Mod a case designed for 80mm to 120mm

[entropy]

I recently became annoyed with all the noise my computer makes. Technically it isn't that bad, but it's enough to agitate me now and then. So, since 120mm fans are quieter, and move more air at the same time, can I mod my case / case fan brackets to fit a 120mm fan? I'm thinking putting one in the back will be enough. This is my case.

[shwaip]

A 120mm fan is 1.5 times as tall and long as an 80mm fan. It doesn't look like one will fit in the back, though you may fit one in the front.

[Thrax]

One in the back will not be adequate to cool that case. Unless, that is, you feel like sticking a 70-80 CFM fan back there.

[entropy]

Thrax, my psu has an intake and an outtake. There's also an 80mm in the side window bringing air in. Right now I have one weak little 80mm pulling air out the back, and dual folding with ambient temperature of 23-24*C the cpu is at 33*C. This case, when the wires are all tucked away like mine are, has phenomenal air flow with only a few fans. But would there be a way to ghetto-rig it in there, after i take out the purple brackets? Or are they just too big period?

[leishi85]

120 willjust bee too big period for the back.

[shwaip]

here's a pic of about how big it would be.

[DanG]

Why not get a couple of quiet 80's for the back and mod a 120 for the front and side?

[dodo]

a 92mm fan might fit.

[Dragstk]

I've seen good drop in temps by putting fans in the top, as exhaust. I've got all my computers set up this way.
A couple of quiet 80mm in the back,1 as large as possible in the front, and a 120 in the top, your good to go.

Dragstk

[NiGHTS]

Would cutting out the graters in the back help the noise issue?

[Omega65]

I've seen good drop in temps by putting fans in the top, as exhaust. I've got all my computers set up this way.
A couple of quiet 80mm in the back,1 as large as possible in the front, and a 120 in the top, your good to go.

Dragstk

Ditto! Adding a 80mm or 120MM fan exhausting from the top will cool your computer the best (In addition to the 2 rear fans)

SM: PC airflow and heat - a cooling guide (http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=230)


Conclusions

We would be lying if we weren't. It was our assumption that the tests with ALL the fans in operation would produce the best results but it didn't. Time to idle represents how effectively the configuration removes heat from the PC case. The shorter the time the better. CPU peak and idle as well as System peak and idle are easy to interpret. We would like to think that System temperature represents an average of how cool every component in a PC is.

* The top and rear exhaust produced the best CPU and System results but nearly placed last for time to idle. We tested three times for this result as we didn't believe the first two.
* A single rear exhaust fan produces the best results overall. This flushes the theory of more is better right out the door.
* A top only or top and front combination places in the middle of the pack for CPU and System peak cooling BUT does whisk away the heat in a very short amount of time.
* Even with no cooling fans besides the heatink...heatsink size and type of fan can deliver good results.

So there you have it. A few theories dashed upon the rock perhaps. At least for this type of PC case and components. What should be taken away from this? Quite simply that more may not necessarily be better but, for us enthusiasts, more may be cool...for looks.

[SimGuy]

A 120mm will fit in the front intake if you remove the lower 3 3.5" drive bays and do a little cutting to expose the fan to the outside.

When I modded my Antec SX1080 (same case as yours, just beige), I couldn't get a 120 to fit at the back at all. However, if you chop out the grates and twist the fans slightly to the left/right, you can fit 2 92mm's in the rear.

I'd supplement the cooling with a quiet 120mm blowhole in the dead centre of the lid (for exhaust) and a 120mm on the left side panel for intake over the video card/pci card area.

Or, for the front you could add 2 quiet 92mm fans (they will fit too, just need to toss those purple fan holders and mod slightly), but IMHO the 1 120mm would be better.

Something I planned out a while ago... maybe it will help :)

[MAGIC]

just cut out a 120 hole and if it wont fit inside mount it outside

[entropy]

Wow, I thought I thought this thread was 6 feet under already! Anyway, I've managed to get away with one intake, and 2 or 3 out (1 on psu) but I've been meaning to do some more testing. I get very little temp. variation. I might have to try your idea, though SimGuy (must've lost track of this thread, heh).