I'm currently using the Moneual Monocasa 312B . And while I love the look of the case, it does has it's flaws: Tight spaces, zero vibration dampening, air flow restrictions. And it doesn't help that Win 7 can't do a proper Sleep or Hibernation mode to save Bill Gates life. Which bring me to my problem.
The aluminum case gets hot. Not warm but almost egg-frying hot!
And even with my crafty little fan mountings it doesn't seem to help at all.
So with 3 fans running you would think that the case would be fine. But when you touch it, even the front of the case, gets hot after running a movie front the hdd, playing a BR disc or recording a show. It's like the whole case is a heat sink. I know that the mb's NB heatsink is part of the problem. But I've never had a PC with temps like this before. So now I'm considering options.
1. Replace the heat sink on the north bridge or...
2. Switch cases for better air flow
I'm considering going back to the old Antec NSK with still hold my last years HTPC for the time being. Or finding something new. I was looking a Thermaltake at Micro Center this past weekend but it has now hdd dampening. I really wanted this to be my last HTPC build for a while but the hunt goes on.
Guts:
Motherboard: Gigabyte E7AUM-DS2H mATX HDMI
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3GHz
Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
CPU Cooler: Scythe "SHURIKEN"
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 9400 - Onboard
Sound: Realtek ALC889A - Onboard
Drives:
Main: 1 x SAMSUNG Spinpoint 500GB 2.5
Storage: 1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB
Optical: Plextor PX-B310SA SW Blu Ray
HDTV Tuner: 2 x AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet - PCTV Tuner (A188)
WiFI: Netgear WG111 v.2
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth
PSU: Seasonic M12II 430-GM 430w
Antenna: Terrestrial Digital DB2 Multi-Directional HDTV
The aluminum case gets hot. Not warm but almost egg-frying hot!



So with 3 fans running you would think that the case would be fine. But when you touch it, even the front of the case, gets hot after running a movie front the hdd, playing a BR disc or recording a show. It's like the whole case is a heat sink. I know that the mb's NB heatsink is part of the problem. But I've never had a PC with temps like this before. So now I'm considering options.
1. Replace the heat sink on the north bridge or...
2. Switch cases for better air flow
I'm considering going back to the old Antec NSK with still hold my last years HTPC for the time being. Or finding something new. I was looking a Thermaltake at Micro Center this past weekend but it has now hdd dampening. I really wanted this to be my last HTPC build for a while but the hunt goes on.

Guts:
Motherboard: Gigabyte E7AUM-DS2H mATX HDMI
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3GHz
Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
CPU Cooler: Scythe "SHURIKEN"
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 9400 - Onboard
Sound: Realtek ALC889A - Onboard
Drives:
Main: 1 x SAMSUNG Spinpoint 500GB 2.5
Storage: 1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB
Optical: Plextor PX-B310SA SW Blu Ray
HDTV Tuner: 2 x AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet - PCTV Tuner (A188)
WiFI: Netgear WG111 v.2
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth
PSU: Seasonic M12II 430-GM 430w
Antenna: Terrestrial Digital DB2 Multi-Directional HDTV