When something is not logical, I check it out for myself.  Since I have
never seen any computer case designed to "channel" air flow for maximum
cooling, I mentally disputed the claims that the CPU runs cooler with the
case cover on.  To prove that the "opposite" is true and the CPU runs hotter
with the cover on, I made measurements with and without the cover.
    My ASUS CUBX motherboard is designed to pick up the signal from the
heat-sensing diode built into my Celeron II 566 Coppermine CPU and the
associated software displays the temperature on the screen.
    With the case cover off, the temperature was 39-40 C (running
CPU-intensive program that had 98% CPU usage) but, after I put the cover
back on and ran the computer for an hour with this same program, the
temperature "rose" to 41-42 C.
    For those who are playing with overclocking and are concerned about
heat, forget about the so-called channeling of air flow and leave the cover
off for most efficient cooling of the CPU.
    K. Karl Kuller        [log in to unmask]

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