I've been reading this site exhaustively for a few days now to get a list together of new parts I'll eventually be buying for my rig. As it stands I've a few months still until I can start replacing my case and power supply, so I need a few tips. I've redone all the cabling, which dropped my average idle temp a good 5C, but it still feels dangerously hot.
As well, I've been running without the side panel on the case, as it seems to increase my idle temp rather than dropping it. This seems dangerous and counterproductive, so I'm wondering if maybe I should dremel out a new fan slot or vent into the side panel? Also due to case design backpanel ports break open, so I've got three open slots in the back panel. Should I improvise a way of closing those, or is that not a concern? Including pics of everything.
Prior to reading posts on cabling:

Post re-cabling:

Side panel on:

As well, I've been running without the side panel on the case, as it seems to increase my idle temp rather than dropping it. This seems dangerous and counterproductive, so I'm wondering if maybe I should dremel out a new fan slot or vent into the side panel? Also due to case design backpanel ports break open, so I've got three open slots in the back panel. Should I improvise a way of closing those, or is that not a concern? Including pics of everything.
Prior to reading posts on cabling:

Post re-cabling:

Side panel on:
