Looking at new case fans for my frankenstein hybrid...

[amicuspro]

ok, probably an odd one as my machine is kinda hybrid... I am sporting a "solid" classic in a Coolermaster Cosmos 1000 (aka just the Cosmos). I've had it a while and just upgraded some of the 11yr old inards to a TUF X570 Pro, 16Gb Corsair low profile, Ryzen 5 3600 and for the moment at least have retained an old R7 360, 4 Hitachi HDDs, a DVD Writer and SanDisk SSD. The case came with 4 quiet 120mm 3-pin fans but the headers on the Asus mobo are 4-pin PWM and I'm thinking that I may as well change them while I'm at it. I don't really want to change the case. The PSU is a Corsair HX750i Platinum.

There are potential future upgrades but the intention is to retain the board for 7-10yrs again (last one was actually 11yrs old).

I'd like to retain low noise in the case (the original fans were c15db) and whilst I don't have (or need) RGB inside, I'd prefer a neutral looking fan. It's the one think turning me off a Noctua (if only the A12x25 was available as a Chroma and also cheaper). The 2 top fan locations support 140mm and the rear and floor are 120mm. There is apparently an optional HDD cooler but not sure it's worth investigating.

So 1 intake, 3 exhaust... Any thoughts? I've heard/read various arguments for neutral, positive and negative airflow. I want to balance cost (part of the reason for a hybrid approach) which is another thing against the Noctuas... Also been considering Arctic Bionix F140, be Quiet, Noctua Redux, Corsair ML Pro (ok, they are expensive). Thought of 2 140mm exhaust, 1x120mm exhaust and 1x120mm intake with reasonable static pressure (I have this thought in my head that it will cool the air as well as force it more towards the CPU...

I intend to make further tweaks to the setup (adding more USB 3 via 5.25 and I need to actually mount the SSD in something rather than it just "sitting" free in the bottom of the 5.25 cage.

Anyway, I'm sure I have a strange set up so feel free to comment away!

 

[bobbybluz]

I have that same case for the PC I'm on at the moment. It's been through several CPU/mobo combos since I bought it used off Craigslist for $20 almost 12 years ago. It's getting regutted again sometime this week. The best thing I did for cooling on it was replacing the stock side panels with 16 x 25 x 1 furnace filters. That lowered all internal temps drastically and for less than two dollars. There are cheap Delta fans on Ebay (120 x 120 x25mm) that range in price from $5-15 depending on the amount of airflow you want. They're double ball bearing server fans that last forever.

Sooner or later the side panel latches are going to fail and you'll discover the nightmare of getting the panels off. I went through that twice and switched to the furnace filters. That case is built like an anvil and weighs nearly as much as one. I've had AIO's in mine since I bought it and it's getting an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 mounted externally on top as part of the upcoming newest mods. I already have a 240mm Corsair H105 mounted externally on top but have to do some cutting with the Dremel to get the 280 in properly.

 

[toilet pepper]

Go with Arctic P series if you don't like RGB or you can't justify paying premium for a noctua Chromax fan.

 

[amicuspro]

So a bit of an update... I've been running it with the side off because I am so indecisive on the intake/exhaust balance. I have also bought a way (I think) of adding an additional 120mm intake across some of the drive bays. I'm going to replace the DVD drive with a drawer and add the extra USB 3 if there is space (less crucial now). I've also added an M.2 drive for Windows, moved programs to the SSD and currently have the 4 drives that I may leave in or look at removing to a secondary marchine depending on how much I hear them with the side back on. I have a quiet NAS box under the desk but the machine is currently on top though space is tight as it shares the top with 2x24" screens and an A3 AIO Printer. I'm also contemplating swapping the Ryzen 5 3600 for a Ryzen 5 5600G unless I can get an upgrade to the R7 360 for less than £120 (I can get a deal on the 5600G for £130 and maybe sell the 3600 OR transplant the 3600 into a new MicroATX for use in a HTPC... Choices choices... Oh and erring (as mentioned) to the Arctic P series though I'd love to justify at least a BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 or 4.

