Rearranging an Antec sx1040BII

[t73]

Currently on my Antec are two rear 80mm exhaust and only a filter on front.
I'm also changing some components for silencing, like NB- Zalman NBS NB47J, HDD- Samsung P2504 & HSF- Ninja.
I thought to move the PSU to the top right corner but this won?t work, it is too crowded with two optical drivers below it,but i have two other solutions:

1. Model #1
   1.a.
   PSU placed at the bottom right of the case ?
   Need to drill holes or cut a 92mm opening at the case floor for the exhausting PSU fan. Same at the front for the 80mm intake fan, the front plastic cover will remain untouched.
   
   1.b.
   Placing a 120mm fan at the rear-
   Requires cutting the frame barrier, epoxy or silicon on cleft, making new holes & closing the unnecessary old holes.
   
   1.c.
   120mm fan were the PSU originally sits-
   Placed above the HSF on a metal plate in rotated L shape like, to limit the exhausted hot air outside through the case PSU rear opening. Plate/s will be glued by epoxy or silicon.
   
   1.d.
   Optional- Similar to 1.b. but at front-
   Measurements shows 125mm from the top of the PSU (at new location) to the top of the HDD cage.
   
   *** Disadvantage- finding a solution to reduce HDD noise, PSU may get hotter & nosier, 4x120mm fan (w/Ninjas? Fan)- too loud.
   
   
2. Model #2
   PSU at its original location with its 92mm exhaust above the HSF.
   A 140mm quite fan (or bigger) added on the case door and centralized on the MB.
   I hope I could achieve good and quite operation that way with no other case fan (with or w/out the Ninja fan)
   If that will not do, I can add a rear 120mm fan (as in 1.b), and a front one later.

What I?m actually looking for is a setting with minimal noise and use of fans but with effective air circulation.

Thanks,
t73.

 

[zagood]

My personal recommendations...

- Leave PSU where it is
- Mod 120mm fan at back
- Mod 120mm fan at front.

Moving the PSU to the bottom will in effect exhuast a lot of the cooler air in your case, unless you chamber it like the P180, and may increase your case temps.

EDIT: Just looked at your pics, I was assuming you would invert the PSU. That would work but, well, I think my original recommendations would probably work with less modding.

Try to track down the post where Galvanized Yankee discusses modding a 92mm fan to the outside of the PSU.

-z

 

[t73]

Yes, less moding is definitely better unless cooling/silent differences are significant.

What do you think about the 140mm intake on door as an alternative to your suggestion or in addition to?

P.s.
It is really getting late here (3.25AM) I should sleep...
See you fellows tomorrow

 

[t73]

Anyone? Any thoughts?

The easiest mod will be the door mod what do you say?


zagood
I have read the topic you suggested (think it is..)
92mm is better than 80mm that is for sure, but 120mm can give mea greater reduce in noise. However, it is a good idea for the rear PSU 80mm, as you mentioned, but the fan must to be outside which I'm afraid its noise will be more audible that way.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: t73
Anyone? Any thoughts?

The easiest mod will be the door mod what do you say?


zagood
I have read the topic you suggested (think it is..)
92mm is better than 80mm that is for sure, but 120mm can give mea greater reduce in noise. However, it is a good idea for the rear PSU 80mm, as you mentioned, but the fan must to be outside which I'm afraid its noise will be more audible that way.

Keep that in mind when modding the side window, even though you're talking about a 140mm fan that'll be fairly quiet. A fan modded to a side window is exposed, and in most instances pointing at you, so you'll hear it.

If you're really intent on adding a side fan, I'd highly recommend the Akasa Amber 120mm from http://www.sidwewinder.com if you're going to be running it at 12v. If you're planning on undervolting or using a fan controller go for the Yate Loon, they even have an LED 120mm version that is fairly quiet.

As far as the power supply mod, yes, the fan will be on the outside, but with a quiet fan it'll a) be much quieter than the stock PSU fan and b) will be facing away from you so the "outside sound" difference is negligible.

-z

 

[t73]

Originally posted by: zagood
Keep that in mind when modding the side window, even though you're talking about a 140mm fan that'll be fairly quiet. A fan modded to a side window is exposed, and in most instances pointing at you, so you'll hear it.

Yes, that is right, but if the 140MM w/fanmate 2 is the only case fan, we are talking pretty
low dbs. On 12v spec is showing ~19db so on lower rpm/voltage maybe it can reach 10db.
Regarding 120mm, How about Nexus and Scythe S-FLEX (the 33.5CFM / 8.7dBA one in particular)

Originally posted by: zagood
As far as the power supply mod, yes, the fan will be on the outside, but with a quiet fan it'll a) be much quieter than the stock PSU fan and b) will be facing away from you so the "outside sound" difference is negligible.

It looks like the silenet 92mm advantage is canceled by its outside installation, will a vent like coverage help lowering its noise?