[archilochus]

Well I finally modded my new Xaser III case. I cut all of the restricter grids from infront of and behind 5 fans.The rig is
about 50% quiter now.I will test temps later today.This procedure was done with a pair of right cut TIN SNIPS.
It's amazing, how much differance it really makes.So guys
get those restricter plates out and enjoy a quiter rig.
The only restricter I have left is on the back of the PSU. I
will hold off on that one,for warranties sake.Note: Now
my blowhole on top of the case actually works.It used to
push the air backwards when you turned up the fans speed.
THE FANMAN

Complete details of using AVIATION TIN SNIPS to cut fan grids and blow holes are on PAGE 4......
************************************************** **
AVIATION TIN SNIPS EXAMPLE LINK

[Ritalin]

pics pics pics

[voodoomelon]

Thats exactly what I did last night on my Antec Performance ll 1040B Server case.
I've cut the rear exhaust fan grills off the back of the case using pinchers and the noise reduction is great, no more continuous 'whoosing' of moving air through the grills.
I'd actually forgotten about the front grills - good point. I'll attack them tonight.

[archilochus]

Don't forget the top one if you have one.That was my noisiest
one.I will have to enlarge the holes in the blowhole plastic cover.
The case has a setup on top of the case for USB/ 1394 and mic/
headset jacks.It has a plastic cover that looks like a speaker grill.
The holes in the plastic cover are to small for un restricted air flow.
I left it off for now.THE FANMAN
PS: RIT buy me a digital camera and I'll get you some pics.

[Mr_H]

I sold my Xaser III V1000D, So I could buy a much lighter case... instead of modding this one. If anyone comes up with a mod that makes the case lighter lmk

[stan03]

hey archilochus, how and what exctly did you do to the blowhole? PM me if you want.

[archilochus]

Now I have to figure out how to mod the side door.Only
answer to enlarge holes for more CFM.The side door effect
the CPU and vidoe card areas.To be continued!
THE FANMAN

[stan03]

yea those holes are too small to allow much airflow... tell me what you do to fix that

[archilochus]

I've been thinking I'll cut the material out in a circle.In front of the side fans, on the side door.Maybe put the wire 80mm finger
gards on.The reason I'm being specific is because we have a front door also.The mod for now is with side door and front door
OPEN or OFF. Side door is put on for temp testing.Front door
wide open. To be continued: THE FANMAN

[Bobby]

I just did the side and front fan grills.






-Bobby

[mesmartyoudumb]

I have a xaser 3 aluminum. I'm interested in this too - pics pics pics :-)

[deathman20]

Yea removing the nasty grills makes a nice difference in preformance besides the noise but also more air.

[stan03]

i really want to cut that plastic window, but im very afraid of ruining it.

[deathman20]

Yea cutting plasic can be uh really tricky. I've been thinking the same thing then again it can crack so easy. Thats one problem if you want to cut the window.

[archilochus]

Bobby,Nice pics.You really have to do the two rear ones.It
really pulls that air out of the rear of case better.What type
tool did you cut with? As for cutting the plexiglass window.
I have an idea! I'll have to test it first.Sorry guys no digi-cam.
But I saved the old pieces I cut out. I'll find a digi-cam soon!
To be continued: THE FANMAN
PS: Bobby do you have a fan for the top blow hole??

[Bobby]

I was looking at the rear and it's not that bad.

I used a Dremel and a fiberglass cutting wheel. The sparks were fun to watch the first 5 seconds .

I also cut off the plastic piece on the side fan holder.



I have a SmartFanII on the top. Most of the air blows back but it moves the air around and my psu has 2 fans so it stays cool in there.

-Bobby

[archilochus]

Bobby looks like a good OC rig.Have you OCed it yet? If so
to what GHz? Did you put the plastic cover back on the top of the case?I will have to enlargen the holes in it first.Nice job.Clean! THE FANMAN

[Bobby]

It's running at 3.1ghz right now. For whatever reason, 5:4 doesn't work well with my memory (corsair was worse). I can do 244 fsb at 1:1 with this memory though.

