New Toy for TT Armor and Kandolf users

[aigomorla]

Side Pannel Upgrade

At 32 dollars cant really complain. Its for people with armor and kandolf. They have a white one also.

:]

 

[Doctorweir]

ROFL...you mean 250mm

 

[Kakumba]

thats what I was gonna say.

anyways, I have an Armor, but im not gonna get that.... fans on the side panel annoy me, and theres not mucn eed for that fan, I have 2 120mm fans in the front bays. Yay for 11 5 1/4" bays.

 

[eoniverse]

I went ahead and ordered one.

I have a single fan in the front of my armor.

Hopefully it'll cool the case. I noticed my PCI Hauppauge capture card had less issues when I had air blowing on it in my old case. No problems with my Armor set up, but I like the idea of cooling those slots.

I'll post some temps after I get it.

 

[aigomorla]

oops.. i ment to write 25CM and not MM but yeah u guys know the point i mean. I think i would want one to help cool down my northbridge on my DFI. i have a evercool VC-RE on it right now and temps arent bad at 44C load, but i want it to be cooler if possible. Also PWMIC could always use more fresh air anyhow.

 

[LiquidImpulse]

25 CM!??!


thats overkill IMO for a side panel fan...

 

[Running]

Originally posted by: LiquidImpulse
25 CM!??!


thats overkill IMO for a side panel fan...

i think its fine, since its bigger spins slower, meaning less noise but still has good cfm.

 

[eoniverse]

Hopefully this serves as a warning to all:

I got it today. I did not fiddle with any of the current fans. i.e. the front fan blows in

Fit's OK.

It kills the look of the case. Where before I could easily see my Big Typhoon and the pretty blue lights - now the fan obscures much of the view.

Now that would be fine - if it cooled the system any better. But it doesn't.

My temps at Idle and Load did not budge. Not one degree.

I am torn between keeping it and sending it back for an RMA... but after taking the return shipping hit and a 15% restocking fee - I don't think it's worth doing that.(If anyone in the Atlanta area wants to pick it up for $25.00 they can PM me.)

I'd say... save your money. Maybe get a 2nd front fan instead. Not worth the time and effort to post pictures. Disappointing

 

[Rangoric]

Originally posted by: eoniverse
Hopefully this serves as a warning to all:

I got it today. I did not fiddle with any of the current fans. i.e. the front fan blows in

Fit's OK.

It kills the look of the case. Where before I could easily see my Big Typhoon and the pretty blue lights - now the fan obscures much of the view.

Now that would be fine - if it cooled the system any better. But it doesn't.

My temps at Idle and Load did not budge. Not one degree.

I am torn between keeping it and sending it back for an RMA... but after taking the return shipping hit and a 15% restocking fee - I don't think it's worth doing that.(If anyone in the Atlanta area wants to pick it up for $25.00 they can PM me.)

I'd say... save your money. Maybe get a 2nd front fan instead. Not worth the time and effort to post pictures. Disappointing

Doesn't the Typhoon also point towards the Mobo with its fan? I'm looking to have it blow air on the motherboard which the Zalman 9500 doesn't really do. I don't expect cooler temps, but a quicker cooldown for the mobo. It tends to stay high long after my cpu goes back down after playing a game or in general. The heatpipe does keep it below 50C on load.

And it won't block my view much if at all. The angle I have has that fan right where the top blank side of my video card is

Also I do need a second fan (maybe a third) as I have 2x120 and 2x80 exhast but only the 1x120 intake. (The Armor is very... porous )

 

[eoniverse]

I understand your points.

With the case being so exceptional to begin with at cooling and with the Big Typhoon my temps fall very quickly when the load is off.

I was still hoping it would push my idle ambient case temp down a couple degrees from 31C to 29C (All things being equal with room temps) but it did not happen.

I will most likely RMA and - having not completely learned my lesson - where can I get a matching blue fan for the 120mm already installed in the front?

 

[Rangoric]

Originally posted by: eoniverse
I understand your points.

With the case being so exceptional to begin with at cooling and with the Big Typhoon my temps fall very quickly when the load is off.

My Cpu drops almost instantly, the Mobo takes at least an hour. If you are getting it fast, then I should definitly look into it.

I was still hoping it would push my idle ambient case temp down a couple degrees from 31C to 29C (All things being equal with room temps) but it did not happen.

I will most likely RMA and - having not completely learned my lesson - where can I get a matching blue fan for the 120mm already installed in the front?

