40mm fan question

[Rob Powell]

okay, now here's the deal. I have just installed an alpha 8045 and it's pretty sweet, and I am wanting to put some exhaust fans on the case.

The problem? There's only room for 2x40mm fans. Before I go on, I am NOT willing to cut the case up to install a 60, 80, or 120mm fan or anything like that, please note that 2x40mm is the ONLY configuration I can do. I am not brave enough to do that.

okay, the question. I know that 40mm fans have a puny 8CFM throughput, and with them next to each other it's not sucking much heat out. Now, how much heat do these bad boys produce? does it almost cancel out the usefulness of the 2x8CFM or is it still worth having them? What would you advise knowing that I wont' cut the case to install a bigger fan?


Just a quick secondary note.... I have a second old PC and want to use arctic silver 2 as my compound, what's the safest way to remove the old gunk from the CPU?

Many thanks in advance :)

[Havoc_]

Have you considered ducting? I know the smaller fans have a lower cfm but the ducting should allow you to direct the drawing of hot air off of individual units such as the cpu ro chipset, hard drive, etc. Just a suggestion.

[Rob Powell]

ohhh a new term for me... what is ducting?

[The Coolest]

duct is a tube (or similar) that connects the outside of case w/ inside,something that looks like this, not nesecery 2 fans though.

[Mike K]

I was also considering ducting because my idle temps rose 5C for no reason It looks like the fans should be blowing in, right? Also, can I just use cardboard for now, or plastic from a pop bottle?

[Yodums]

Originally posted by Rob Powell
okay, now here's the deal. I have just installed an alpha 8045 and it's pretty sweet, and I am wanting to put some exhaust fans on the case.

The problem? There's only room for 2x40mm fans. Before I go on, I am NOT willing to cut the case up to install a 60, 80, or 120mm fan or anything like that, please note that 2x40mm is the ONLY configuration I can do. I am not brave enough to do that.

okay, the question. I know that 40mm fans have a puny 8CFM throughput, and with them next to each other it's not sucking much heat out. Now, how much heat do these bad boys produce? does it almost cancel out the usefulness of the 2x8CFM or is it still worth having them? What would you advise knowing that I wont' cut the case to install a bigger fan?


Just a quick secondary note.... I have a second old PC and want to use arctic silver 2 as my compound, what's the safest way to remove the old gunk from the CPU?

Many thanks in advance :)

Are the two 40mm fan spots together or one exhaust one intake?

You can just add two there or you can use the ducting idea.

Use rubbing alcohol to remove the dried up thermal compound from the heatsink and the core.

Yodums

[ButcherUK]

40mm fans are so weak you're almost better off without. Sure you don't want a nice big 172mm blowhole? :D

[Rob Powell]

172mm blowhole eh? hmmmm... LOL The way the case is, I wouldn't be able to :(

yeah the 2 40mm fans would be side by side. Now, if I did that ducting, then surely my 52CFM mechatronics would suck harder than the 2 40's, and would make them spin too fast or something?

[The Overclocker]

if you want to get hot air out of your cmputer the best way with out attacking anything with a cutting tool (my case has 2 120mm holes made my myself) is to uprate the fan in your powersupply with something like a 50CFM sunon

[Rob Powell]

Originally posted by the overclocker
if you want to get hot air out of your cmputer the best way with out attacking anything with a cutting tool (my case has 2 120mm holes made my myself) is to uprate the fan in your powersupply with something like a 50CFM sunon


How will that help? Is it so that the PSU doesn't get as hot? or it absorbs some heat from the cpu air being blown off and cools like that?

Not entirely understanding if your PSU only has 1 outlet rather than 2 like the enermatix

[flounder43]

You can also add a fan to your psu to blow more air from the inside of the case...I have done this by putting a 60mm fan over some vents that I cut out on the psu.

BTW, what sort of case only allows two 40mm fans? Are you sure? That would have to be something like a laptop.

[Rob Powell]

Originally posted by flounder43
You can also add a fan to your psu to blow more air from the inside of the case...I have done this by putting a 60mm fan over some vents that I cut out on the psu.

BTW, what sort of case only allows two 40mm fans? Are you sure? That would have to be something like a laptop.


Never thought about it and never checked, but I promise it's room for 2x40mm by standard. I am positive they're not bigger :) I build PCs for friends and what not, I am very PC literate I'm just dumb about overclocking :) With hindsight I should have checked, but I wasn't planning on overclocking til a week or two ago :)

http://prices.cclcomputers.co.uk/specs/case/atx_miditower_pro.htm

that's the case

[flounder43]

Well, then you are stuck. That is crazy. My laptop has 40's. They barely move air.

[Yodums]

If you get the best quality 40mm fan which I believe is the Sunon they move 20cfm and with two you can get 40cfm.

But I wouldn't be so desperate because you maybe moving the dead spot in your case which will lead to maybe some more heat in your case.

Yodums

[VegetaQ]

Its not that hard. (to make customer holes) Just dont over do it. My roomate has almost no back portion of his case from mods (although those were to get a mb in a small case not for fans)

I did my own and I have a nice hole in the side of my case for my sunon 120. Tin snips and precision is all you need. Although a skill saw (skill i thinnk. maybe im thinking jigsaw) and a GOOD (No vermont american) grinding bit would probably work better. But 40's. ew. I don't see how they can pull any air out (See my sig. I love fans. My case rumbles soo much If I put my alarm clock on it after an couple minutes or so the clock has vibrated and fallen off of the computer.

[GoldenTiger]

Another option would be to hold up an 80mm fan with some 3m VHB mounting tape, some cable ties, or some other method and blow it into the holes. You also could try getting another case :). I'd highly recommend buying a Chieftec/Antec 1030 B(lack) (dark characol) case from newegg for ~$80 shipped, though. It isn't too expensive, and will give you MUCH better cooling as well as a very nice case!

[nihili]

Is there any chance you've got a couple of the bigger bays free? You could put an 80mm in there.

Where exactly are these 40mm fan openings anyway?

nihili