CPU Air Duct

[amcdonald]

Maybe someone here can help me in my search...
I'm looking to build a cpu duct basically like this one: LINK
I'm wondering where I can find short, 80mm or so diameter tubing like this...
I would really prefer it to be flexiable, as The fan is not exactly perpendicular to the exhaust vent. I have been to home depot with no luck, and I think I'm gonna try a pet supply store (Maybe a hamster accessory? )
Anyone done something like this before?
I would cut a front panel vent, except its a Antec Lanboy and its not possible (see link), so I'm interested to see how this duct will affect temps.
Also, any recommendations on attaching the tube ends? otherwise I'll probably tape them down depending on the pliability of the tube.
Thanks

 

[Lord Evermore]

Dryer vent duct. Not sure of the exact size, but you could cut and overlap it on the fan side to make it right.

You could just use cardboard, formed into a tube shape.

 

[Blain]

* Here
* Here
* Or Here

 

[Bluefront]

Here's my duct setup in an Antec 2600 case, using a Zalman5700 shroud.

Duct

The intake air is filtered using the power care lawnmower filter in the photos. Runs very cool....

 

[farmercal]

Home Depot and Lowes both have flexible duct mateial in both plastic and metal for a variety of uses and sizes. You might be able to find the size you want without paying for postage. In any event it is worth the time to look when you are out and about.

 

[GasX]

Anyone know where to find the article/pictures of the guy who connected his PC to the window? You know, the one where the guy uses cardboard tubing to get outside air from the window into his PC to super cool it in wintertime?

 

[amcdonald]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
Here's my duct setup in an Antec 2600 case, using a Zalman5700 shroud.

Duct

The intake air is filtered using the power care lawnmower filter in the photos. Runs very cool....

Bluefront,
What kind of temp diff are you experiencing with the intake?
We essentially have the same case, the only difference beside the psu being cosmetic.
I rigged a vent using 4" aluminum vent, where my smartfan2 is over my alpha 8045 and I placed another fan (panaflo L1a) at the exhaust point. I stuffed filter material tight into the spaces between the heatsink and the perimeter of the vent to ensure intake. Is this similar to your setup besides the ducting material itself?
Either way I forced the air, temperatures rose.
Flowing in, the cpu temp dropped a few degrees, and held cool, but I couldn't create enough exhaust (no exhaust besides the psu). I check this with smoke, noting the intake points checking for back pressure... (My front intake panaflo wasn't even pulling in air) The case temps steadily rose until after 15 minutes they matched the cpu temp, and then they both started rising... with the cpu at 40ºC and MB at 42ºC I gave up and reversed the air flow.

With the vent acting as an exhaust, temps were still running high. about 2-3º more than usual for both cpu & mb.

My normal setup (rheobuss-attached smartfan2 exhaust, delta cpu fan, panaflo L1a front intake) yields load temps of 35-36ºC cpu & 26ºC MB with everything maxed out, and 40º & 28º at near silent fan settings... this is with a 70ºF ambient temp.
I'm thinking about opening up the back exhaust hole to support a 120mm fan, and also cutting a top 120mm hole between the psu & 5 1/2" bays...
Just wondering what you have found works well with this case.
Sorry I can't give you any pics... no digital camera.
Thanks

 

[ericboo]

amcdonald,

I think your problem is the 4" diameter. I doubt the 80mm fan can push air with any force through such a large tube. Try something smaller.

 

[Bluefront]

amcdonald.....well our cases are very similar, but the rest of what's inside probably differs. I'm running a celeron 2.0 on a Gigabyte667 ultra. That duct you see is composed of the outside PowerCare filter, then two 80mm fan shells used as spacers, then a PCToys Crystal Maxx variable speed fan, then the Zalman duct (screwed to the pctoys fan). This duct ends about 1/2" or so over an Alpha heatsink..never touches it. The cool outside air is blown on the alpha, as well as onto the chipset, and the ram chip.

If you look closely, you can see a small fan sitting directly on the Alpha......This is controlled by a DigitalDoc5, and only turns on if the cpu reaches 39C (which is rare). The Pctoys fan normally just blows through this fan. At an idle, with the filter in place, the celeron runs at 28C...the pctoys fan is running at 2377rpm. Without a filter, the cpu runs 4C over ambient...about 26C. At full cpu usage, the celeron will barely break 38C.

That duct setup you see in the photos, is the only intake fan. There is a slot fan blowing out under the AIW video card, as well as the psu fan...that's it. I have a digitalDoc5 hooked up with 8 temp sensors. This setup is equally cool throughout.

One other thing...my two hard drives are outside the case with a separate cooling fan. You can see that setup using the photo link. Check the album called Wooden Case.......Why your duct attempt didn't work so well escapes me. I am 100% satisfied with my setup, although I'm still considering a few more mods. The celeron is not overclocked and I did lap the Celeron pretty good...and I use Artic Silver.


All photo Albums