Modding Cooling oddity - help from experienced peeps?

Hi guys,
I have recently discovered that if I take the side panel off my case the CPU temp goes down (as you'd expect), but the case temp goes up. And vice versa when I replace the panel.

^ about 13 minutes span, panel back on half way through.

Does this mean I can improve my cooling somehow?
(2 80mm intake (but with no real entry holes), 2 80mm exhaust (plus PSU), zalman flower cooler)

Any suggestions much appreciated.
J

 

cut a hole in the side of your case and duct the CPU HS?

 

looks to me like when you open the side panel, you lose an airstream running over the motherboard sensor chip.

i agree with the ducted cpu fan theory, it allows me to run a 1800+ with a very quiet 2000 rpm 80mm fan in my fiancee's box ... 40c at idle, 45c at full load. and the case temps dont really affect it.

it does need cleaned more often though.

 

I also agree, ducting is a good option, although...it looks crap when you have a window, also, you cannot duct the zalman flower coolers (correct me if I'm wrong)



Cheers,
Mike

 

i wondered if that would be suggested. i have been wanting to duct, but as lonewolf says, it can't be done with a flower.
actually maybe it could, given that the fan blows air at the flower, would need a decent filter though - it get clogged with dust enough as it is. ( i have an idea about a different method for filtering that i must try when i get some time...)

 

umm if your temp goes down with your side panel on, I'd leave it alone

your temps are probably going up due to the fact that the air you are taking in and out of the system is the air from outside of the case. The concept of using a fan is to force convection, so if that air isn't reaching the parts you want to cool because it has a huge open space to flow into, I would expect that your temps would go up, especially if you have an alpha based heatsink, or one with the fan sucking air through the heatsink.

 

qué?

 

I agree with the ducting idea, to keep dust down get on on the nice cleanable aluminum filters, they keep out a lot of dust and are cleanable. also if you get the right one they look pretty good too. you can also put a nice laser cut grill on it.

 

any other ideas anyone?

 

You could put venthilation holes over your processor area (maybe just cut a fan-sized hole and add a grate) and make all your fans suck the air out of the case...