optimizing fan directions

[facialicious]

Hi guys :beer: I'd like to get some feedback on my fan setup for the best way to go about it. I would like to optimize temperature, noise and dust if possible. My case is already a dust hideout so im not too concerned about trying to keep it cleaner. Its probably a lost cause.

Ok so here is my case.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-117-033&depa=1
Except imagine a black face plate, single 60mm (yeah i know :cry: ) on the back panel and a side window with one 80mm in the dead center of the panel. My ambient case temps range from 21-25C

I am trying to setup fans. Currently this is what I am on but it is not the best. (44 idle/55 load)
http://img13.exs.cx/img13/4484/x6ucase.jpg

The problem is that the front intake is nearly worthless. It has really crappy holes to suck through which only take in air from a little slot on the bottom of the faceplate. The bottom back fan is just strapped to empty pci slots. I had it blowing out and was getting better temps (42 idle/52 load).

What do you guys think would be the best poor mans air setup? Should I think about ducting? Is a blowhole the best thing for me? Since I only have 1 cdrom, could I use the other drive bays for some kinda intake? The front of my case looks slick and I dont want to mangle it, but I may have to. If you look closely at the power switches, they are in a separate kinda piece that can be removed (i think) for the bottom intake fan, so that wouldnt be critical. However, i would have to relocate the switches and contruct new housing for em.

Here is what I have to work with:
3x 80mm fans (already in case)
1x 60mm (already in case)
1x 92mm
1x 120mm

Enough of my rambling :D

EDIT= I am hesitant to hack up this case cuz its my main rig and I like the way it looks now

[Yamiyanazz]

don't hack it up then...mod it!

Stock "grills" are no good for anything...they need to be taken out if you want any air to move.

Make sure your case is tight around the holds that don't have fans in them. It'll makre sure the airflow is noce and flowing.

[mad_pc_man]

get semi fine sponge about 3 mm thick and cover all ur vents

get quite big holes in the sponge cuz this will stop dust and not reduce too much airflow

[facialicious]

thanks guys. ive decided to cut out a hole in the back for a 120mm exhaust fan, but I am not sure how to do it. Here is a picture of my backplate http://www.electroseller.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AL_4318B1L7SL_QWIN&Category_Code=_case_manu_skyhawk

Notice how there is that raised edge on the right. Thats why it will only take a 60mm fan right now. Just holding my 120mm up to it, it seems like it will fit ok, but I cant just cut a big square out cuz I wouldnt have anything to screw into. Has anyone done this on a piece like this? Any suggestions short of welding?

Also, what slight mods would you guys suggest to the bottom of the front panel to increase intake but not take away from the current look too much? I was thinking about just drilling about four 1 inch in diameter holes. Not enough to let a lot of light throw but enough to get a little more air in.

[Mr. Perfect]

What do you mean cut out a square for the 120? :confused: You only need a circle the diameter of the fan's blades, which would leave material behind the corners of the fan to bolt to.

As far as the front fan goes, is it really in a little plastic box with slits like that? If so, I'd sugest either removing the plastic box and mounting the fan straight to the case, or cutting away the plastic bits blocking the airflow. That would help intake a little without you having to change the exterior look.

[facialicious]

Thanks Mr. Perfect, but the rear panel is an uneven surface. I can cut one of the surfaces with a semicircle but the other will have to be a square so that the fan can fit through it. If I did that though, I would only have two screws on one side and none on the other. I dont think this would be sturdy enough to get it from rattling. :bang head: This is what I am thinking right now:

http://img72.exs.cx/img72/2930/u1ncase2.jpg

I could mount the fan on the outside of the recessed section and slide the right side of the fan into the raised piece (hence the square type cut). Because of the shape of the fan, I can round the corners of the right cut a little and put screw holes it. The problem then is that the case wall is floating between each side of the fan. It wouldnt be flush to either side to get a good tight fasten with a screw. Maybe if I got a thick washer or something it could work. What do you guys think? Here is a top view of what i am talking about.

http://img72.exs.cx/img72/4125/k4ifan.jpg

Thanks for the help everyone

[Yamiyanazz]

Wow. I've seen cases that have funny backs like that and I always was stuck limited to the 60mm fan size...looks to me like you have found a plausable solution. I like your idea, but I've never heard of it being done before; maybe an original?

an idea that you might want is for the raised part that rests along the side of the fan, maybe have something like a slit rubber straw thing (people use it when they make their own case windows) to help keep the vibration down.

[Yamiyanazz]

Oh, and by the way, the link to your case at the top doesn't work unless you give us your cookies. Could you list it's brand, model, part number or description so we can look it up on newegg ourselves?

[facialicious]

oops, i fixed the first case link. I really only have the same faceplate and drive bays. the back and side panel are diff on mine.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-117-033&depa=1

[Mr. Perfect]

I'd say use some rubber washers to fill the voids. They would bridge the gap like your washer idea, but would dampen vibrations too. I mounted my harddrive on rubber washers, and they really do help. :)

[teezer]

i'd stick the 120 fan as a front intake, looks to be room, and swiss-cheesing the front panel to let some air in ~~~ run a rheostat fan controller to dial them in for flow and noise ~~~