HELP: need advice for case cooling

[JPS]

With the summer temps comin on my case has started to get real hot some days. I need some advice assistance on cooling this thing down. Here are the needed specs:

Case: Antec KS-282 w/ front & rear PC PowerCooling 80mm Silencer fans (1600rpm and 28cfm - supposedly). Factory grilles cut out to maximize air flow.

PSU: Enermax 350W silencer (2 fans)

Mobo: IWILL KK266

CPU: Duron 650@825 (150x5.5) soon to be upgraded to a TBird

HSF: Taisol CGK742092

RAM: 512MB Mushkin PC133 Rev 1.5

Graphics: 3dfx VooDoo3 1000 16mb w/ greenie HS on chipset

HDD: Twin 30GB IBMs

The temp specs yesterday (which was very hot) were as follows:
CPU: 51 deg C under full load
Case: 34 deg C

Seeing that, I got nervous, so I tried to cool the room down some (no A/C unfortunately) and removed the side of the case to vent some air inside. The new temps, still under load fell to:
CPU: 32 deg C
Case: 18 deg C

"Holy Sheeet Man!" That is exactly what I said. The inside of the case is very ordered so airflow is not impeded, but it is obvious that heat is building up bigtime and not getting out. As I was taking the side cover off, I noticed that the back of the graphics card was VERY HOT and I am suspecting that as a contributor to the heat buildup. The CPU HSF was quite cool to the touch as was the HS on the northbridge so I am not too worried about those.

As best as I can tell, I need to do get better airflow through that case, get a new case with better airflow, or get components that do not put out as much f'ing heat (graphics card). I do not want to leave the sides off because I have three cats and the noise does bother the wife when she is in the room. To me the most sensible options are:

1) Stronger intake and exhaust fans. The Silencers are nice but they ain't doin the job. What do you suggest as a reasonable alternative fan to use [NOTE: I want quite fans]? Panaflos? Addas? Thermaltakes? Would I benefit by putting a 92mm or 120mm up front as intake?

2) Should I get a different case with more fans? Something like the Antec SX830 [2 80mm intake and 2 80mm exhaust] or the Lian Li PC60 with 2 x 80mm intake and 1 80mm exhaust?

3) Are there other graphics cards that run cooler? I do not need cutting edge graphics as this box is a production box used for scientific modeling and simulation work (graphics are NOT a huge priority).

 

[JPS]

Bump^

 

[JPS]

Bump^

 

[xcourse]

If you have room inside at the top of your case, consider installing a large exhaust fan (92 or 120mm). Most cases have adequate venting at the front and along the sides that extra exhaust fans will usually cure the problem.

 

[Lithium381]

for one, yes, there are MANY models of vid cards that will work find and put out very little heat....two, WOW that's a big difference. hehe.....a cure for the heat.....you could try a slot cooler, stick it right above your vid card and let it suck out the heat that builds there...slap a 120mm on the front, put an 80mm on the back(i think you already do have one there), and stick either an 80 or a 92 on the top behind any CDrom drives, and in front of the power supply as an exhaust, panaflo makes very quiet fans that do pretty well, avaliable here, that would probably do the trick, you didn't mention your harddrives, do they seem to be a problem? heatwise that is, i know mine get quite toasty. if you get the chance, PM me and let me know what you plan to do and also how they turn out!