Is the case cooler with, or without panels?

[Shaftatplanetquake]

I modded up the side panels on my case and was able to lower my duron's cpu temp by 15 degrees F. However, with the panells off it is 4 degrees even less....

Do you guys think that a really nice case would be cooler with the panels on, or the panels off?

And this way I don't have to hear fans...

 

[KouklatheCat]

It should run cooler without side pannels. HOWEVER the last time I did that my case became a dust bunny farm in about a month or so......

 

[dadx2mj]

I have an Antec SX830 it has two intake and two exauhst fans the case temp stays the same with the panels on or off. That has alway been my goal and the Antec did it without hacking it up.

 

[Dan]

There are some assumptions you have to take into account.

For example, assuming you have a good case and adequate case fans, a system should run cooler with the panels on. Why? Because a good case will have a proper air flow, which inherently reduces the internal temperature. Without the panels a carefully engineered air flow is negated.

On the other hand, if you take the panels off and direct an external house fan on your system....