Cooling an nVidia 8600GT

[Spartan Erik]

My graphics card is running hotter than I would like it to, so cooling it down will definitely prolong its lifetime. Here are two images of the case:

I am mounting an external blower through the third PCI slot to blow cool air into the computer, but as you can see there are two grills on the side of the case. I am planning on mounting multiple fans on the base of the case against the side panel; what would be the best way to mount fans to the base of the computer?

 

[GamingX]

I think it would be better if you could mount it on the side case itself.

 

[animerth]

on the side would be best

on the top maybe cus hot air goes up

 

[Sharky]

I bought one of those hard disk drive cooler thingies, but it wouldn't fit so I attached it to the side of the case using two of those food bag ties that I painted black with a marker pen and it works nicely. A bit of a bodge job, but cheap and effective. Unless you look closely you wouldn't be able to tell it wasn't designed for the job, and as it's on the inside of the case, and the case is in a gap with about 2" either side, I'm not fussed by it!

EDIT: Like this one, but in black.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60458

Quick question: If the hard disks are mounted on the side of the case, what is in the space at the front of the case under the optical drive? Just wondered....

And also, it looks as though you have a passive cooling method... Or at least, I can't see a fan on there! Have you thought of replacing the heat sink with a fan? It's easy to do, I did it myself. I installed one of these: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/vgacoolers/gx81x

 

[Michan1]

this card is known to be hotheaded, i incidentally blew up a 8800 GTS due defective cooling, not by the video card, but from the rig, so i brought a thermaltake rig

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/

they also offer some cooling devices for the sole video card with extreme cooling performances

also i replaced the default vent unit for one that was offered there, a viva pro, thanks to that the overall temperature really doesnt rise above 60°, even playing crysis!, while the standard temperature without system load (i.e. crysis) is arround 35°

on the bad side, the space that takes this new cooling unit is almost as 2 PCI slots

alas, in order to intall this, you must be careful and follow instructions closely

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/Fenrir100/videocard/SP_A0030.jpg thats the video card CPU, wich i had to clean and uncover to install it

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/Fenrir100/videocard/SP_A0032.jpg

and thats the finished work, note the humungous structure right under the card, i think its still worth, i had 1 slot free to install a soundblaster x-gamer.

both pics taken with a cel phone cam., sorry for bad quality, also LOL at my x-wing!