I have a P4 2.6C using stock hsf and my temps are:
Idle: CPU – 47C
System – 31C
Load (prime95): CPU – 66C
System – 36C

CPU @ 2.97 ghz
Idle: CPU – 51C
System – 34C
Load (not tested)

These temps are from speedfan. BIOS and MSI corecenter report a +4 C on CPU temp readings.

As you can see, I’m concerned about the temps when I overclock the CPU. My system has 5 fans (2 rear exhaust, cpu, video card, power supply – enermax dual fan). I don’t have a front intake fan because my cheap casing does not have any screw mountings to take in one. My casing also has a duct from the side panel to the front of the hsf. I already replaced the thermal pad that comes with the stock hsf with thermal compound and I also lapped the heatsink. Removing the side panel and blowing a fan directly to the motherboard only decreases the temp (both CPU and system) by 1C. I think I’m still missing something here. Any suggestions on how to better cool the system w/out having to change the stock hsf?

Im dont kno much about Pentiums, and there stock heatsink is supposedly quite good so ive heard, having no intake fans isnt going to help as the rear fans have got to do more work.

Putting high spec parts in cases with not alot of airflow is destined for high temperatures, if you could get some sort of induction from the front of the case then this will help, but you really need 2 fans in the front of your case, of the same make and model or some similar to balance the airflow out through the case, doing so will insure a constant flow of airflow at all times.
Another way of reducing temperatures is to go with rounded ide and floppy cables and tieing these out of the way of all components in the case.

I got a Thermaltake Xaser III Lanfire VM2000A case and a Aero 7+ for my AMD system, and it reduced the temperature from 53 degrees idle in my old case to around 41 degrees idle in the new case, goes to show how significant airflow in a case can benefit cooling solutions.
You could go for water cooling but then you run the risk of damaging components if the system leaks and also, will cost you quite alot.
Personally id rather get a air cooled computer with good air circulation than water cooling because of the risk of damaging hardware.
Hope this helps ya in any way.

Dlb126

That's what I've heard also from other threads, get a quality case with good airflow but how come there's not much temp decrease when I open the side panel and blow a fan directly to the system?

Have you updated the computers bios, might be a misread by the bios, i dont know why that shouldn't work by using a large desk fan to cool the internals.
The only thing i can think of doing is updating the bios if you already haven't just to see if its mis posting the temperatures.
My old case has got a 92mm exhaust and 2 80mm fans in the psu and thats it, and im running a XP2800 with other highish spec parts, and i get 53 idle and a case temp of about 41 with the side on, the thermaltake case is brilliant for £75, but a case with better airflow will significantly reduce cpu temp, because you are using cooler air.

Maybe putting a higher spec cpu cooler on will help aswell as having some intake fans or even better a higher rated case if you've got the dosh to spend, ive got a Coolermaster Aero 7+ rated to XP3200 with the thermaltake case and it pushes temps to 41 at idle.

Dlb126

High Temps! "Talk to the Hand!".

Well, some guys will swear a side panel fan will do eveything.

http://www.systemcooling.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1635

When I posted a thread "Side Panel fans are NO GOOD", some understand what the writer tried to say, most don't.

Read the article carefully, your CPU temp and other component temps will drop.

You must have intake fan or fans from front of the case. Then, get Chill Vent from www.koolsolutions.net.

Getting another heatsink won't solve the problem, because the heatsink is working fine.

"side mounted fans cause more problems with airflow disruption than they are worth for looks sake."

Ok I understand that. But is there a difference between having a side mounted fan and removing the side panel and blowing a fan directly to the system? Does removing the side panel also promote good airflow because it will also allow cool air to flow unrestricted to the system?

If you want some good ideas for cooling try checking out the cool section at overclocker forum. i have not seem anyone there put down a side fan. or read anything about chill vent there.

wat is wrong with your temp. isn't not to bad- USE DUCTING

My side fan is sitting in a drawer. It only has a function when you can't get air to the interior any other way.

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http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=e4baf4822f01a96f4ae382efe86c2a07&threadid=70679

If it fails to get to your head (kind of....), try a fan on the panel.

Overclocker Forum page ONE.

I know guys my posts are getting into your head... just bear with me with this one.

