Silverstone LC11 runs just a *bit* HOT

[MrKneecap]

I've just finished a spiffy looking Silverstone LC11 decked out with some decent HTPC gear, and I've been monitoring the temps for a few days now. Here's the case on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811163040

It has the front intake fan (80mm) pulling air in from the vents on the lower/front of the case, and an 80mm exhaust fan on the side of the case. I did my best at tucking all the cables down with wire ties, and I'm fairly proud of how the internals are neat and clean. The rest of the system is as follows: stock s754 3400+ Newcastle with Zalman CNPS7000Cu HSF, MSI K88M-V micro ATX mobo, GeForce Ti4200 (used parts are good :thumbsup: ), Hauppauge 500 tuner card, 2 x 300 Gb Hard drives, and a NEC DVD drive.

I've got the case set up in a glass-front cabinet with the rear wide open to air. With the cabinet door shut, Everest shows my CPU idling at 51 C and the mobo at 50 C ! Full load gets the CPU up to 56 C.

I know 60 C is the rule-of-thumb barrier to not cross, but I've never seen idles that high before. The case itself is quite warm to the touch (but not so hot that I can't keep my hand on it indefinitely). Any ideas how to get more airflow through this thing? I'm not into case-modding at all, but something must be wrong...

Grrr at tiny cases! :frown:

 

[rise]

thats a handsome case. i almost got that but i wanted a full atx psu so i got the L-13.

cooling it looks as rough as mine although i never hit 50c idle :Q

keeping it in that cabinet isn't helping. any pci slot covers you can remove? maybe even sit it up a bit more to give that lower vent a better chance of working.

i can't really tell from the pics, is that bottom vent right below the cpu?

 

[MrKneecap]

Yeah, there is a bottom grill on the case directly under the CPU fan (the mobo is mounted upside down on the top of the case). Therefore, cool air should be drawn in directly from the outside of the case to the CPU. Also, the side exhaust fan sits quite close to the Zalman pulling the hot air away from the heatsink and out of the case.

As far as seating it up a bit... I might just do that. I don't think the standard feet on the case are tall enough to allow good airflow from the lower vent. I think a good inch or so would offer much better circulation. Good thing I'll be moving the case to a new shelving unit soon that will offer open-air all around the back and sides as well.

I forgot to mention I also have an old SB Audigy as well, filling all three PCI slots on the back of the case.

 

[rise]

yeah, i bet just raising it will help some.

of course once you move it that will help a lot more i'm sure.

i've been using a little lcd thermometer to get some readings on case temps and psu exhaust and such. only cost like $15 and as an indoor/outdoor i can get a couple temp readings. certainly not precise but its better than nothing.


it would be interesting to see what the temp under that case is, see whats drawing in there.

 

[MrKneecap]

Hrmm, I think might be able to get my hands on a standalone thermometer to get some external readings. In fact, I think I have one of those infrared thermometers laying about somewhere that might come in handy. That would give pretty accurate readings into the case temp itself.

 

[Tiamat]

currently i have my computer on a chrome wire type media cart. The open-ness of the chrome wire helps a lot in the cooling of the case. I also find I get much less dust - but that is probably more due to the case being 18" off the ground.