Computer Case Temperature?

Question

I custom built computer with this specs:
Pentium 4 stock 3.2 OC'ed to 3.52
BFG 7600 GT stock oCed
P5ND2-SLI Motherboard
Viper 2 Case
520 w. Power Supply
3 PCI cards
1 gb DDR2 RAM
My case is about 36C idle, about 40C at full load. However, my CPU (according to my programs) is idle @ 22C, and about 32C full load. This seems strange to me. I have the 2 original case fans, one spot fan, and one 80mm fan just sitting blowing towards my PCI cards. I have two hard drives, and two optical drives. My computer is underneath my desk, and the outside temp is about 23C. Also, when I first overclocked my CPU from 3.2, it only raised the tempature about 7C idle., not much more full load. I am not too conserned about the noise my computer makes, and I don't want to spend too much money (under $150), and I don't have the experties to install a watercooling system. I would really like to either be reasured that my case tempature is alright, or have a cheep alternative to fix it. Thanks!

I also do not have any available places to put fans on my case. I do have two bays open though...if fans could be placed in there...

woops and I almost forgot. Would it be a bad idea to overclock it a bit more? with these first 3 responces, 24C seems to be cool, so could I overclock it to say....3.8..maybe even 4.0? It does have the stock heatsink and fan installed...

Answer 1

those temps are actually quite good, you just dont have the ventilation, what i would do is add another case fan (if there is a mount available) if not just keep one of the side panels slightly opened.

also thinking about it, if you keep your pc under a desk it may not get enough ventilation in the enclosed area, so make sure its got plenty of room to breathe on all sides where it sits. i would say allow at least 4 inches from walls or the sides of the desk.

now about the water cooling systems, dont waste your money water cooling is way overrated and way overhyped, and it actually impedes ventilation because of the amount of room they take inside the case.
also with water cooling the tempature decrease is minimal when compared to extra fans or better ventilation.

Answer 2

40 degrees C is absolutely nothing to be worried about for case temp. Your CPU can reach temps of 60+ degrees C before you need to be really concerned, and - considering that it's only reaching 32C under load - there's no reason to waste $150 on making your machine cooler.

Answer 3

well if these are the true temp.
22c = 71.6F & 32C = 89.6F
these are idea as CPU at 65F starts to not like much cooler temp. will actually quit working.
we bench tested a water cooled system at the tech lab & that was the temp. that was reached when it began shuting down.

I think your good to go.

Answer 4

Sometimes, temp monitoring softwares are not accurate. Before you do any further overclocking, try Core Temp first. It reads the temp of the cores, not just the processor case.
http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/CoreTemp/

Answer 5

New motherboards (particularly Asus) includes a application which video exhibit the temperature of your equipment. additionally, some tower situations (particularly Gamer situations) have their very own wiring which grant rather precise monitoring.