Cooling my LianLi/Prescott/Raptors - Help

[deadscorpius]

Hello, I am wondering if someone can help me please. I have a LianLi PC-65 case, I have an Intel Mobo 865PERL with Prescott 3.2Ghz CPU, I also have 2x 74Gb WD Raptors 10K drives.
My problem is that I am having trouble keeping this rig cooled down.
I like to play games, video editing, photo editing, web design. My normal things I do with this PC.
Currently I am running CoolerMaster Aqua Mini 80mm water cooling for the processor.
My HDs are being cooled down by the two fans that are on the front of the Lian Li case, there is a 80mm fan on the back of the case (exhaust fan), the CoolerMaster radiator with another 80mm fan is connected to the top of the case with fan blowing OUT.
my problem is that my temp gets up to 145 on the CPU while ambient, 115 when nothing is running. My case temp gets up to 130 degrees (wherever the probe is for that mobo).
The Power Supply I have is Aspire 500W with two 80MM fans, one at the bottom one on the back.

I am pretty sure that the Raptors give out alot of heat, so I am not sure if the fans on the front are doing good job in spreading the heat. I was thinking that 120mm fan on the front would do better, also 120mm fan on the back. This would require swapping a case (no big deal, i was looking at the Lian Li PC-7A or the PC-V1000 or V1200.

Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. Noise is also a factor so adding fans may not be a best thing to do.
Thank you

Mark

 

[mechBgon]

Can I suggest you just snag <broken record> an Antec SLK3000-B </broken record> from Amazon.com and put your loot into it?

[*]Has a 3-speed 120mm rear fan

[*]You can add a 120mm x 25mm up front to cool the HDD rack

[*]It has the side snorkel to feed room-temperature air directly to your Prescott (you can also augment the snorkel with another fan if you want).

[*]They're $46 shipped.


If you want to improve your Lian-Li's ventiation and reduce noise, I can help with that too 😀

[*]Start by either removing your front filter holder, or chopping it out into one big rectangle like shown in this photo and this photo. Less resistance to airflow = less noise and more airflow.

[*]Remove the internal stamped-aluminum fan grilles from the fans if they're not removed already. Same concept, less resistance to air movement = yeah.

[*]empty your case and use a hand-held fine-toothed hacksaw blade to cut the stamped aluminum grillework that the rear fan blows through. Use a half-round file and/or sandpaper to finish the hole nicely, then use a chromed wire grille instead. Same concept as ^^.

[*]If you're gutsy enough, cut a second 80mm exhaust hole below the first one (see background of this photo for what it would look like). Here's another photo of the LLi with my old K8V Deluxe in it. The red circle is showing where I put a thermometer probe for some temperature research.

As you can see, I've been there, done that. It was fun in a sort of exotic BMW-ish way, but functionally, I think my lil' $46 Antec is better in just about every way. Main complaint: I'd rather not have the side-panel vents. I have an Athlon64, it really doesn't need the snorkel thing.