i just got an idea on how to possible cool my pc even more. just wanted your thoughts. right now i'm using a mid case with 2 80 mm fans, and the expensive thermal-electric fan http://www.xpcgear.com/a1617subzero4g.html which, as you can see is why i want to try and stick with it. its all trial and error i guess. on with my idea :) the 1st thing i did was remove the glob of thermal grease and reapplied a thin layer, and left the case fan off. that lowered my temp by almost 20 degrees. i do however, want the case closed to reduce noise a little more... which brings me to my next point. getting a full size case, gettings two more case fans, and this: http://www.xpcgear.com/vansyscoolpc.html ---------------- i KNOW that most cooling comes from the heatsink and fan. like i said, i'd like to try the cheaper options 1st, since i already forked out a ton of money for the fan above. i know i can take the fan off and use it on the massive Thermalright SLK-800, and use a silent case fan on it to cool it down... but do you think that getting a bigger case, more a couple more fans (more space, better air flow that it might help the heating issue? just playing with ideas, so allthe input i can get helps :)thanks guys

"and left the case fan off" type, thats just case side

This will sound weird but you'll advance your cause just by getting used to high temps. The first day you run at 60c all day you might think man this is bad but after a while you get used to it and then you settle in on 56c and you feel like its cool. If your cpu is stable, its really not a problem. If you have two fans in addition to your psu then there is not much to be gained by more fans. You might as well do as much as you can with what you have before spending money. My personal opinion on the product in your link is that it is going to add noise and may not help temps. I bet you can find other free ways to help temps. You can unscrew both 80mm fans and try them at different places in the case, both blowing in and out. You can use GOOP glue on the corners to secure the fans instead of screws to increase your location options and it makes moving them around easier. A duct will help the most. A fan blowing rearward located between the cpu and the front of the case will help push that pelts hot air out the back. You might have to just let it hang from its power wires in order to locate it there. If it works you could eventually glue its side to the case cover. Not sure what your motherboard is. Software coolers work great on some boards and not at all on others.

thanks!! i actually didn't even think about the glue for the fans. so, you do make perfect sense too... the 1st day i thought my pc was going to melt, but since i havn't noticed performance wise, or any strange noises ;) good thing that fan is only a few bucks my last question about the duct... you said ace hardware? that can be obtained from any hardware store, correct? do they come in smaller sizes, or will i have to modify it and rig it to fit the pc. well, thanks a ton for all your advice the last couple of days.. you've really helped a great deal!

Here's what to buy. 4" plastic dryer vent. Use a scissors to cut the plastic part and wire cutters or pliers to cut the metal wire part. Cut yourself about 12-15 inches worth. You need this much or it'll stretch like the one in the pic below and that'll pull on your cpu fan and disturb your paste. This guy's duct goes from his a/c system to a hole in the case wall. http://www.overclockercafe.com/Articles/PC%20Placement/PC%20Placement/PC%20end.jpg Mine goes from the inner case wall to the cpu fan, which is what I'm suggesting for you. Use duct tape (maybe the first time in your life you've used duct tape for a duct) to seal it around the fan and also up against the case wall. Most sinks perform better with a fan blowing downward rather than sucking upward and I believe yours is aimed downward. But since pelts put off so much heat you might try reversing the fan to make it suck, which will result in the hot air going straight out that duct and out of the case. Just remove the fan grill (its not needed) and flip the fan over to try this out. Important: it is very easy to spoil your paste smoothness when you tape the duct to the cpu fan and accidentally nudge the sink. I have mine permanently taped to the fan just to avoid this problem - makes it a pain to get the sink on and off though.

i can't get to the page... asks for username and password

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Articles/PC%20Placement/index.html You could try the base url and sign up for a username but I don't think they use 'em.