Hot pocket?

[Beerlake]

Hello again folks.

I'm currently running my computer in Antec Solo with only one 120 back fan blowing air out of the case. So there really isn't a lot of air moving moving through the case right now. My gfx card has a dual slot cooler and a grill on the second slot, but it isn't one of those closed dualslot types, so the air probably doesn't get well directed through that grill. So, since I mentioned that there isn't a lot of air going through the case, I'm wondering if the hot air my gfx card produces gets stuck in the case, so to speak.

Here's a reference image to shed light on the situation. The places for 2x92 front fans and one 120 back fan are the blue circles, the red circle is the area I'm wondering about. Is there a hot pocket there that I should somehow get new air in? As said, I don't have the front fans currently installed, would that help with the general cooling of that area (and general cooling of my gfx card)?

Am I just worrying for nothing?

 

[Sheninat0r]

If things aren't overheating, then you're fine. However, hot air probably is building up where you indicated - under the graphics card. The front fans won't do much to help that, but a side panel fan or a PCI slot blower [which I don't recommend - they're noisy and weak] can fix that.

 

[Zepper]

You could use a zalman fan on bracket or an Antec spot fan (on a flexible neck) to hit spots like that. I've always thought a small oscillating fan mounted somewhere inside a case to mix the air in a case to avoid eddies or hot spots would be helpful, but so far I haven't seen one.

.bh.

 

[Beerlake]

I'm not worried about overheating really, but I'm wondering if better case ventilation would help my gfx card keep lower rpm. While it's not horrible right now, it gets a little loud when I'm gaming.

 

[jaqie]

Here is my rendition of what is happening in my case, which has a similar situation to yours. I tested it with a small smoke machine (that DJs use) and then created this:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2218/airflowgn9.jpg

I now have a newer mobo, vidcard, and several other items, but basically the airflow is the same. the temp of my vidcard (now a 7900GS/OCE) never gets over ~60C core by nvidia's core temp reader.
I only have the silencer fan, and a 1500RPM Scythe S-FLEX SFDB 120MM fan in the back, no other fans for intake/exhaust and have blocked off all airflow on the sides of the case.

 

[zagood]

I've got the P150, and the lower front 92mm fan helps with your GFX card temps a lot. If you're worried about sound, set it up on a fan controller, and only turn it on when you're gaming.

Also try a program like RivaTuner. I underclock my card when doing normal desktop stuff, then overclock while gaming. With the new Scheduler system of launching different settings it's easy to automate stuff like that and fan speeds.

-z

 

[Beerlake]

P150 is the same as Solo, but white, right? Alrighty, that's excellent information. Thanks everyone.