<font color=skyblue>@ Ultra Marine: I do have a factory-installed fan on the graphics card, but I am told that 3rd party fans may be better so I am considering that. Opinions on any?

As for the fan setup, I have what you described with the heat being shot out the top and sucked in at the bottom.

Crap! Gotta go to class!

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I've found that blocking all openings not servicing fans, with a couple of fans each serving inlet and outlet duties works best.

If you aren't using SATA hard disks (with their elegant narrow cables), make sure your ribbon cables are neatly routed to minimize the obstruction in the case.

I've found that with well thought out airflow design, the case temperature readings will actually be warmer with the sides off.

@ Ultramarine & Sir K - The sides off thang appears to be having a beneficial effect on cooling and i can't say i'm surprised. At the peak of the day, the sides of the case were uncomfortably hot to the touch and fps were at a crawl. The room in question (my "cricket" room, though not any more), has good airflow due to the aircon at back and portable fan at front creating a nice cycle of cool air around the computer and (more importantly) me. With the sides on, the heat was just staying in the case. I realise that i'm negating any benefit of the case's designed airflow, but that didn't appear to be doing much anyway. Still, i'd be appreciative if someone can point me in the direction of some free CPU/GPU thermal monitoring software. Just to be sure. ;)

My mobo came with the software on the cd. If your mobo has the winbond hardware for reading temps, there is freeware available.

[ 11-29-2006, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: Sir Krustin ]

It's just occured to me that i've probably got already got some sort of thermal software, but i'll check out the link anyway. Thanks Sir K. [img]smile.gif[/img]

If you don't have the Winbond hardware, I use Speedfan. Also allows you to control fan speeds ("GASP!", I hear you cry), and tie them to the monitored temperatures, so the fans get faster as the machine gets hotter.

[ 11-29-2006, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Callum ]

heres what you do. buy a freezer. one of those big ones that open from the top. place the computer in said freezer. press on button.

...And watch it melt, spark and fry.

Explain?

Humidity, condensation, conductivity.
Those are the harmful features of a Fridge.