see how you did it. If you're willing to provide some photos, I’d be happy to give it a try myself.

Does the CPU still thermal throttle with the Thermalright installed?

The design of the case is not good with airflow.  When you are circulating heated air from CPU cooler inside the case, it does not help while the system is running heavy load.

The premium cooler can improve CPU cooling significantly because it takes the heated air outside the case instantly.  On some models, if the top exhaust fan is 92mm, you can upgrade it to 120mm to match with the opening vent to increase the exhaust air volume.

Front intake fans can be added if it was not shipped originally.  That will help to bring in cool air from the front of the chassis.

@Chino de Oro​ so you would say it's not worth getting a 3rd party cooler? Just try and get a hole of the 125w premium cooler? Also will the VRM heat sinks make much of a difference?

I've already added a front Noctua case fan in the position you suggested for what it's worth. 

Upgrading the top fan to 120mm, is that a custom mod or is there a different type of Dell bracket one can use?

Appreciate all the hope you guys are providing on this 

I think OP has settled for 3rd party cooler due to unavailability of sourcing Dell part.  But, the Dell premium cooler will certainly help with CPU cooling.  VRM heatsink may not make a different if the VRM is not heating up to provide power for 125w CPU. 

For 120mm top fan, use old Alienware 78JPW fan with very small bracket mod for a perfect fit.

OK, James! 

First I would like to ask you to notice CdO's reply. I think he is correct. This is the main difference Dell's premium heatsink/cooler does, compared to any other like the one I used! It extracts hot air outside the case directly! Sucking air outside directly, also creates a favorable air pressure for fresh cool air to come inside, so the need for another case fan -like the one we've placed- might not be needed. 

Second thing is the fact the upper Dell case fan is only 82mm although it is quite adequate at full speed to suck enough air outside. But even this Thermalright low profile heatsink/cooler does cramps things a bit. That's why I tried to add another front case fan.

Let me add that I, too, used the Arctic MX6 compound and it did the job. 

Now, if despite all the above, you decide to give Thermalright combo a try, let me explain the 'trick' to mount it on the motherboard and the CPU without the need to dismantle the whole system.

According to the instructions given, you should mount the provided plate under the motherboard to fix the heatsink set position. That would be too much for me and instead I tried this trick. 

I screwed the relevant screws (excuse any mistake with the terms used) marked with circle (1) in the picture above, that are used to stabilize the heatsink to the motherboard holes, UPSIDE DOWN. I didn't use the plate under the mobo at all. 

Then I used the bolts marked with circle (2) to fix the heatsink in place. There's enough space, I assure you. You only have to be a bit patient to do that because there's not much working space there.

After that, placing the fan was a breeze. And the whole set worked just fine. 

Now, as far as CdO's remarks, I have to add that he's right because occasionally I get some case fan rumps up because this set up takes hot air from the CPU area to this cramped area in the middle. 

Fortunately both fans (the upper Dell stock 92mm and the upper front I added, work full throttle for a moment and before I know it, they slow down. If there's ever a throttle it could be for a second or two, too little to notice. Because by the time I open HWiNFO64 app I use to monitor the system, it's all back to normal. 

There's another thing to add. I have both fans wired together to the same outlet, so when the stock Dell 92mm goes full speed, Arctic 120mm does the same. To be honest I tried to replace this 92mm fan but I could only fit a slim 120mm fan that performed less than the stock 92mm which is a quite capable for it's size (I checked the specs to verify this).

So that's it! Let me once more say that if you can come up with the stock Dell 125W combo, I'd say you better go for it. It will save you time and maybe work even better. If you do and works as expected, you might come back and comment on this post to help others!

Whatever you decide, all the best.

Take care,
ef.chi

@Chino de Oro​ 

Thank you CdO for commenting once again to help others. I would have followed your advice in the first place, but total pricing was too high for me. Fortunately, things went well in the end. But yes, I have to give credits to your justified opinion.

@ef.chi​ brilliant thank you so much for all this information, I was concerned about purchasing a third party cooler due to not being sure if I'd have to remove the mb and if there was a usable backplate behind there.

Can I just ask, now that you have changed the cooler to the third party option, what kind of temperatures are you getting on the CPU? 

I've got the i7 11th gen and I'm getting it idling around 70-75 with spikes above 80, under load it's hitting 102 max before dropping (due to thermal throttling I imagine)

Just trying to figure out if the new cooler is worth it. 

@JamesKeen820 > "I've got the i7 11th gen and I'm getting it idling around 70-75 with spikes above 80, under load it's hitting 102  max before dropping (due to thermal throttling I imagine)"

I have to say that what you described happening to your system clearly reminds me of mine, James, before upgrading the CPU heatsink/cooler. Mine got up to 100 Celsius with a noticeable delay to get down after that. Now this is a thing of the past. 

Just look at the picture below to see what I get when surfing and doing normal office work, news reading and social networks browsing/posting compared to the temps I got max when 'stressing' the system.

The maximum temp numbers I get when opening multiple browsers (at least 4-5) most of them with multiple tabs. This is the "stress test" I use to see how quickly the system rebounds in normal temperatures when completing opening browsers and working on one of them.

I tried to measure this today and it actually takes about 10 sec to rave up fans -there's a latency within the system to understand temperatures rising up- and when at full throttle (when temps get around 100 degrees Celsius) it only takes another 10 sec max to start getting temp down to normal. Throttling occurs for a few seconds in between.

I have also tried to use my Sweet Home 3D program to see if that gets temperatures up, like in the past, but it didn't actually. Temps went up to 70-75 and then back to 60-65 while I was working with a 3d model. Pls note that I don't work with video or heavy picture editing.

All that said, I think you'd be much better upgrading your system heatsink/cooler the soonest possible. You'll be able to work stress free. I'll be honest and say your first option should be what CdO proposed and if I may say, it would be wise to replace the top chassis 92mm fan with the 120 mm proposed by him. If I knew that option, I would do that also. You could then move this 92mm to the bottom front of the case to force fresh air to the lower part of the unit. With the Noctua on the upper front, it's hard to find a better set up to keep our baby workstation (I have the midi case) cool.

Take care and all the success to whatever you decide to do!