Restrictive Fan Grills

[Elcs]

Hello all,

In my search for exploring reasonable ways in improving airflow without turning my fans up a notch, I decided it was time to remove the grills from my Antec SLK3000B.

My Seasonic PSU is in for RMA due to a dying fan and while I wait for that, the time was perfect for fan grill removal.

Using small tin snips, it didnt take long at all to remove the grill. Sharp edges have been filed down to make them nice and soft.

The biggest question is:
How much of a benefit is generally gained through doing this? Are the airflow gains and noise reductions tangible and worth it?

I wont know until I get my PSU back but Id like to hear about more grill removal stories.

Following a look at a recent SPCR Scythe fan review, it is clear that if I drop down to 1,200 rpm slipstreams and keep current CFM movement levels my 1,600's produce then my noise levels would increase. I am not sure where my next move is to be honest.

 

[BassBomb]

pretty big depending on how the original grill was

I had a honeycomb style grill on my TT Tsuanmi, removing this and the built in tool-less fan mount probably saw a 30% increase... in the front less since teh door is still the limiter

 

[DarkRogue]

Next move.. undervolt those fans!
Heatsinks that perform with very low airflow (usually the "passive" ones like Accelero and Ninja) will go nicely with undervolted fans.
The grill can make a huge difference if the original one was very restrictive.
Then fan themselves, Slipstreams are excellent, as are the S-FLEX's, and SPCR's favorite orange Nexus fans.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: DarkRogue
Next move.. undervolt those fans!
Heatsinks that perform with very low airflow (usually the "passive" ones like Accelero and Ninja) will go nicely with undervolted fans.
The grill can make a huge difference if the original one was very restrictive.
Then fan themselves, Slipstreams are excellent, as are the S-FLEX's, and SPCR's favorite orange Nexus fans.

My 3 slipstream fans (1 intake, 1 exhaust, 1 CPU) are at the bare minimum voltage required to start them spinning.

I am using a lapped Thermalright Ultima 90 and an AMD X2 6000+ @ 3ghz 1.325V (1.4V stock) and a Thermalright HR-03 GT on an HD4870 790/1100 with an Arctic Cooling Turbo Module attached.

I have just removed the grills from over my fan ports and I look forward to some results when my PSU gets back.

The question is how do I improve over the 1,600 rpm Slipstreams? The noise is as high as I wish it to go and airflow cannot be reduced.

Hopefully, the removal of the grills will prove to be a good benefit to airflow and circulation improve. I wish my MSI K9N Neo V3 allowed fan control on all fan headers.... it only allows control on the CPU fan header via MSI Dual Core Centre or Speedfan. I may have been able to shave a touch off the speed/noise as opposed to my manual twiddling of my 0-12V Sunbeam fan controller.

 

[Zepper]

Vapor has an analysis of various fan filters and grills in a thread in the Air Cooling section of the http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/ . The restrictive mesh on the intake side of the front fan on my Kublai cases only made about a 100rpm difference when it was on the fan rather than off. I suppose it could make more or less difference depending on the fan. The one I measured was the stock fan. I suppose I should do a little comparo with the fans I have handy.

.bh.

 

[DarkRogue]

Originally posted by: Elcs
The question is how do I improve over the 1,600 rpm Slipstreams? The noise is as high as I wish it to go and airflow cannot be reduced.

1,200rpm Slipstreams 😛

Seriously though, slowing them down more will start increasing temps (hopefully your airflow through your case is optimized.) If you are comfortable with the small rise in temps lowering it to 1200rpm, you can get rid of some more noise.

On the subject of optimizing airflow, make sure there's a clear path for your air to follow from intake -> case -> exhaust. Make sure there aren't any arbitrarily placed vents that will allow the air to take shortcuts out of your case prematurely before it has had a chance to pick up most of the heat. If you can, aim your CPU fan at the exhaust fan to create a pseudo push-pull. If worse comes to worst, get some acoustic dampening material and slap it around the inside of your case, lol.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: DarkRogue

Originally posted by: Elcs
The question is how do I improve over the 1,600 rpm Slipstreams? The noise is as high as I wish it to go and airflow cannot be reduced.

1,200rpm Slipstreams 😛

Seriously though, slowing them down more will start increasing temps (hopefully your airflow through your case is optimized.) If you are comfortable with the small rise in temps lowering it to 1200rpm, you can get rid of some more noise.

On the subject of optimizing airflow, make sure there's a clear path for your air to follow from intake -> case -> exhaust. Make sure there aren't any arbitrarily placed vents that will allow the air to take shortcuts out of your case prematurely before it has had a chance to pick up most of the heat. If you can, aim your CPU fan at the exhaust fan to create a pseudo push-pull. If worse comes to worst, get some acoustic dampening material and slap it around the inside of your case, lol.

My 1,600 rpm Slipstreams are at spin-up voltage which is around 900 rpm. Moving down to the 1,200 rpm Slipstreams would be detrimental to my airflow/noise balance (at the same CFM level, they are noisier than the 1,600's).

I have top of the line AcoustiPack Deluxe lining my case and blocking any vents. I also have an 80mm Panaflo L1A at spinup voltage on the side of my case set up as an intake.

Actually, the only vent is in my HD4870. Since it is no lover using the stock cooler, its grill is completely exposed so it can let hot air out of there. Perhaps that is a problem?

Zepper - thanks for the link. Some useful info there.

There has been suggestions that I replace the Slipstream on my CPU with an S-Flex, static pressure with the tight fins and all that. Would that be of any use for reducing CPU temps assuming equal fan speeds in my scenario?