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Cooler Master Centurion 5 case

M

MadScientist

Platinum Member
This is one of the cases I'm considering for a new build. One of the things that might be a negative is that it comes with a 120mm rear fan and a 80mm front fan. I'd prefer a case with 2-120mm fans. Is there room and is it possible to install a 120mm front fan in this case?
 
Find and link some decent pics of the case in multiple views along with dementions.
Someone may come along that's done it but if not do the above. (Going to the bench now 😛)

I have a new addiction...Case cutting.


Galvanized
 
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Find and link some decent pics of the case in multiple views along with dementions.
Galvanized
Click to expand...
Did it, done it. The bottom cage blocks the inside front fan view in all the pics. From the front view of the mechanical drawing in their install guide on their website it looks like it may be possible, but a 120mm fan may be too big to fit on the inside of the drive cage. I need someone who owns this case to check this.
Install Guide


 
I hope someone comes along to help you. I've seen case mods over at spcr that have given me some decent material for the old brain to work with.

The easyest way for me would be to reverse the 120 for intake. Make a scoop to devert the PSU discharge up so the intake doesn't recirculate that air, install a moderate speed blow hole toward the front top and reverse the front 80 to draw air across the HDDs.

We all know hot air rises but at 60cfm that 120 will drive it out.

Chopping out the lower 3.5" would probably impact the cases integrity. Plus even if a 120 would fit at the lower front, it has to draw air through what? Are you ready to cut the front cover open and install a presentable grill?

I just recieved a sheet of 1/4" octagon screening this morning to use in fabricating a grill for the lower +30% that will be cut out of the Lian Li's front panel cover. The opening will be 5.75"x7.25", the screening is 79% open. There will be a home AC filter for the intake.

Do it the easy way, get a LL PC-7 that allready has 2-120mm fans.

Galvanized
 
My first choice is the Lian Li PC-7A Plus. Coolerguys and PCToys are the only places I've been able to find the 2-120mm fan versions. Newegg sells it with 1-120mm rear fan and 1-80mm front fan.
Coolerguys

I found a few more retailers that carry the 2-120mm fan version.
Shentech
Sundialmicro
Computerstop
SVC

As always check them out first at Resellerratings. I can only vouch for SVC. No problems with any of my orders from them.
 
I posted about that case type in the black or silver lian li thread.(might want to read it, it's on this page)

It's an OK case but should have bracing installed at the top center of the inner panels and i also added on at the rear of the PSU. Bolting the PSU to the cross brace.

I drilled out the 4 top retaining rivets and the case was floppy, so bracing was added.

Removing the top panel makes doing a sano cabling job a snap. The top will be reinstall with countersunk 6-32 flathead screws.

I did look at the Cooler masters over at Newegg before i posted about them.


Galvanized
 
Hey Galvanized, other than the need for the bracing -- which doesn't sound like too big a deal -- what do you think of the Centurian 5 case? I'm looking at it right now cuz the egg has it for under $45 as one of those weekend specials right now. Well -- I'll head out to read your Lian Li thread.
 
I can't see the forest for the trees. There's a review of the Centurion 5 here at AT that has pics that show the inside of the lower drive bay. It looks like you may be able to squeeze a 92mm fan in front but not a 120mm.
Pics1
Pics2
Pics3

And from these pics from a review at Silentpcreview you can see that the power and reset buttons partially block the airflow for the front fan.
Pics4




 
As a mobil heavy equipment mechanic i've had to work around some very poor engineering.
Things that were designed with little or no thought given to maintainance or repair. My preferance is easy and simple.

From the pics you linked and reading part of the review at spcr this case comes up to the
standard of an average case.

A 92 would be a very tight fit at the lower front(i think)and if one could be fitted it would best be a 92x38. It might have to stand off of the front inner panel using long bolts with some type of shrouding between the case and fan. I just started using the very thick and stiff cardboard from cigar boxes in some of my experaments. Cuts well with a fine bladed hacksaw and will bond in place with 5 minuet epoxy. Too much work to save a few bucks.

Emotionally the case is a turn-off because i'm a UCLA fan and don't care for USC's Tommy Trojan:laugh:

The bays are top to bottom to lend the case structural integrity but cases made this way block the intake fan when the bays fill-up.

Three things should be at the top of anybodys buy list for a system they will live with.
1-The best monitor/display one can afford as this is what we look at and most will have the one they chose a very long time.
2-The case because it may live through several up-grades.
3- The PSU is nearly allways an after thought and this is the guy that feeds the clean strong current to our highly prized componets. It will be around for several up-grades also.

Note: Welcome mikemcc to our forum.
The top bracing on the PC-7 is not a big deal. Drill out the four pop-rivets, they are aluminum so take it easy, then reinstall with flat head 6-32 screws. The top panel mounting holes will have to be counter sunk using a drill bit twirled between your fingers.
Do not use a drill motor for this as it will just grab and blow right through the thin aluminum panel.
I cut pieces of 3/4" aluminum angle 1.5" long, mounted them using the three holes on each side of the inner panel, then made a cross brace out of 1"x1/8" aluminum bar stock.
Bolted it all together with 8-32s, used a framing square to make sure the case was true.
Be sure nothing of the cross brace is above the top of the inner panels edge as it will hit the top cover panel. The brace will block the access to the blow hole. I mounted a 80mm from this brace facing the PSU intake.


Galvanized
 
I have this case. I think it might be possible to squeeze a 92mm fan in there, but a 120mm one would definitely require cutting off parts of the hard drive support cage. (never actually tried any of this, just guessing from looking at it) The 80mm front fan is the only issue I have with this case. The newer Centurion 530 has a 120mm slot in the front, although I don't like its overall look as much. The 38mm deep fans will fit, but you need to move the hard drive rails back a bit.

However, it looks like it's possible to install a 120mm fan in the 5.25" drive bay area if you drill in the screw holes and the mesh screen in the front would make an ideal cover for it. There seems to be plenty of room for a 120mm there with two CD drives installed.
 
I have this case and YES, it is possible to install a 120mm in the front.

It already has an 80mm at the bottom (front) and a 120mm can be added if you only use the top 2 5.25" bays. If you use 3 of the 5.25" bays you could only use an 80mm.

LINK
 
CP5670 & Orion23,
Thanks for the feedback. I've got it narrowed down to the Lian Li PC-7A Plus or the Antec SLK3000-B. Both take 2-120mm front and rear fans without any modding. The Lian Li is aluminum. The Antec is steel. Lian Li is more pricey but I dislike front doors, totally unnecessary and most are made out of cheap plastic like the Antec's.
 
Actually that coolermaster case is identical to my case inside.....
as well as a close copy on the outside....
A 120mm fan will fit in the bottom front.
What you will need to do is position the 120mm fan over the intake holes in the bottom front.
Then using zip ties fasten the 120mm fan to the case.
No need drilling any holes since neatness will not be a factor and zip ties will work just fine!!

Just my 2 zloty worth!!
 
Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Hey, what about this? You would have to dremel the frame of the case a bit just to stretch it out, but it may be just what we're looking for in a rear exhaust. What do you guys think?[/quote]
I came across this in the "Fan mods for Wavemaster case" thread. Nice find scrawnypaleguy. Might be a good replacement for the front 80mm fan in the Centurion 5 or an 80mm blowhole in other cases.
 
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