a fan

[artemis8]

Sorry to add more but one thing many owners forget is to clean their CPU & GPU coolers. Canned air works great for this. You can use a vacuum cleaner but you need to be very careful. Adding fan filters to any intake fans will also help to keep dust out of the case. The filters need to vacuumed at regular intervals but that is easier then having to clean the inside of your computer.

The best AMD/Intel CPU cooler for under $25 dollars is the Cooler Master Hyper 212+. Its only limitation is it won't fit in some much older narrow ATX cases or any "Slim" ATX cases.

Best price: Geeks.com - $14.99 +S/H (Link)

Newegg installation video ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1DGR...layer_embedded

I usually don't open the case, but I always check the vents to make sure they aren't blocked, as I have cats and my computer is like a fur magnet.

[Fire$torm]

I have two Dells. Mine is a Studio XPS 8100 my husband's is basically the same but a year newer (so I am not positive the model), windows 7 64bit. The cases basically look the same. Sounds like I have several different cooling options!

Yours looks like this????

I usually don't open the case, but I always check the vents to make sure they aren't blocked, as I have cats and my computer is like a fur magnet.

Yeah, I know that well. The problem is with the smaller dust/dander particles. They will eventually get on and in everything. So if it is not removed it acts like a winter down comforter keeping all the heat from escaping from the coolers. Neglecting to clean CPU/GPU coolers is the number one reason for computer failure in the consumer segment. This wasn't an issue 15 years ago so lots of folks were never enlightened and I'm sure quite a few have been duped into buying new hardware by unscrupulous repair centers......

Bottom line is it needs to become a regular routine especially for those who BOINC.

[DrPop]

@Artemis - if that is the case you have, the one in F$'s picture: best you can do is take the cover off and blow it out real good; be surprised what finds its way in there! Then, take a look at the exhaust fan that's on the back and note the amps (12V DC). Can you see if there is a front fan, down on the bottom front of the case? There should be, and it should be blowing in.

I am sure we could find some higher amp fans for you that will blow more CFM. Just let me know the amp number on there and I'll hook you up if you want a more powerful one. However, you may try F$'s suggestion of taking the case off and blowing it out real good first, just in case that fixes it.

Your i7 860 CPU has a max operating temp of 72.7 degrees C. I would aim for a mid to high 60's C under 100% load on all cores. Try not to go too much higher than say, 68 C.
The 5700 series ATI GPU should be able to sustain operation at 100% load up into the 80's C at least.

[Crazybob's Son]

Everyone always recommends blowing it out. The step everyone forgets though is if you haven't done it in a while or EVER. TAKE THE CASE OUTSIDE OR IN THE GARAGE!! You will have a dust cloud for a little while and you don't want all that dust floating around in the air.