Author Topic: Case mod (Read 380 times)

boxboy28 · « **on:** April 29, 2003, 04:51:38 PM »

Yep im gonna do a case mod! I mean a real one the old fashion way with tin snipes and twist ties! j/k

I already have 2 fans in my case 1 in front pulling air in and one in back blowing air out but im gonna add an extra fan into my case.(yes and the CPU fan)

Now i have 2 questions
1st whats the best location for mex cooling ? side panel blowing onto CPU or top blowing air out?

2nd whats the best method for cutting out the sheet metal ?(ya there is no extra holes in my case its kinda old)

I got the fan and screws already but i dont want to start till i have what i need to cut out the metal and the position im gonna put it in set!

Box

Box

capt. apathy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2003, 05:20:07 PM »

I did a major mod on my last case (minor one on this one).
It worked very well.

I cut a 4 1/2" circle on the left rear side of the case (directly across from my cpu, vid card, and pci slots. then I attached a 12v fan w/ a transformer and separate switch on the desk top. I then pulled off an extra drive-bay cover to give it somewhere to exaust to.

it kept everything nice and cool, even my old voodoo3 stopped overheating.

plus I was flying RB 3D at the time so I had the added realizm feature of a 'propwash effect' coming out the front of the box (almost bad enough to require goggles)

I just marked and drilled holes for the mounting bolts, and after laying-out the circle in the case I just cut a hole with a 1" hole-saw, then cut the circle out with tin-snips.

btw- get a sheet of that high-density packing foam (the stuff thats about 1/16 - 3/32 thick) and make a gasket to go between the fan and the case, it makes a huge difference on noise, without it the case just works like a amplifier for the fan noise

capt. apathy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2003, 05:43:24 PM »

I found the old case in the basement and took a couple pics

here's a look at the outside

and here's what the inside of the case looks like

Reschke · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2003, 05:52:07 PM »

Use a Dremel tool if you have one. BUT make sure its not a cordless one; even though that one will work you will kill the battery a couple of times before you finish it completely. Just make sure you have it marked out and you know where everything will fit and you know nothing will be in the way. Like capt.apathy mentioned foam does wonders for reducing the noise of the fans in the case. I put some around an old 120mm case fan I stuck in the top of the case to remove air and it dropped the sound to a very low rumble instead of the sound like a harley sitting beside my desk.

If you have the power why not run one blowing onto the CPU and another pulling air out of the top? That way the inside of the case will be cooler than anything else. I have my system now sitting about 2 feet away from an air conditioner vent. I can't wait to see if the fans pull in the cooler air. I have 1 80mm pulling in the front, 1 80mm behind CPU pulling out, 1 "snail" fan above video card pulling heat off the back of that, Volcano 6Cu+ HSF and the old 120mm pulling air out in front of the power supply in top. Also have one small blower fan running underneath my HD and the fan in the power supply.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2003, 06:08:42 PM »

on my new case I have a 3" flexible hose running from a window A/C unit directly into the case.

it has a fan mounted where the hose goes into the case, then another 12-14" of hose after the fan.

I run the A/C unit on 'Fan' setting in the winter and A/C in the summer. it keeps everything cool, plus it filters the air before it goes into your case, cuts way down on the dust build up

boxboy28 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2003, 07:12:32 PM »

Capt apathy thats my idea exactly (the first one that is) i just need to cut the hole and screw the fan to the case but mine will be directly above the CPU blowing in on it! But my fan will be inside the case and i have a thin filter for it!

Well my case metal is a little thicker looking than yours but i think tin snips will work if i can find acces to a pair easily.

Box

capt. apathy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2003, 07:35:40 PM »

my total conversion cost (fan, transformer, switch, bolts, and tin-snips was under $20)

we have this great salvage store here where I got the 4 1/2" fan for $1.50 (it was originaly part of a bank of 4 fans in an old mainframe frome the 70's) the snips where the spendiest part ($13) make sure you get the right snips too. there are ones for cutting straight lines, clockwise curves, and counterclockwise curves. straight ones would really suck

boxboy28 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2003, 08:28:25 PM »

LOL i appreiciate all your help but ITS DONE! i had to check out what the roomate had!
I used a 1/2 to 3/4 inch drill bit to start a pilot hole then used a jigsaw witha metal blade to cut the circle!
Now i went the easy way and screwed the fan inside the case with the filter on the out side ill get my cam fired up tomorrow and post sum pix! time spent 30 min parts 15$ usd
i used a used fan 5$ fan cover with filter 5$ (not nessicary) metal blade for jig saw 3.50$ screw from PC store 1.50$

nice and cool even looks good!

box

boxboy28 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2003, 10:15:59 AM »

I was gonna post pix but i forgot that you cant "post em" here anymore some one got a place i can send em and get it linked?