Real cool I understand what the article says. cool air goes in at the front of the case so adding an intake fan should draw in cool air. hot air is then drawn out using exhaust at the back.. this then provides good steady airflow of course unless the system is cluttered... I'm not using a side panel fan right now and i'm not planning to use one.. I know my temps are ok for the moment why? because its winter and from where i am now room temps are at 25C. But when summer gets in which is only a month away in this country room temps can go as high as 33 - 35C and my system is not in an airconditioned room where temps can remain constant. I've experience problems before especially during summer when my old system would just lock up. I soon discovered that it was a heat problem... so i guess you all know my concern here.

I sure know what you are talking about. Americans who have never traveled abroad think every house has air conditioning. They think playing a computer game while the outside temp is 32C in an air-conditioned home is a birth right.

This is exactly what I am trying to tell you. That stupid side panel fan is blowing on the board, but your hard drive would fail which could cause the lock up and program crashes also.

A good ventilation inside a "set", allows the entire system to have even temp amoung the heat generating components, i.e. CD drive, HDD, Memory, NB. The CPU is just one of many.

A steady air stream without the interruption of the side fan, allows constant air movement from ONE direction which is bringing cooler air from the front...along the way picking up the heat from CD Drive, HDD, PCI, AGP, NB, and CPU out to the rear exhaust. The top blower is acting / turning slow to help lifting the hot air, yet not disturbing the air streaming. The side panel fan only cuts the air stream right at the middle.

My youngest daughter was in West Africa for a year on her foreign study, the average day time temp was 95 to 105F there was no air conditioning. Cyber Cafe must shut down from 1 to 6 pm. She had seen enough Side Panel fanned cases shutting down.

Besides, most cyber cafe would not even consider using any side panel fanned computers. They could not afford having dust collectors or vaccum cleaners sitting around. Another point, having the side panel open, does not mean your system would run cooler.

It is like giving your dog human food. My dog must like hamburger because I like it.

A side panel fanned case makes ignorant people THINK the computer is running cooler.

Another example: put six people in a tank car with an intake fan in the front and exhaust fan in the rear under good ventilation. They all live after a hot day.

Cut a hole in the tank car so that one of the six people could stick his head out to breathe, without good ventilation having constant air stream like above, only the one guy would live afterward.

Another example:
A house with lots of windows does not mean a cooler house than one with less windows.
A well built and thought out house is one that has good ventilation by creating a constant steady air movement from bottom to exhausting via the roof. Doing so, everyone feels cooler, not just those sitting by the windows.

Not many cases are built with airflow in mind nowdays. They are built for pretty. You'll notice only the mini tower cases have air vents on the side. Most everything hides air inlets under the front of the case; that air "inlet" is usually blocked by front audio, usb and firewire cabline; the fan mounting holes are tiny; and, the only way air can effectively get into the case is with a hole chopped in the side.

If you look at a good case like the Lian-Li, you'll see large intake and exhaust grilles. This is the basic configuration you should look for when case shopping. My case has (had) all the above faults. Until I fixed the described shortcomings, the side fan was worth about 5°C. It is now worth nothing and I'm happy to be rid of it. I'm currently not even running a fan on my heatsink. That story is here.

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Well i looked at chill vent and it is about the same as adding a side fan, sucks air in at the bottom side and blows in the side. So whats the diffence. Does the same thing.

I agree any help is better than no help and if there is no cool air at the bottom of the case (or slots, holes) the Chill Vent helps little. A fan blowing in from the side panel will help whats in front of it but will usually reduce any airflow that would naturally enter the front of the case and flow over a harddrive. It's my opinion that the side fan is installed on most cases as an afterthought fix. And, if it's only cooling a temp sensor or diode you could be running much warmer than repoprted.

Neither ducting nor a side fan is a fix all but I'm gonna use the product that gets me closest to the desired configuration.

A good case will require no help and a really bad case may require a shotgun approach to gain basic ventilation. If you prefer a side panel fan then by all means, use it.

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Well after some testing I was able to lower my temps by 2C further. The cover of my side panel dosen't go all the way to the front and there's this panel near the front to get access to the drive bays which I removed. I then placed a fan directly blowing to that vent in the front just like somehow adding an intake fan... and hey it worked. My only problem now is how to install that intake fan it... guess I'll just buy a new case then.

Thanks for all your help guys, really appreciate it.