- Joined
- Jan 12, 2001
- Location
- Kansas, USA
There are lots of threads and articles about case modification to improve air flow. Most of the experienced overclockers already know how to improve case ventilation. Others might of heard about it, but would like to know more. Well, I had a request to post some pics of my most recent project, so we go...
I'm selling my trusty Antec case, so I bought a new cheapie Apex Supercase as a replacement. The case is a beige steel ATX case that is rather plain looking, but I sort of liked the looks of the front face. Besides the low price, the bonus selling point was that it already had a side duct. They also have this same model in black.
The mods that I did can be done to any case (just do this to an empty case or else metal shavings will ruin your computer components). The side cooling duct on this case was passive, meaning it does not have a fan. So, it depends on the CPU fan to suck fresh ourside air into the duct. However, I installed a fan onto the inner side of the side panel and then attached the duct onto the fan to make an active cooling duct. The duct mounted onto an 80mm fan perfectly with no mods required.
Since most cases do not have a side duct, you can make your own by going to the link in my signature and follow the instructions starting on page 3 (you don't have to own a Prescott system to take advantage of a side cooling duct). Here is a pic after I cut out the perforation in the side panel (I used a saber saw to cut the hole out and then touched up the rough edges with a half round metal file). You can see the fan and duct assembled and ready to install.
While I was playing toolman, I went to work on the front and rear perforated fan openings too. Unless you open them up, you will lose half or more of your potential air flow. The fan will work harder trying to push air through those tiny perforations and the fan will be noisier.
Here is a before pic of the back fan opening of the case.
Here is what it looks like after I cut the opening out with a saber saw (dremel tool will work too or even tin snips/nibbler). Again, I filed the rough edges down with my handy dandy Sears Craftsman half rounded metal file with handle. I also used a little sand paper to make it smooth as a baby's butt. Looks professionally done if I must say so myself.
Ok, I now have free flowing front and rear fan openings and a side blowhole with fan and duct. Front fan and side fan are intakes and rear fan is an exhaust. Looks like I need another exhaust fan. I never count the power supply fan(s) when figuring case ventilation. Since hot air rises, a top blowhole seems logical.
Measure twice and cut once is my motto. I marked a 3" circle in the top of the case, making sure it cleared the top 5.25" drive bay and power supply area. Had to drill a hole big enough to start the saber saw. The yellow stuff on the top of the case in the last pic is duct tape. You can use masking tape or whatever. This is done to protect the case surface from getting scratched from the saber saw.
Once the hole is cut, then use a file and sandpaper to smooth out the edge. Next, carefully measure and mark the fan mounting holes. Drill the holes, mount a fan and grille if you want. Tada! Here is what mine looks like when it was finished. I installed a cool blue LED 80mm fan and fancy Batman laser cut fan grille.
Make sure you clean out all the metal shavings/filings from the inside of the case when you are done. Also, do all this work outside or in the garage or basement workshop. Personal experience has taught me that wives, girlfriends, mothers, etc. frown on making a mess in the livingroom.
Hopefully this will give folks an idea of what can be done to improve case ventilation. These mods can be done by the average guy or gal. If you don't have the tools, beg or borrow them from a friend or family member. Bigger is sometimes better. I used 80mm fans, but you can make 120mm blowholes if you want. A second side blowhole could be made to cool the vid card. A blowhole can be cut in the other side panel to cool the back of the mobo. You are only limited by your imagination.
Might as well show one final pic of the case back panel. My Antec True 550w power supply has a gold colored fan grill, so I dug around in my parts box and found another 80mm grill that was gold colored too. Pretty sweet.
Now let's go mod those cases and get some air flowing.
I'm selling my trusty Antec case, so I bought a new cheapie Apex Supercase as a replacement. The case is a beige steel ATX case that is rather plain looking, but I sort of liked the looks of the front face. Besides the low price, the bonus selling point was that it already had a side duct. They also have this same model in black.
The mods that I did can be done to any case (just do this to an empty case or else metal shavings will ruin your computer components). The side cooling duct on this case was passive, meaning it does not have a fan. So, it depends on the CPU fan to suck fresh ourside air into the duct. However, I installed a fan onto the inner side of the side panel and then attached the duct onto the fan to make an active cooling duct. The duct mounted onto an 80mm fan perfectly with no mods required.
Since most cases do not have a side duct, you can make your own by going to the link in my signature and follow the instructions starting on page 3 (you don't have to own a Prescott system to take advantage of a side cooling duct). Here is a pic after I cut out the perforation in the side panel (I used a saber saw to cut the hole out and then touched up the rough edges with a half round metal file). You can see the fan and duct assembled and ready to install.
While I was playing toolman, I went to work on the front and rear perforated fan openings too. Unless you open them up, you will lose half or more of your potential air flow. The fan will work harder trying to push air through those tiny perforations and the fan will be noisier.
Here is a before pic of the back fan opening of the case.
Here is what it looks like after I cut the opening out with a saber saw (dremel tool will work too or even tin snips/nibbler). Again, I filed the rough edges down with my handy dandy Sears Craftsman half rounded metal file with handle. I also used a little sand paper to make it smooth as a baby's butt. Looks professionally done if I must say so myself.
Ok, I now have free flowing front and rear fan openings and a side blowhole with fan and duct. Front fan and side fan are intakes and rear fan is an exhaust. Looks like I need another exhaust fan. I never count the power supply fan(s) when figuring case ventilation. Since hot air rises, a top blowhole seems logical.
Measure twice and cut once is my motto. I marked a 3" circle in the top of the case, making sure it cleared the top 5.25" drive bay and power supply area. Had to drill a hole big enough to start the saber saw. The yellow stuff on the top of the case in the last pic is duct tape. You can use masking tape or whatever. This is done to protect the case surface from getting scratched from the saber saw.
Once the hole is cut, then use a file and sandpaper to smooth out the edge. Next, carefully measure and mark the fan mounting holes. Drill the holes, mount a fan and grille if you want. Tada! Here is what mine looks like when it was finished. I installed a cool blue LED 80mm fan and fancy Batman laser cut fan grille.
Make sure you clean out all the metal shavings/filings from the inside of the case when you are done. Also, do all this work outside or in the garage or basement workshop. Personal experience has taught me that wives, girlfriends, mothers, etc. frown on making a mess in the livingroom.
Hopefully this will give folks an idea of what can be done to improve case ventilation. These mods can be done by the average guy or gal. If you don't have the tools, beg or borrow them from a friend or family member. Bigger is sometimes better. I used 80mm fans, but you can make 120mm blowholes if you want. A second side blowhole could be made to cool the vid card. A blowhole can be cut in the other side panel to cool the back of the mobo. You are only limited by your imagination.
Might as well show one final pic of the case back panel. My Antec True 550w power supply has a gold colored fan grill, so I dug around in my parts box and found another 80mm grill that was gold colored too. Pretty sweet.
Now let's go mod those cases and get some air flowing.
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