SSD still "hanging" on the side but will go in where the HDD are or mounted next to the new intake fan. Will have to post pics when done.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

If you switch the back fan to an intake, and mount a tower cooler backwards, you would probably get the best thermals that way. A 3:1 fan ratio isn't a great idea either way, especially for low-noise applications. A slight positive pressure can help with dust buildup, which is a plus when your case is difficult to open up.

 

[freeagent]

A 3:1 fan ratio isn't a great idea either way

FYI the case is huge.. I have a Stacker STC-T01 and it is about the same size. Huge.

I would consider looking at 120x38s too. They have a little more punch than regular 120s.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

FYI the case is huge.. I have a Stacker STC-T01 and it is about the same size. Huge.

The air balance would be about the same though, I would think. The air velocity on the intake will be very high, which leads to much noise.

 

[freeagent]

The air velocity on the intake will be very high, which leads to much noise.

You would get tired of motor noise rather than the sound of a mild breeze.

 

[Pictus]

Arctic P12 or P14 RGB/A-RGB 0dB(the ones with a ring around the helix.)
I don't care about RGB, but the ring makes them quiet, they don't resonate.

Noise difference in 06:30

But the king of 120mm is Phanteks T30-120.

 

[claes]

Why not go 3 in 1 out? It’s been a loooong time since I’ve worked with a cosmos, but it doesn’t seem like a good case for negative pressure looking at it now.

 

[Vario]

I had one of those cases, what worked was cutting a square hole intake in the front door and putting a 120mm fan in the 5.25 bays.

the 3x5.25 to 120mm adapter is from mountainmods.

For this build I ran all powerful fans, San Ace Denkyi 120x38mm 109R1212H1011. Its really not a great case but it definitely looks good for its era. Eventually I also added a 120mm fan on the side panel (by cutting the acrylic).

I am happy to have moved on. My Lian Li O11 Air Mini is better in every way.

 

[amicuspro]

How did you mount your fan? I had seen some kits but none still available. I'm looking at 2 in (1 underneath, 1 at the front in the drive bays) and 3 out (2 top that can be 140mm and 1 rear). I'm planning higher pressure intakes. I hadn't thought of adding a filtered hole to the door so that's something to consider. If this machine lasts me 5 or so years then I'll be likely getting a new (smaller) case for the next iteration (though I'll likely build a small HTPC anyway). I probably should have saved a few quid and gotten the B550 motherboard instead of the X570. Ah well. Could probably have added extra memory instead. Thanks for the replies - I like finding solutions to problems

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I'm planning higher pressure intakes.

Go for higher airflow optimized fans for the intake, and pressure for the exhaust.

 

[Vario]

How did you mount your fan? I had seen some kits but none still available. I'm looking at 2 in (1 underneath, 1 at the front in the drive bays) and 3 out (2 top that can be 140mm and 1 rear). I'm planning higher pressure intakes. I hadn't thought of adding a filtered hole to the door so that's something to consider. If this machine lasts me 5 or so years then I'll be likely getting a new (smaller) case for the next iteration (though I'll likely build a small HTPC anyway). I probably should have saved a few quid and gotten the B550 motherboard instead of the X570. Ah well. Could probably have added extra memory instead. Thanks for the replies - I like finding solutions to problems

I used a mountain mods adapter.

Mountain Mods ALU Triple 120 (Black Anodized) 5.25 baycover, Mountain Mods

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Mods-Triple-Anodized-baycover/dp/B00KJ0U5UG

 

[amicuspro]

I used a mountain mods adapter.

Mountain Mods ALU Triple 120 (Black Anodized) 5.25 baycover, Mountain Mods

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Mods-Triple-Anodized-baycover/dp/B00KJ0U5UG

Ah, not available anymore on Amazon (not in the UK at least) so I'll see if my alternative one works now I have the fans arriving this week.

I was thinking of swapping out the hard drives into an older, smaller case and using it with some flavour of alternative OS on it (Linux, Endless, other) as a test machine - I either need to swap my 5 3600 for a 5 5600G and move the R7 360 to the old machine or get around to buying a slightly better and newer graphics card (my only other old one is an old 1Gb I think).

Then I'm considering an Entertainment PC for the main living area - that will be based on a 5 5600G I think.

Oh and fans, I've ordered Silent Wings 3 and Arctic to see what they're like.