Silencing my case fans?

[StarTraveller]

Zip ties... The fun only really begins once the Dremel Multi is dragged out of its hiding place, hehe. :eek:

I have some very fond memories of chopping enclosures so they would fit the fan placement that I wanted!

... And I'm actually not much of a handyman either.

[wallijonn]

Originally Posted by Mariner

If it were technically possible I would probably do it. But I am not much of a "handyman" to mount a 120 mm fan in a place where a 80 mm or 2 x 80 mm fans are mounted.

I bought a Tupperware container which when cut on one side allowed me to install a 120mm fan in place of two vertical 80mm fans. You can go to a hobby shop and buy Balsa Wood pieces to form a box for the fan.You'll need a CDR coaster and a small scroll saw to make the 120mm hole. A hole on either verticle side should allow you to insert a tie wrap which can also go through a hole in the front of the case.

I prefer smoke / heat stacks (120mm fan mounted on the top of the case) to rear case fans. They just keep my machine cooler. Fans must be under 34 dB, preferabley under 30 dB. If I could I would mount a 10" DC fan on the side of the case, blowing in and a heatstack exhaust. But since that is not always possible, you may need to use 80mm to 120mm adapters.

[Mariner_abx]

Thx Mike,
I will look into that method. Do you think there is somewhere a kind of "transform bracket" which you can vasten in the holes of the 80 mm fans and onto which you can mount the 120 mm fan?
Would be nice such bracktes can be gotten somewhere. Anybody an idea?
mariner

[Mariner_abx]

Now things are getting really exciting. Fortunately I don't have a Dremel, much to afraid to ruin things in my house, let alone my pc casing.
No I wait for the inventor of my brackets.
mariner

[specmike]

I really like the idea of modding a tupperware bowl or similiar plastic casing. No big loss if you get it wrong the first time. I have never heard of any type of fan adapter for cases to adapt 120mm fans into 80mm holes. I don't think it would be feasible as cases are just too different and it would be hard to produce any type of generic design.

I always get my inspirations walking around the Home Depot. It's a huge home improvement store. You may have some luck at a similiar store or hardware store in the Netherlands.

Mike.

[wallijonn]

Originally Posted by specmike

I have never heard of any type of fan adapter for cases to adapt 120mm fans into 80mm holes.

http://www.google.com/search?q=80mm+...en-US:official

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1064/index02.asp (While it may be more restricted pushing aire onto a heatsink, I would think that a 120mm fan pulling aire into a case may be a different matter.)

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-tj06.htm (A nice case.)

http://www.frozencpu.com/scan/se=Fan...nu_search.html

http://www.frozencpu.com/fan-191.html 9 blade fan <30dB

[specmike]

Originally Posted by specmike

. I have never heard of any type of fan adapter for cases to adapt 120mm fans into 80mm holes.

I was not clear about what I meant. My point was that these adapters are not for adapting fans to cases. Virtually every case mount fans differently so a universal adapter to mount fans into cases would be hard to make.

However, if you bought 1 of these shrounds, it would probably make the job easier. But IMO, the zip ties work just as well and you have no need of using any adapter. I have quiet efficient airflow out of my cases with a single 120mm fan as opposed to 2 80mm fans. And, it took about 2 min and $.15 of zip ties to do it.

Mike.

[feddup]

I think such adapters are fairly common. I try to buy cases with 120mm holes. I'm sure they'de be somewhat restrictive and might not work in every "case". Here's a couple that I found pretty quickly.
http://www.jab-tech.com/80mm-to-120m...r-pr-1508.html
http://www.jab-tech.com/Okgear-80mm-...e-pr-3187.html
Jab-tech is pretty cool on shipping costs as well.

[DutchBBQ]

Following link helped me selecting quit fans:

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=16393

I've chosen myself the Nexus fans, manufactured in The Netherlands (http://www.nexustek.nl).

[XenoS_abx]

You won't be able to fit 120mm fans where the two 80mm intakes are, that's for sure. Not without some modding at least, and perhaps removing parts perhaps. However, the blow hole and rear exhaust might be able to handle an adapter such as has been mentioned. Adapters seem kind of expensive though for what you get, at least around here.

http://www.adpmods.com/case-modding/...Kit-p-375.html
http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merc...egory_Code=115

[Mariner_abx]

Xenos,
I think you are right about the front intake of the pc68. I will try the bach and upper outlets. Meanwhile I have ordered from overclockers.com 2 fan adapters. The where not expensive, araond € 4 each. But the transport costs from England to Holland is. About twice the costs of both fans.
I hope I can use them, otherwise all the costs will be for noting.
mariner

[Bofinn]

in case you didn't see this from the Funny Pictures thread:

[XenoS_abx]

Originally Posted by Mariner

Xenos,
I think you are right about the front intake of the pc68. I will try the bach and upper outlets. Meanwhile I have ordered from overclockers.com 2 fan adapters. The where not expensive, araond € 4 each. But the transport costs from England to Holland is. About twice the costs of both fans.
I hope I can use them, otherwise all the costs will be for noting.
mariner

Just remember I said that it "might" work. I was only guessing and haven't actually looked until just now. The power supply length may prevent you from using a 120mm fan for the blow hole. As for the rear it's hard to say. There are some metal bits that are part of the case which may be in the way. If the adapter is 27mm high then it will clear the part of the frame that forms the rear of the case. However it looks like the part of the frame that runs parallel with the power supply may get in the way, and possibly the supply itself even if you were to cut a notch out for the fan. Cutting a new 80mm hole in the rear might work better and be easier. However, you would probably be better off to either buy some quiet 80mm fans, or invest in a better case which was my original comment. Something you know will last you for a very long time and won't be obsolete any time soon. That was part of my decision when I got the Stacker 830 actually, to help justify the cost. I'm sure there are at least a few inexpensive cases out there that may serve your needs. The PC68 is no longer made by Lian-Li despite how nice it is, so that should tell you something right there unfortunately.

[Mariner_abx]

Thx Xenos,
I don't consider a new case an option for the time beiing. I see what you mean with the space for an 120 mm fan in the back. It will be very close if at all possible. The 80-120 adapters are on their way so I will wait for them and see if they will fit. Than I take it from there if there will be 120 mm fans or if I will stick to the new silent 80 mm fans. Of course it is a pity if the adabters won't fit, but maybe they will come usefull in another new case in the future.
mariner

[Azaro]

Cheak out if the installed fans support 5v voltage. If so, you can simply switch the connectors from 12v to 5 (red cable switch to the yellow position) That will lower the noise, at the expense of some airflow of course)