I have this case and probably don't drive my GPU as hard as you did. But you speak as though the two GPU fans are throwing air out. If they are like mine, they are sucking air in and exhausting it out the back of the GPU card (alongside the ports). My card has about a half inch clearance to the side of the case which gives it far more air intake area than it's output put area at the back of the card. Hence I saw no need for more air flow. Though I'm not arguing with your temperature readings. It will be interesting to learn that they are lower with the new build.
If you graphic would have been a blower style, I don't think you would have had overheating problem. The problem here is since you have no space at all around the graphic card, it is actually sucking in the already hot air over again instead of pushing it out the case. At least this is what I think :P I plan to build a gaming PC in this case, so I hope I'm not wrong.
So the main problem is, you used a water-cooling, and the radiator had blocked any airflow. Maybe had a better solution, usage of the gpu with blower fan.
You coulda drilled some holes or found a machine shop to open the side of the case up real Purdy for you. -Nice review
I drilled holes in mine lol
I have this case and probably don't drive my GPU as hard as you did. But you speak as though the two GPU fans are throwing air out. If they are like mine, they are sucking air in and exhausting it out the back of the GPU card (alongside the ports). My card has about a half inch clearance to the side of the case which gives it far more air intake area than it's output put area at the back of the card. Hence I saw no need for more air flow. Though I'm not arguing with your temperature readings. It will be interesting to learn that they are lower with the new build.
If you graphic would have been a blower style, I don't think you would have had overheating problem. The problem here is since you have no space at all around the graphic card, it is actually sucking in the already hot air over again instead of pushing it out the case. At least this is what I think :P I plan to build a gaming PC in this case, so I hope I'm not wrong.
So the main problem is, you used a water-cooling, and the radiator had blocked any airflow. Maybe had a better solution, usage of the gpu with blower fan.