What's wrong w/ my cooling system?

[Woodie]

So I built a new machine (bomber in My Rigs) a month or two ago, and I'm still having "issues" with cooling, and I need some assistance in understanding the results I'm getting.

Scenario:
XP2100+ on MSI K7N2g, oced to 2130 (~7200+)
512MB RAM
Tall tower case (Compaq 4500), modded to accept an Antec TruePower 430W PSU.

Cooling:
One 120mm fan sucking air from side of HD bays
One ~80mm fan plowing air from under the drive bays, angled to direct air towards the NB area of the board.
One 120mm exhaust fan about where the CPU/NB are.
PSU has two fans --one on the bottom of the PSU and one at the exhaust...both temp controlled, appear to be running at lowest setting.
OEM HS/F attached w/ AS3 (got -3C out of this )
OEM HS/F on NB

Results: (from MBM5)
Full Load (SoB + CS or Use)
CPU: 53C, NB: 39C, Case: 32
Idle
CPU: 53C, NB: 38C, Case: 32

How can I lower my CPU temp?

Limitations: no holes in the top/side, and cheap!!

 

[GAZZA]

Well for starters you need to replace that OEM HS/F combo with something that will do a far better job and also probably reward you with a better and more stable overclock.

Take your pick from any of thesegreat HS/F manufacurers : Thermalright/Alpha/Coolermaster.

Other things to think about , are you into serious O/C'ing or would like to ?
Can you stand the noise coming from a high performing fan ?
What can you afford to spend on a HS/F ?

 

[Woodie]

Tolerance for noise is going down...I don't want a Delta! OTOH, I already have 4x SCSI drives running in it, so the fans aren't exactly quiet.

A little more o/c would be nice, but not required. I'm actually very pleased with what I've accomplished so far.

I was thinking about the Coolermaster Aero 7 (see review here, but it's $40, which seems a bit much.

I currently have a "duct", consisting of some cardboard around the fan, basically coming straight up, so the fan doesn't suck in warm air coming out of the HS.

 

[OulOat]

Okay, both your idle and your load temps are the same.... interesting