What plastic cover are you talking about?

I haven't gone further with the fan holes in the case. Right now, if I take the side panel off, I don't see any drop in temps (mb or cpu). My video card gets hotter when I take the side panel off. This case has great airflow.

-Bobby

[archilochus]

Nice very nice.The cover I'm referring to goes on top of my case.
It is the plastic cover that looks like a speaker grill.It has the
USB/ 1394/ Mic and head set jacks.What exactly is your case?
You might add the case and OC speed to sig.Sounds like you got the flow to go! To be continued. THE FANMAN
LIKE this one in the pics.Third box on left.CASE LINK

[Bobby]

Ok. I have the same thing. Enermax CS-10181B

My o/c speed has been fluctuating for the past few months testing new memory and bios versions so I didn't bother putting it in my sig. I thought about adding the case to it though.

-Bobby

[YellowDart]

I recently cut a blowhole in my plexiglass-side window. It cracks REALLY easily! So if you're going to do it, be very careful!

Mine's got a crack going from a srewhole on the top hole (over the cpu), down to a screw hole on the bottom one (over the video card). If you're cutting metal, it's a much easier task. But the plastic is too brittle (lacking a good thickness and native "moisture" or flexibility factor). The heat (friction) from the circular drill bit is what caused it to crack. It was heating up the plastic to a melting point! I'll be hitting up Home Depot soon to get a new window!

[archilochus]

Thats unfortunate Dart,I plan to use a device that has a arm
coming off of a drill bit that has a lathe type cutting bit on it.
I will take the window out of the door to cut it.This way I can keep the plexi-glass from melting with a water hose.Of course
you have to use a grounded drill motor.I'll let you know how it turns out.The metal one below the plexi-glass will be cut with tin snips.
Its possible that the Thermaltake Xaser III Case fans do the
37CFM in free air.On the Xaser III you have to cut out the fan
grids to decrease the resistance of the little holes in the grid.
I cut mine all out,rear and top also.Today I took off the fiiters to clean them.The air flow is so good I hate to put the filters back
on.You can actually feel the air coming past the HDDs.I cut the
plastic side bullseyes from in front of the side fans too.Well
Keep your flow up and temps down:THE FANMAN

[mesmartyoudumb]

Cool - did mine yesterday it really did rape the noise problem.

Has anyone managed to cut the plastic window yet?

[wizard james]

thats acralic (sp?) right?


well i sota...got some from my teacher and that best way to cut it is (if u got the right kind) its a heater that heats it up so it dont snap so easy and u can use a very sharp kinfe or drill atchment.

i used a dimend knife and it cut throw thin stuff very easy.

but doing what archilochus siad on cuting shold work if he uses cool water and not cold water. u dont want cold because the heat from the drill (or what evry hes useing to cut it with) will make it crack.

[gustav]

for those of you wanting to cut the side window, why not use a solder or something to melt away the plastic and not cut it, it may not look good in the end, but it will sure get the grill out of the way. try this and let me know how it goes

[wizard james]

i would try that on my scrap but i dont got a solder

[gustav]

i think you can pick one up cheap, dont need a very good one. i think most hard core overclockers would have a solder tho to mod their boards and things like that

[wizard james]

i use my friends if i need one. but i could just take a kinfe and take my little kit that heats metels with a 120 plug in.

i will try that....i gota find it first...give me a few years...i tihkn its better just to go to the store and get one.....i will be going in 2 hours to pick up somethings so i will get one then

[archilochus]

Thanks for the ideas on cutting the side window.A soldering
gun cutting blade may work.If I use it,Ill cut a little shy of the
line so I can file a smooth edge.Today I cut the grill out of the
plastic top blow hole cover.I then mounted a wire finger guard
on it.The cover looks like a speaker grill.First I enlarged the holes.
But it still had back pressure.So I cut a 3 inch round circle and
no more back pressure. THE FANMAN

[stan03]

you need a camera