Here's what I hope to be my final build before I start a different project (of course after I do, I thought of another way....)
This system is the most radical I've done, yet it seems to work pretty well
I posted the idea here
my idea was mostly well recieved
The additions/changes from the last one
My system is not the most powerful, but neither it is the coolest
The ATI Rabeon 9800 pro is probably the hottest component in my rig, hence the reason why to separate it.
System
Intel 2.8 HT Northwood
MSI PT880 Neo Lsr Motherboard
Ati Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb with Aerocool VM-101 [mini-review here done by Jazz Jack Rabbit ( I got it before you, but you wrote a review
, thanks!)2 x 512 3200 Nanya DDR
Audigy 2 ZS
2 yateloons, one Coolermaster 120 fan all controlled via T-balancer
80gb Seagate Barracuda IV from Ralf Hutter
mCubed T-Balancer (managed to burn out socket 3..somehow)
looking good, looks like any other case
]The pricinple of the Design[
Separation of the two largest heat sources:
The CPU and the GPU
This design incorporates 2 air valves that allow air to pass one way, but not the other( think of a one way street)
The valves are made out of foam posterboard, white twine, and card stock (from a folder)
The first Valve made, the main valve, is located on the front edge of the motherboard
This Valve was constructed first, the basic design was:
cardstock flaps with twine "hinges" [this design I found was the best because it is highly sensitive and other types such as tape hinges were not flexible/sensitive enough for this low flow application]
First Generation
the flaps open in to the motherboard, due to negative pressure
The Second Valve is located directly behind the front exhaust fan [VGA fan](originally the intake)
[little hard to see, but it's there]
I left a little space for air to travel unrestricted over the smart drive 2002 since the seagate tends to run a bit hot (Air travels both ways depending on if the VGA is on or not)
This came second and is little more different. While it uses the same technique, I figured out how to eliminate the central support (except on which I added later due to structual failure) and made a "cascading" design. Best example I can think of is the "domino effect", it works both ways (in and out).Though if one of the flaps manages to get stuck, it sometimes screws up the rest of them depending on which one it is, but I check on it periodically
Second Generation
this valve opens "out" toward the front bezel to exhaust the GPU heat.
Of course these valves are not perfect, but they do their job.
these two valves separate the CPU and GPU in intensive tasks such as Gaming, encoding, etc.
Pic of the whole she-bang
closeup
To promote better cooling efficiency, I blocked off the space between the NINJA and case. Now, almost all the air is sucked thru the NINJA and not wasted by going around it (air take the path of least resistance). It lowered pretty much all the temps by a degree or two.
EDIT- pic
nothing like getting maximum efficiency
]Modes of cooling[
Mode 1 "Silent mode"
Fans Running: 2 [Rear and PSU]
operational zone 0C-44C [T-balancer Response curve]
Air enters thru the rear PCI slots, passes over the VM-101, makes a U-turn to the Scythe NINJA and out. The VGA valve remains closed (neg pressure)
Notes
The CPU and MB temp [from speedfan] only control their respective fans, the Rear Exhaust and PSU [MB temp]. They do not activate the VGA fan [Front exhaust fan] because it uses the T-balancer's digital sensor which is attached to the VM-101. This setup runs a bit warmer due the fact that the GPU dumps heat into the flow.
fan voltages 30%-42% thru speedfan
since the air is coming thru the PCI slots, the opening is a bit larger than the VM-101 itself. To correct it, I placed a foamboard cut out of the VM-101 and placed it inbetween the open PCI slots and the VM-101 (again path of least resistance). This lowered temps again, mainly for the GPU (since there is no temp sensor on 9800 pro, I stuck a digital sensor on the VM-101, not the "true" temp, but much more stable temp wise, otherwise if I put on the back of the GPU die, it'd flucuate a lot)
Mode 2 "intensive mode"
Fans Running: 3 [Rear, PSU and VGA]
Operational Zone: 44.5C and up
Air enters thru PCI slots, passes over VM-101 and exhaust straight out the VGA fan.
Notes
now since the VGA fan has activated, the main valve has closed, cutting off the main airflow, the Rear and PSU fans still spin, but where they get their air, I don't know
. I'm trying to figure out a way to give the CPU a bit more air, but so far it hasn't given me any problems. If things really get bad, the fans ramp up to the point where they "force" open the main valve because a higher neg. pressure.I often can feel the heat coming thru the front bezel which tells me it's doing it's job.
Thinks to work on:
humming noise, can't tell if its the HD, PSU, don't think it's the fans, only can hear it when I move my head to the back of the comp.
replace the PSU fan with a yate-loon, the Coolermaster has this faint click that I can hear...
ghost the HD and put it on a laptop HD drive
Oh and why I did this?
to have fun
prove people wrong 
Of course the Computer is now very very quiet. I think it was worth it.
Questions?Commments?Concerns?
