Case Mod To Improve CPU Cooling

[khenderson42]

I have a Dell Optiplex 745 Small Form Factor PC. I recently installed a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 into it and the idle temps are a little bit worrying. I also have an HD 7750 Low Profile en route to my house for installing so my girlfriend can play The Sims 3 without using my computer, since I had it lying around and I know the HD 7750 & Q6600 can run that game pretty well I thought I'd do it for her, also probably be used as an HTPC. I have another case fan coming - like the one on the front - which can be plugged into the optional HDD fan header. So I was wondering if a mod like this would work to keep temps down. Secondly, I have the CPU fan reversed to blow out the front, hence the airflow direction in the image.

(Click Here For Full Size)
Light Blue Arrow = Cool Fresh Air
Orange Arrow = Air Heated By Passing Through PSU
Red Arrow = Air Heated By CPU Exhausting Out The Front
Green Arrow = Used To Point To Things.
And Thoughts? I realise the heatsink in the picture isn't the actual dell one but I have the copper based one. This Is The Actual Heatsink.
Also any input as to whether it should help exhaust? Or used as an intake to blow hot air in if it would work at all would be appreciated.
Or even a better place for the fan? I've had a look and it will have to be on the side panel, there is nowhere inside the actual case I could put it or at the back as it would block IO ports.

 

[ewok93]

Is that a creeper face? Anyway, adding that fan to the side should help a lot. Generally you want air to flow in through the front and out the back, and through the bottom and out the top. The reason for this is because behind your computer, the air is trapped and slightly warmer, while in front it is more open and cooler, and heat rises, cool air sinks.

 

[khenderson42]

It was originally a Minecraft server haha so yes it is. Anyway, the PC is a SFF so I can't really get any fans positioned on the back. Also these mobos had problems with the caps bursting if the air exhausted out the back because it blew air heated by the CPU across the motherboard, hence the fan reversal. I could put it almost anywhere on the side - which is the creeper face as it lays horizontally - as an intake or exhaust fan? Top and bottom has little to no ventilation.

 

[ewok93]

Honestly, if you just toss some fans in somewhere, anywhere, it will work haha.

 

[khenderson42]

I will give it a try when the things arrive and post my results. I may even just cut some ventilation slats as well because the area over the ram where the PSU exhausts all it's hot air for whatever reason gets very warm.

 

[khenderson42]

Modded a 120mm fan sort "piggy backing" the extra case fan I bought, so I have an 80mm exhausting out the front, an 80mm blowing air towards the heatsink and a big 120mm fan on the side blowing air in, going to cut out a big hole for a window since it's LED.

 

[ewok93]

Sounds great.