Help with my cooling project
I am building a W/C system in a new case, see this thread and this thread. I am now re-thinking about the airflow etc. I may consider the traditional plan of mounting the radiator in the lower front and hog out the case to acomodate it. I have concerns about the front panel and really don't want to mess up my new $150.00 (not incl PSU) case. There is the front of the case itself which is no problem but there is also a front panel with aluminum under Lexan (1/4" from the front of the case itself) with holes in it (I would plan on making enough new holes in the same pattern to accomodate the area of the radiator. The front panel is only 1/4" from the actual front of the case and will not allow enough air through the bottom as the sides are flush with the front panel. Will the added holes be enough??? I also plan on keeping the 80mm fan above the place I am considering placing the radiator (measured and it will fit!) for some fresh air into the case and using the existing (1) 120mm and (2) 80mm fans for exhaust.
pic 1 shows the actual case front and where I will cut for the rad.
pic 2 (left) shows the front panel and about where I will extend the holes.
pic 3 (right) shows the clearance between the front of the case and the front panel.
pic 1 shows the actual case front and where I will cut for the rad.
pic 2 (left) shows the front panel and about where I will extend the holes.
pic 3 (right) shows the clearance between the front of the case and the front panel.
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Comments
Saves you from tearing up your nice case!
As far as front panel goes, 1/4" isn't going to cut it. I have an intake like that on my IBM PC300GL (3/4"), and it's barely sufficient for a single 80mm fan's throughput. Adding holes will help but I've got another machine whose front panel is pinhole-riddled and it gets poor airflow that way (air is a fluid, it sticks to surfaces). You're going to need slots (1/4-3/8 x 1" in a pattern) or large holes (1/2" dia) to get decent airflow. If you go for the holes, use a drill press if possible so it doesn't look like the mad hand job it is. A router with a home-made jig and clamp might work for slots.
BTW, if you're mounting the radiator there, where's the PC speaker going to go?
-drasnor
What am I missing here?
Gnome
I really don't have the space for a separate box but it has crossed my mind!
Here is the radiator I will be using.
I think I noticed that there is a bottom intake under the bezel area. Why not make a cowling out of sheet metal for the rad. The cowling would go sides and top of the rad so air would come up through the front bezel intake and be directed into the rad. No warm case air would be sucked into the rad from inside the case.
It's that or tuck it up over the PSU...if room.
As to bringing in warm air, the air that has passed thru the rad is only very moderately increased in temp and is still valuable as cooling air to the box, imho.
drasnor
Bigger case??? This case is 20"(H) x 8.6"(W) x 19.0"(D) (bigger than the 1030 series Antec cases). As for modding a $150.00 case, that is part of my dilema. I would find a spot for the speaker.
muddocktor
I take it it isn't as bad as I thought to use the air from inside the case to cool. Especially if I manage to keep a good airflow moving through the case so it never gets much if any warmer than the ambient room temp. What you suggested for radiator location was my original plan and after getting my case stripped down further I realized I could mount the rad in the front but was uncertain about restriction.
csimon
The one I already sent back is 6"W x 7"H X 2"Thick. It is
this radiator.
MediaMan
You are correct in that the radiator will fit between the sides of the case, I was planning on drilling holes and there is an intake under the bezel area. The gap between the bezel and case is only 1/4" and I was considering making more holes to match the ones already there but now having second thoughts and not sure it would be adequite enough. As to the area above the PSU, there is no where enough room for my radiator and it is higher than I want to put it as I am trying to keep my loop within 1 foot high (not counting the resivoir.
keto
I would consider what you outlined if not for the Lexan on the face. I do like your idea if my case was just aluminum on the front. Couldn't I potentially keep things cooler by using the case air to cool, especially with the 2 80mm fans above the PSU?
That would eliminate hot air in case problem.
ADDED: One more Idea-- take some sticky back black closed cell foam and stick on outside of duct, then if you put a side window in you end up with the duct hidden, or paint the duct dull black on outside.
John.