Cooling the Lanboy

DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
edited December 2003 in Hardware
Ok, I just switched out my startech copper heatsink with noisy ass 7000rpm fan for an SP94 with a 92mm fan that moves 48.1cfm at 28db, which is a huge bonus for me coming from the 7000rpm fan. The problem is that my cpu temp went up, only 2°c to 52c, but it still went up none the less. As it is, I have 2 7200rpm hard drives, a 5400rpm drive running off an sata->pata converter and a 10k raptor, in addition to a radeon 9800 and a pair of cd drives.
I have a high flow 80mm fan at the back(exhausting) of the case that moves 39cfm and I've managed to rig up a 120mm fan at the front of the case in place of the standard 80, and the 120 pushes 48cfm into the case.
The air that comes out of the back of the case from the 80mm exhaust fan is cool, but the air coming out of the psu is hot. Would it be worth my time and effort to open the power supply and swap out the fans for something that moves a bit more air? It's an antec smart350 power supply that has 2 blue led fans in it, but they never seem to be spinning very fast. The grill at the back is not very thick, so it doesn't obstruct any air, but the front could use to be opened up a bit, which will happen, but not till the summer.
Any other ideas?

Comments

  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    Mod some blowholes into the sucker. :)
    Quickest way to get cooler temps is to get better airflow through the case.

    Yes, the LanBoy has horrible ventilation. Take a hole saw to the thing and cut some 120mm blowholes and mount some Panaflo 120mm L1A or H1A fans (U1A if you don't mind 45 dBA). :)

    With 5 HDD's stacked inside that poor case, I hope to god you have some type of active cooling across them. 7200 & 10K RPM hard disks LOVE to generate heat and should be actively cooled.
  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    It's only 4 hard drives, but still, a lot of heat from them. On the raptor, I've got a bottom mounted fan that's on with a couple of gromets to reduce any chance of vibration and that's in one of the 5.25 inch bays with a set of rails. The other 3 hard drives are in the 3.5 inch rack, and are set up so that the 120mm fan is blowing across them.
    If I was going with a couple of 120's, top, side? Where would be the best place for that?
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    Well... I'd definately use a 120mm as an intake fan on the left hand side panel, hovering over the PCI/AGP slot area.

    Another one in the front of the case (if it will fit). I'd also suggest modding the outside plastic of the case in this frontal location, as it severely impeeds airflow.

    I'm not sure if there is space for a 120mm in the rear. If there is, definately a 120mm exhaust fan back there. If not, a high-powered 92mm should fit with some work.

    I'd recommend a top-side blowhole to exhaust hot air, but I'm not sure there's space for a 120mm fan up there (assuming you've got all bays in use).

    If the top 5.25" bay is not in use, you could mount a 120mm fan on the inside top of the case, slightly off center towards the front of the case. That way, you'll get your blowhole and it won't interfere with the PSU. Down side to this is that more than likely you won't be able to use the top 5.25" bay for anything more than cable storage, or a place for an LCD readout or Fanbus Controller. :)

    What fans to use? 120mm & 92mm Panaflo H1A's for the most optimum point between airflow and noise. U1A's for more airflow. L1A's for less noise. :)
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Lasse just sent me a link to this beuty. Smart idea i must say.
  • EyesOnlyEyesOnly Sweden New
    edited December 2003
    Nice fanduct. What size is it. Looks like 80 mm, the diameter that is.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    The best way to cool the Lanboy?
    Throw it out in the cold with the rest of the garbage.

    Beyond that:

    Cut 2 80mm blowholes in the top of the case, between the PS and the optical drive bays

    Cut 2 120mm blowholes in the side panel, one above the other, so that they blow across the pci/agp and cpu/ram areas.

    Remove any stamped fan grills on the case.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Lanboy has not enough depth to do two 80 mm holes in top, room for about 1.2 80 mm fans if you want to block 1\3 of the PSU in vents for its outventing. It was built for a low-front-in to high-front out cooling strategy, with possibly passive side blowholes to suck air.

    I run Antec SOHO type cases here. ONE thin high volume 80 mm would be just about doable, but needs to be 25 mm thick MAX. I just skipped the top fans in both, both run better than with the PSU partly vent-blocked toward front of case. The SOHOs are same depth and width as the lanboy, but taller.

    2 50s are possible as top blowholes, or a passive blowhole with fans mounted on top of case, like one 92mm sucking air up out of top blowhole-- then no blockage, but you will want a PSu with an inward pushing fan and an ourward pulling fan to rear or PSU will be turbulent inside and overheat.

    John.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    John;
    1. You can fit 2 80mm blowholes on the top of the case without a problem. (See attached diagram)

    2. The PS won't overheat. I've got 2 80mm blowholes in my Antec SLK-3700AMB, and the temperature of the air coming out of the PS has significantly decreased since I put the blowholes in.

    Diagram:
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited December 2003
    Geeky1 had this to say
    The best way to cool the Lanboy?
    Throw it out in the cold with the rest of the garbage.

    so bitter......... :P
  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    What would you think about changing the directon of the fan on the back and using one of the thermaltake duct mods to direct air right at the hsf for the cpu as IIRC the thermalright heatsinks do much better blowing as opposed to sucking. I could then swap out the fans in the power supply for something that moves a bit more air and cut a hole or 2 in the window for some more air in.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    Aww hell, just don't use the top 5.25" drive bay and install a 120mm Panaflo U1A top-dead-centre in the roof. 115 CFM of goodness exhausting out of that sucker :D

    Same on the left side panel (2 stacked vertically) and 1 at the front for an intake.

    It's mildly loud, but not nearly as loud as a Tornado. Best part is... is should cool like nobody's business.

    I did the same mod to my Antec SX1080 (with the 120mm Panaflo U1A's and it dropped temps substantially in the case).

    That's the plan to cool my LanBoy next Friday. :)
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    Something like this...
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited December 2003
    thats alot of intake with just one exhaust.
  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Simguy, you think the duct thing over the cpu will work well pulling from the back?
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    dont forget the PS
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    croc_ had this to say
    thats alot of intake with just one exhaust.

    There's plenty of air creveces to help exhaust air out of the case, even if it's passive air movement. Cases aren't air-tight enclosures, so there will be air leakage.

    The main thing is to get air to move to the top of the case for exhaust by either the top blowhole or the power supply.

    Air movement within a stock LanBoy is nil. If I put my hand on the top of the case right now... it's hot enough I can't keep my hand on the top of the case.

    The main thing is to get air moving in the case. :)
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited December 2003
    DanG had this to say
    Simguy, you think the duct thing over the cpu will work well pulling from the back?

    Yep. I'll be ducting on both the inside and outside.

    Inside will run to a 90* elbow that will then mate up and completely encompass the top of the Vantec Aeroflow in there.

    Outside, there will be another duct attached to the outside that comes to a 90* elbow and then faces down, to draw cooler air from the lower-rear behind the case, somewhat eliminating the possibility of air recycling from the PSU through that back 92mm intake.

    Finally, if that doesn't work out (but I don't see a problem with it), I'll mount a high-CFM Panaflo 92mm U1A in that rear location and exhaust with it.
  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I'm thinking of the TT 80mm fan duct as it is a bit less than 90° and should blow the air clear through the fins.
    Ah the heck with it, for the $5 the duct costs, I'll just buy one and try it.
Sign In or Register to comment.