Cooling Help

[Johnny5]

I live in Florida and its hot. Around 26c ambient temp. My new computer is going to be placed between a desk and a wall without much space in the back or on the sides. My case only fits 80mm fans in all the slots(Alienware case). What do you recommend I do to make sure my new build gets the best circulation and cooling?

 

[intel igent]

make shure youre using quality fans, cut the restrictive fan grills out and place your fans properly so they flow together put them on a controller if you want to keep noise down while idling

 

[Mediocre]

^^What he said^^ for the back fans. Its just not possible to cut the front grills out (maybe the bottom if you can get in there). My gen2 case is like rivetted. I've had it empty, can't find a way to get either the front or the top off.
Also, I carefully ripped off the mesh from the inside (take side covers off and cut mesh outta the front and side intakes). You can leave it, its a nice detail, you just have to clean it.

TBH I went to liquid cooling because of the restrictions of the alienware case. Its a real bummer.


Anyway before LC, I used 2x80 stacked in the front to bring air in, the 1x80 in the side to bring air into the video card, and the 2x80 on the back to blow out. This works especially good if your PSU has 2 fans blowing out as well.

If you're good with a drill, the first think I'd do is cut a 92mm or 120mm fan hole in the top and mount one there, blowing out. You'd have to tape the plastic off, and I think their is a thin metal plate below the plastic.

 

[Johnny5]

Mediocre, do you have pictures of the top of the computer? I have the 2gen case also..

did you cut out the back grill for the fans? Also did you replace the stock fans alienware installed?

what fans do you suggest?

 

[intel igent]

for max efficiency i would remove all factory fan grills (meaning the holes they've stamped in the case -front,sides,top,rear wherever) i personally would suggest some panaflo medium speeds and put them on a controller.

fans are pretty much a preference thing, you like cool? or quiet? or you like both? all things to consider. when looking at fans look at the cfm/Db (flow/noise) find one that suits your needs. remember you can always get a high speed fan and put it on a fan control to keep it quiet when not required then raise the volts for max flow. also watch for off brand or uncommon fan companies as they tend to not be as accurate with their readings.

 

[Johnny5]

These are the fans I was going to get:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007

but do these seem overkill?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999612

any recommendation?

 

[TUngsten]

If you want great fans w/ low noise, go with SilenX

Expensive, but as the maxim goes: you get what you pay for

 

[intel igent]

If you want great fans w/ low noise, go with SilenX

Expensive, but as the maxim goes: you get what you pay for

silen X is overrated and overpriced. theyve been known to falsify their noise ratings.

tornados are crazy fans and i wouldnt reccomend using it WITHOUT a fan controller. this however is probably THE best 80mm fan when used with a controller. oh the controller will have to be a good one (zalman zmfc-1) cuz those things are power hungry and theres been reports of them burning up cheap controllers.

not to shure about the masscools; i try to use things that are known to be good, for the price though?!?!?!?!

i will resuggest the panaflo's.

sunons are good and vantecs as well.

my theory is its better to have more and turn it down than it is to have less and spend more.

can you post a pic of how the cooling layout is in your case

 

[sirrep74]

put a sheild behind the psu fan to detour the exaust so it dont get sucked back into the case also try adding a vga cooler i added one and it dropped my rig from 43-39 thata on low

granted they are a little noise on hi but i really dont run it much on high

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[sirrep74]

cooling extras

put a sheild behind the psu fan to detour the exaust so it dont get sucked back into the case also try adding a vga cooler i added one and it dropped my rig from 43-39 thata on low

granted they are a little noise on hi but i really dont run it much on high

 

[intel igent]

y dbl post?

 

[Johnny5]

here are a few pictures of the case..

 

[intel igent]

basically the exact same layout inside as my antec plusview (minus minor differences)

how do you feel about modding? ive got a 120 in the front where the two 80's and a 120 in the rear where the two 80's used to be (i did all this before it became standard on these style cases) i performed the mods to accomodate my W/C.

not up for modding? put two 80's in the front there as intakes and the two in the rear as exhausts. does your side panel have a fan mount? if so that should be intake as well.

IIRC your drive cages have fan holders as well? you can also use those as intakes if you so chose.

 

[Johnny5]

Both sides have fans but the one on the right side is covered by the motherboard plate. For some reason the motherboard sits on an installed plate rather then the chassis(cable management?). The top inside intake fan is covered by the hard drive bay and it blows across the HD's. Im up for modding, im thinking about adding a 120mm fan on the top.

 

[intel igent]

would be nice if i had a camera id post some pics up for ya, but i dont sorry

like i said ive got a 120 in the front and rear.

i only have 1 drive cage, i had to remove the lower one to make room for my chevette H/C the upper one does still use the fan to draw air in.

i also did a window/fan mod on the top (plexiglass was here and so was the 92mm fan so it cost me my time)

i will be removing the whole top piece to make room for my mcr-220 prolly just the fans will be protruding through the top when im done. no window tho this time all steel.