The blue fan itself or the cage assembly? The cage assembly (with fan) is available at the same place the side panel was. When I get home later I will try and post the model number as I can't find it at the thermaltake site.

The individual fan itself should be available there also. Its a basic 120mm blue led fan, I think they even sell it at radio shack. Not too sure on how to mount it as nicely as the basic one is though.

 

[eoniverse]

Sorry for not being clear.

My mobo (and CPU) cools down very quickly. I'd say within about 5 minutes after running full load my internal case temp will drop from say 35C to 30C - which is fine given my starting temp and room temp. So no problems there.

I meant the blue fan itself... I already have two cage assemblies. I'd just like to make sure the color blue matchs the current one in front

 

[Rangoric]

Originally posted by: eoniverse
Sorry for not being clear.

My mobo (and CPU) cools down very quickly. I'd say within about 5 minutes after running full load my internal case temp will drop from say 35C to 30C - which is fine given my starting temp and room temp. So no problems there.

Only part that was unclear was the fan part. My CPU drops within minutes (at 5 minutes it back at idle temp). While the motherboard still takes about an hour, minimum, to get back down to idle.

(32/44 Idle/Load CPU, 41/48 Mobo)

That why I was thinking I might look into it.

I meant the blue fan itself... I already have two cage assemblies. I'd just like to make sure the color blue matchs the current one in front

I think it is this one.

 

[eoniverse]

Update:

I switched motherboards - don't ask me why that should make any difference. I installed an ASUS A8N5X (It's NF4) on Monday. All the PC components except the video card have remained the same. The video card is now a 7600GT pci-e and I also 'tweaked' the cable management somewhat.

Tuesday night I left the system run at stock speed idle all night. No side fan panel - only the 'regular window panel installed. In the morning Asus Probe showed a MB and CPU temp of 34C.

Wednesday night I added the side panel with fan and I overclocked to 2100mhz . In the morning my idle temps were 32C on CPU and 33C on MB.

I seriously doubt the validity of the ASUS Probe MB temp. Esp since there was a point when running programs the MB temp was higher than the CPU temp, however...

All things being equal (and room temp for the 2 nights was the same) - the side case fan does have an impact. With the OC I dropped 2C. I would expect that to be 3C without an OC... but then why have the side panel fan if you don't OC?

Not certain why I now have a difference with the NF4 board vs. my old VIA but I thought that people interested in the panel ought to know the 'rest of the story'. It still wrecks the pretty side view into the case. I will attempt to install another 120mm front fan next week and take the side panel off. If it hopefully produces similar drops I will still not use the side panel - but if it doesn't I will put it back on.

One last thing. For people who have this heavy steel beast of a case... I bought some small castors with a center threaded post. If you notice there is a center hole in each of the four feet of the armor. I easily installed all four wheels and it is a pleasure moving the case in and out of it's cubby hole to work on. Just be sure you get wide wheels to maintain stability.

 

[virtualrain]

Hey eoniverse... Can you look at that monster 250mm fan on the side and tell me if looks like it is possible to unmount it and turn it around so it is blowing air out of the case instead of into it? Can it be done or would you have to break something to flip the fan around?

Thanks,
VR

 

[eoniverse]

Will do.

Oh:

Tried the alternative of two 120mm in the front. Much noisier than the big side fan.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: virtualrain
Hey eoniverse... Can you look at that monster 250mm fan on the side and tell me if looks like it is possible to unmount it and turn it around so it is blowing air out of the case instead of into it? Can it be done or would you have to break something to flip the fan around?

Thanks,
VR

Isn't it easier to just reverse the polarity?

 

[eoniverse]

sdifox: You know... hadn't thought of it. Makes sense and may be easier.

Anyhow...

The fan is on several mounting posts that look like they can be reversed with basic creativity. They will not look 'custom when you're done - but I believe it is doable. The grill may be another issue. It looks like it is inherent on the fan exterior. Not attached to the case wall. No nuts/bolts/pins so moving it to the other side = not fun.

I really think reversing the polarity is the way to go.

I opted for a 2nd 120mm fan and got a vantec 4 fan controller. Combined the two front case fans and voila... and hooked up three others. Ran the cables on the backside. Overclocked my 3800x2 to 2500 mhz and idle temps are 32C with no A/C and 30C with A/C. The overall look of the case is much nicer without the side panel and cooling will be just as good with a 2nd front fan. But do yourself a favor and get a fan controller to keep the noise down.

If anyone's local and wants the side case fan panel...they can pick it up for for $20.00