Case temp questions and concerns

[GZFant]

I originially posted this topic in the General Forums and now have realized it might be better answered in here.

I have a question about case temperatures. A couple days ago my 6600GT sizzled out and ended. I recently bought a 7900GT to replace it.
I was thinking that the reason for its failure was due to my case being too hot.

I have a Lian Li PC65B and sometimes the case get very hot.
I am wondering if tempurates will stay cooler if I leave the side panel off or if the fans are specifically made to run with the case closed, moving air through it more efficiently?

Also, what fans might I be able to change out with the existing ones to get better cooling?

My second reply to this topic is as follows:

Well, I did my own investigating and came to find out that:

1. There is a ceiling fan in my room that I constantly have on, blowing air throughout the room at all times which leads to
2. A large volume of cool air spinning throughout the room which keeps it very cool most of the time which causes
3. Lower temperatures on my motherboard and CPU when I leave the side panel OFF of my case.

I used the ASUS Probe utility and witnessed my CPU temperatures rise from 30C with side panel off to 33C with it on and motherboard temps go from 36C side panel off to 40C with the panel on. I was wondering if anyone else got the same results and if this is ok to do to your computer.

 

[zagood]

Saw your post in GH.

Generally when you take the side panel off, you'll see your CPU and GPU temps go down a few degrees, and mobo temp (or anything else that has passive cooling) go up. However, since you have the MONSTER Zalman 120mm (vf7700, right?), you get better airflow over the motherboard.

The cons...

- Dust, dust, dust, dust.
- Louder
- Direct exposure to outside influences...spills, bugs, paper airplanes, cats, your feet, bears, etc.
- Increased EMF emisson (but nothing to really worry about)

My wife has an HP with an OEM case, it just has an exhaust fan, so her side panel is off until she leaves town so I can mod an intake fan to it. She plays Sims 2 and B&W 2 and her 6600GT overheats (even with vf700 AlCu) when she's playing them with the side on.

She hates me messing with her machine.

It's really doubtful that your 6600GT died just because of case heat. There are a lot of reasons why video cards die, just like with any electronic equipment. Keeping them cooler definitely extends their lifespan, but if it's gonna go, it's gonna go.

What case fans do you have on there? All 80mm, right? What brands and models? And how are they powered, through the motherboard, direct to PSU, any undervolting? You use any fan controllers?

-z

 

[dunkster]

I've only seen a simplistic review of that case, but the photos show 3 80mm fans, 2 for intake and 1 for rear vent.

The case grills appear very restrictive and front-bezel filter-holder appears very restrictive also.

Personally, I'd remove all the case grills and the filter-holder and replace the foam filter with low-restriction pleated furnace filter media - and consider replacing the 80mm fans with Panaflo M1A 80mm fans.

Those mods are quite simple, and should dramatically improve ventilation for that case.

Hope this helps!

 

[Luckyboy1]

What power supply is running all this power hungry stuff?

 

[alilxmas]

wow weird case setup there, I was looking at a web site to see the intended air flow into this thing...
http://www.pccasegear.com/prod1486.htm

To me it looks like it is meant to blow hot air out the back bottom blower, suck up that warm air and blow it onto the CPU, if you look at the fogging action.
Is that airduct attached to the heatsink, if so is the fan on the cpu facing towards the heatsink or up and away fighting against the air duct blowing in?

I would try to reverse the fan on the heatsink and the fan blowing the air into that blower tube so that is also blowing out and stick a fan on the side blowing air onto the Mobo components.

 

[deagz]

I'm running my case w/o side panel because I don't have any quiet case fans to use. I had my case on the carpeted ground and just now I placed the case on top of an object about 1ft off the ground. In seconds my temps dropped 2 degrees across the board. cpu, vid, northbridge, pwmic temps all went down. weird. try it.