I cut 7C off my CPU temp with a pair of tin snips!

[NewbieCanadian]

Recently switched out my noisy stock case fans for a set of three Vantec Stealth 80mms. Sound-wise, it worked like a charm - all I hear is the sound of rushing air, plus the noise from my Maxtor 40 HD (the next project).

My CPU temp went up a bit (up to about 52C) which was to be expected with lower-volume fans.

Got bored the other day, and decided to take a pair of tin snips to the stamped-metal fan grills covering my intake and output fans. Cut the offending grills right out of the case, covered the jaggies with duct tape and reinstalled the fans.

CPU temp is now 43-45, and you can *feel* the airflow inside my P.O.S. case.

Total cost of mod: $0.10 worth of duct tape.
Total time of mod: 40 minutes (including disassembly and reassembly of entire system).

w00t.

 

[HappyPuppy]

When I put together my last rig the first thing I did to my new Lian Li PC70 was cut out all the stamped fan openings and replace them with wire grills. I don't know why all the manufacturers do that, they should just cut a big hole and throw in some wire grills. Those stamped holes, if you consider not only the restriction but also the turbulence, probably cut down airflow by 50% or more.

 

[Compddd]

can you show me a picture of a stamped fan opening plz

 

[Amorphus]

yeah, I cut them all out. I used a $10 nibbler from radioshack. in fact... I've done a lot of stuff to this case with that nibbler...

 

[drx9175l]

Originally posted by: Compddd
can you show me a picture of a stamped fan opening plz

My full tower is the worst example of these restrictive fan openings I've seen to date. Originally they were intended for 80mm fans. Here are some before and after shots:

front before
front after

back before
back after

These are 24v 120mm Panaflos that I am undervolting with 12v. They still push a good deal of air and are near silent. I got them locally at a surplus electronics store for $3 each. Since the pictures were taken I have added some plastic trim around the holes and a filter to the front intake. I've got them both on one switch. Usually I only run them during the summer. When turned on the result is a 5C drop in both the case and CPU temps.

 

[Derick]

Yeah, I'm about to do the same. Mainly to reduce noise. I doesn't make sense why they do that. The least the could is have more open space than metal, but most of the time there is twice as much air flow blocked than allowed. Yours are really bad though.

 

[Zepper]

God, drx9..., what company made that case? That's absurd! It's a wonder that the fan(s) you were using didn't stall with so much back pressure.
My old Enlight has very low-restriction stamp-outs for the fans.
.bh.
:moon:

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: drx9175l

Originally posted by: Compddd
can you show me a picture of a stamped fan opening plz

My full tower is the worst example of these restrictive fan openings I've seen to date. Originally they were intended for 80mm fans. Here are some before and after shots:

front before
front after

back before
back after

These are 24v 120mm Panaflos that I am undervolting with 12v. They still push a good deal of air and are near silent. I got them locally at a surplus electronics store for $3 each. Since the pictures were taken I have added some plastic trim around the holes and a filter to the front intake. I've got them both on one switch. Usually I only run them during the summer. When turned on the result is a 5C drop in both the case and CPU temps.

Whoever designed that case should be smacked upside the head!

 

[drx9175l]

Originally posted by: Zepper
...what company made that case?

Case was made by Skyhawk and was one of the first cases I ever bought (off of eBay, no less). I have since learned what to look for in a good case, but still use this one for my main rig because it has a ton of room inside and I can feel free to hack it up as much as I'd like.

 

[screw3d]

Has anyone hacked off the fan openings of a Chieftec Aluminium Dragon case? If yes, with what? I'm just a college student with no access to any machinery... thoughts and experiences?

Wanna do this to mainly to reduce noise..

 

[Mday]

newbiecanadian, please remove that pic from your link. i dont think it is proper to direct link a photo from 2cool's site without his permission. of course, if you have his permission, i apologize. if you must, link a page from the manufacturer's site.

2cool has been around a while, and i dont think stealing his bandwidth is right.

 

[Zepper]

Marvie,
. Aluminum is fairly soft. If you have an opening big enough to get the blade in to start you could use one of those Stanley type hacksaw blade handles.
. That would probably be the cheapest - should be less than $5. blade and all. If the openings you have are too small, you could start with pair of diagonal (wire) cutters or a small file ("Swiss") and finish with the hacksaw handle. There is also a ('As Seen on TV") battery operated Dremel type kit out there for about $20. that should do fine for light duty use.
. I would remove ALL components from inside the case first. Clean out all metal filings with an oil-dampened rag followed with acetone or alcohol to remove oil traces.
. Check again carefully that you didn't leave any filings with good light - remember the Murphy's corollary: "In electronic gear, metal filings will find their way to the most damaging spot(s)." Then put your stuff back in.

.bh.
Still hoping for some :sun: !

 

[Roots]

Sweet, I think I just found myself a new summer project

 

[screw3d]

Thanks zepper
now gotta find the tools !

 

[NewbieCanadian]

Will do - hadn't occurred to me.

Meantime, anyone know how I could get in touch to ask permission? I'll happily host the pic on my own site, but not without asking.

 

[hunhyung]

wut are some good, cheap tools to cut those things out?

i don't have a dremel, and i don't really want to buy one either.

 

[Zepper]

Hun...
. See my reply to Marvie. If you read all the posts in this thread, you should have seen that one and the one about the nibbling tool from Radio Shack. That's about it.
.bh.
Still hoping for some :sun: !

 

[hunhyung]

haha yea i saw that... but even 10 bucks is a lot to this poor ass college student.

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: hunhyung
haha yea i saw that... but even 10 bucks is a lot to this poor ass college student.

Find a pair of side cutters and hack away, it isn't going to be the prettiest job, but if you don't want to spend money it will probably work. Tin snips would work as well.

 

[NEWKILLA]

what a great thread,


im spoiled i have a big ole nasty drill press from previous case modding endevours

with 60,80,92 and of course the 120mm holesaws, ZIP=POOF-clean opening

BUT a dremel is the cats meow for this too-just play connect a dots and your done

just remember to put a filter on the intake, i don t care what you use but filter it for

the big 2 reasons--the first is dirt--you can actually fry your cpu if you don t filter

heavey traffic areas-next thing you know clogged heat sink, the 2nd noise even those

black plastic ones can knock the whine outa certain fans--won t quiet your delta but you get the point

also i have some of the rubber u channel gasket if you want the finished look--u-pay shipping its yours for free

(SHOOT ME A PM)

don t know how much i have left but i ll do my best to hook ya up



KILLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAA