Cool-Air-Intake Case/CPU Mod($8)

[hehe75]

I just bought an Enlight 7237, KT7A-Raid, and Athlon 1.2Ghz. I'm cautiously optimistic about reaching 1.5Ghz with this new mod, FOP38, and Arctic Silver II. The following explains what I did to achieve this $8 mod that will cool my CPU better than any HSF/Arctic Silver combination.

Materials Needed:
1. Mid-Tower or Tower case with 2 removable 5(1/4) plastic covers(The Enlight 7237 has 4 removable plastic covers, I have 2 Cd-Roms so I have 2 open for the mod).
2. (1) 80mm Case Fan
3. Metal-wired flexible air duct(used in home vents, stretches like a slinky), $8 at a home improvement store.
4. Dremmel Power Tool(Everyone knows at least one person that owns one)
5. Time(took me about 3 hours total).

Instructions:
1. Remove the 2 plastic 5(1/4) drive bay covers off your case so that you can easily work with them.
2. Place the 80mm fan on the back of the 2 plastic pieces and sketch, with a pencil, an outline around the tips of the blades(should be a full circle). The fan fits perfectly into the 2 plastic case covers.
3. Use the dremmel to cut out the circle you just drew(DO NOT CUT THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC). The plastic covers will obviously not fit back in your case if you cut them in half Leave about a quarter inch or so to be safe.
4. From the front side of the plastic, drill some simple screws so that the fan will remain in place.
5. If you bought the right type of flexible duct it should fit perfectly around the fan. Go ahead and run the duct from the fan to your CPU fan.

Notes:
Make sure the case fan is pulling air INTO your case and not pushing it out.
Make sure your CPU fan is pushing air into the heatsink and not pulling it away from the heatsink.
Make it a clean circle so people don't laugh at an ugly mod.

I hope you enjoy a MUCH MUCH MUCH cooler CPU and the effects of a cooler CPU. Such as the ability to OC it even more.

 

[AG73]

excellent mod idea. how did you fasten the duct to the cpu/heatsink/fan? Or is it dangling off some adjacent structure and just pointing toward the cpu?
thanks
AG

 

[Budman]

That's very nice but,please show us pictures.

The same effect could be had by making a hole on the side panel right over the cpu & putting a fan there.

But your way you dont have to make a hole on your side panel.

 

[hehe75]

AG73: With this type of duct it works perfectly if you just place the duct over the CPU fan and do nothing more. The cool air is going to travel down the duct and it wont matter if it is securely fastened to the CPU fan. The ends of the duct are flexible/bendable and you can shape it to fit quite nicely. Hope this helps.

Budman: I will try to get some pictures up here shortly. My way is also forgiving in the sense that you wont be messing anything expensive up if you dont drill or dremmel correctly. You probably have 2 spare plastic covers for backup.

 

[Budman]

An other compromise might be to use the lower front fan & run duct to your cpu from there if you dont want to lose 2 slots,most cases if not all have a spot to mount a fan on the bottom front.

 

[hehe75]

Budman: You are right. My Enlight 7237 came with a fan already in place down there and I did not want to disturb it because it pulls cool air into my entire case. I did not want to use the rear fan either because I need something to push the hot air out of my case. Thanks for the input by the way.

 

[pbrain]

what were you able to oc to? at what voltage?

 

[ericd]

One thing to keep in mind is that if that duct is conductive it would be VERY important to keep it the hell away from the motherboard. It would be a shame for this $8 mod to turn into a $150 hassle.

Eric

 

[hehe75]

ericd: Thanks. There is also some flex pipe that has a plastic cover.