Is this case mod idea worthwhile?

[suszterpatt]

Bit of a backstory: I have 1 120mm low speed fan blowing in, and another fan of the same type plus the PSU's 120mm fan blowing out (negative pressure inside). Also, the dust filter on the front fan was very hard to clean without taking the entire front panel off, so I took it out. The obvious result is a faster rate at which dust is building up inside.


My idea would be nothing radical, only to drill some holes in the top of the case. I imagine that this would allow warm air to exit through those holes, probably taking some dust out in doing so.


What I'm not sure about is if this idea will work at all, and even if so, how much it will increase the noise coming out of the case? I've spent quite some time and cash on silencing my setup, and I wouldn't want something like this backfire on me.


Ideas?

 

[zagood]

With negative pressure you're sucking in air from non-fan areas of the case. You'll actually be setting up an area for more dust to come in.

Put your dust filter back on, and try to mod another intake fan somewhere on your case with filter.

Checking case to see a good spot...

-z

EDIT: What are your temps? Do you really need the filter removed?

 

[zagood]

Looks like that case has a side panel duct, yes?
http://www.pimp-my-rig.com/rev/read.php?pid=CK-1026-9&page=3

Remove the duct, attach an 80mm fan filter, 80-92mm converter and quiet 92mm fan. May want to get a silicone gasket or dot silicone glue where it mounts to the panel to reduce vibration.

-z

 

[suszterpatt]

My temps are fairly low either way, <25 °C case, <45 °C CPU under full load. It's easier to dust out the inside than to clean the filter though.



The case has a side hole for a duct (that I removed because it didn't line up with... anything, really), and some other holes below that. My idea would be that the upward motion of the warm air would be more powerful than the negative pressure's effect because of that.

 

[suszterpatt]

Originally posted by: zagood
Looks like that case has a side panel duct, yes?
http://www.pimp-my-rig.com/rev/read.php?pid=CK-1026-9&page=3

Remove the duct, attach an 80mm fan filter, 80-92mm converter and quiet 92mm fan. May want to get a silicone gasket or dot silicone glue where it mounts to the panel to reduce vibration.

-z

Tried attaching a 80mm fan before, but the duct holes are actually a little bit off. I ended up wiring the fan into the holes, but even with a silicone mount it would make an awful lot of noise. I'm guessing vibration mostly, but I think the honeycomb grill made some serious turbulence too: the fan actually sounded different if I put my legs in front of the hole by as much as 20cm.


Bottom line, the duct mount is practically useless for attaching anything but the stock duct itself.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Tried attaching a 80mm fan before, but the duct holes are actually a little bit off. I ended up wiring the fan into the holes, but even with a silicone mount it would make an awful lot of noise. I'm guessing vibration mostly, but I think the honeycomb grill made some serious turbulence too: the fan actually sounded different if I put my legs in front of the hole by as much as 20cm.


Bottom line, the duct mount is practically useless for attaching anything but the stock duct itself.

Ugh, that sucks.

The force of heat rising won't make up for negative pressure in your case, sorry. You're creating a passive intake, not an exhaust. I may well be overestimating the negative pressure in your case, but do you want to end up with holes in the top of your case if I'm right?

Well, other ideas...

1) Side vent with fan: Drill your own 92mm mounting holes. Cut out honeycomb and replace with finger guard (you should do this whenever you get the chance anyway).

2) Side vent without fan: plug it up or add a filter to it. Less dust, less noise.

3) Optional side vent idea: Mount a bracket from the PCI mounts so the fan lines up just inside the vent. Cut out honeycomb as recommended before.

Otherwise, try to mod an intake fan into one of your 5.25 bays, or somewhere inbetween your 120mm and any brackets above it.

Good luck!

-z

 

[suszterpatt]

Well it's not that big of an issue that I would spend a lot of money on it, but thanks. I may fit some filters on the side holes.

Just one question: why should I replace the honeycomb grill anyway?

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Well it's not that big of an issue that I would spend a lot of money on it, but thanks. I may fit some filters on the side holes.

Just one question: why should I replace the honeycomb grill anyway?

Only if using a fan in that area for less turbulence. You answered your own question earlier:

but I think the honeycomb grill made some serious turbulence too: the fan actually sounded different if I put my legs in front of the hole by as much as 20cm.

Replace it with something like this that has much more space for airflow.

-z