Want to make case cooler

[abakja1]

I have an older style ATX Super case in that the only exhaust fan/cutout is for and used by the PSU,..So my PSU is my only exhaust fan blowing out of a 80mm hole in the rear.....I dont want to buy another case (but maybe another PSU when I upgrade CPU) as Im happy with what I got,...

I just bought a Thermaltake 80mm fan for the intake since my old one crapped out and thinking that this would help cool my CPU and case a little, but it didnt really,..I live in Honolulu, Hawaii and temps here are basically in the mid80's to low 90's at the hottest (poor us huh???),..My CPU heatsink and fan seem to be adequate as its designed for a Athlon 1.7 and I got a Duron 600 right now,...

Anyways,..I will be upgrading my Duron 600 to a XP 1800+ as soon as I update my BIOS, and would like to know what I should do to make my case cooler? I would like to cut out my own hole on the side of the case with a dremel or something for a 90mm fan (or is 120 better/overkill?) but dont know if it should be an intake or exhaust,...My current temps are 53deg C under load for CPU and case is 39deg C,...

From what Ive read in the archives, people say to make it an intake fan to help cool the PCI cards adding heat to the inside of the case,..But if I add this additional intake fan and since I have no room in the rear to add an exhaust fan due to case design and since my PSU is the only exhaust fan I have (80mm size), will all this intake and only 1 exhaust fan do the job,..Is the intake overkill since the front Thermaltake seems to be working good? I think I should be getting more hot air out shouldnt I?????

I was thinking of putting an exhaust fan on the side and not an intake as the Thermaltake (a1357) seems to be blowing pretty loudly,...

Lastly, being in Hawaii, CompUSA only carries ThermalTake (MadDog) or Antec fans other than their own,..Which fan is quieter, more efficient (blows more), and plain out better? Its not worth it to order from mainland and add an extra $10+ for shipping to Honolulu,..

thanks
Kevin

 

[gotensan01]

What about cutting a hole on top for a blowhole. If anything you should have more exhaust than intake to a case. Your PSU has two fans right? In either case, PSU fans move very little air compared to regular 800mm fans. Even if you had an 80mm intake and the PSU, you wouldn't have enough exhaust. I basically do not count my PSU as an exhaust...anyone else agree?

 

[xbassman]

Ditto on adding a top blow-hole.
I have an old Antec case that is the same way.
92mm intake and PSU-exhaust. I have a cool running processor in that case so I have never had the urge to modify it though.

I would buy the Antec fans they are probably quieter given they are more honest about specs....anymore I boycott Thermaltake.

For an 80mm fan you would need to cut a 3" hole and reserve about 3.5" square inside for a fan to fit.
I am not sure about larger fan dimensions. I prefer using a hole saw for fan mods, but a dremel will get the job done also albiet a bit slower and not quite as neat.

 

[abakja1]

So,..you're saying a top mounted fan above the PSU??

Wouldnt this take away from some of the intake air coming in and not being as close to the heat source to vent all the hot air out,...ie,..closer to the CPU fan? That is why I was planning on making my hole (3" hole sounds like a better idea) on the side of the case which would be directly closer to the PCI cards and above the CPU,...

Any more thoughts before I begin my small project??

thanks
Kevin

 

[xbassman]

So,..you're saying a top mounted fan above the PSU??

Check out the placement of the top blow-hole on this case. Lian Li PC3077B
My case has one in the same spot. With my case this fan doesn't exhaust much hot air, but I have 2 exhaust fans directly behing the CPU area.
Remember heat rises and this location will do less to disrupt the airflow of your case.
If your power supply has a bottom intake fan, placing another fan here will probably exhaust as much heat as you can IMHO.

 

[gotensan01]

Can you link pictures to your case? I am trying to visualize why you cannot mount a rear exhaust fan.