I've noticed that my 7900 XTX runs about 10°C hotter when the side panel of my Antec NX416L case is on compared to when it's off. I'm looking for recommendations on cases that can maintain similar temperatures to having the panel off, while also being reasonably priced. For context, I've just upgraded to an X870 motherboard and a 7800X3D CPU that should be arriving soon.
2 Answers
What temperatures are you reaching with the side panel on? Just curious about what you've measured.
I have a Cosmos 1000 case, which originally had a solid panel. I took it to a metal machining shop to have a window cut out and covered it with mesh, giving it the benefits of better airflow without collecting dust like it did with the panel off. You might consider cases that already have mesh panels for improved cooling, like the NZXT Phantom 820 or 840—they're from an earlier time but great for airflow!
That sounds like a solid idea! Mesh panels really do enhance airflow, but it's getting harder to find good cases with those features nowadays.
I'm hitting 85°C on the hotspot with 450W power draw and 84°C on the memory. When the panel is off, everything drops by about 10°C.