Cpu Fan Mod

[bluephi1914]

I was in a local computer store and they advised me that to see a difference in cpu cooling i should MOD the case by:

1. Get some flexable tubbing w/ 2 1/2 inch radius (silverdollar)
2. Cut a hole that size in your case
3. Run the tube from the hole that you cut to the CPU fan... he says that the tubbing should be the same diameter as the circular portion of your cpu fan so there would be minimum leakage when the fan begins to suck air from the tube.



He reasoning was: The CPU fan blows down on the heat sink and usually suck hot air from in the case... this way the fan would suck cool air from outside the case and blow directly down on the Heat sinks and Chips.


Does anyone have experience with this, or is this guy smoking drugs?

[Nimrod]

What he is saying is true but there is one thing to take into account.

When a company designs a case they generally take air flow into account. By cutting a hole in the side of your case and then using ducting to draw cooler air over the CPU you be changing the natural flow of air through the case.

Therefore while your CPU may become cooler, the rest of your components may well warm up !

[bluephi1914]

ok, i understand that the natural air flow would be desurbed, but that would only be if the hole in the case leaked right ??

or would the affect come from the cpu fan being taken out of the equation?

[Gr44]

It's a good idea, but i think you could find a better way to cool your CPU down, unless you want to go extreme - just get a bigger heatsink/fan - or get a 60mm > 80mm adaptor for a bigger fan. 80 > 92/120 etc - i wouldnt do this unless YOU want to, not because some fool told you to - get ya self a new hsf

[Dr. X]

Originally posted by bluephi1914
ok, i understand that the natural air flow would be desurbed, but that would only be if the hole in the case leaked right ??

or would the affect come from the cpu fan being taken out of the equation?

No. The general airflow pattern in the case if from the bottom front to the top rear. Sticking a big tube in the way will obstruct this airflow.

[bluephi1914]

so what your telling me is get a better CPU cooler and ditch this tube idea... i currently have a retial amd 2500 chip and i was using the fan that it came with... i was going to get another fan that had a all copper base.. which do you all recomend...?

[luke313]

For a decent heatsink and fan that is cheap, I would go for the T/Take Volcano 11, or even the older version the Volcano 9. The CM Xdream could also be used, though it is a bit louder. All of these price in at ~£15.

[Gr44]

depends how cool you want it to be - could get a new slk-947 or whatever it is, but itll cost ~40-50 quid + a fan.

but seems abit extreme to cut a hole in yer case and put pipe in in it, if you get a new cooler and still want to lower it abit, then think about it - but :/ decent cooler with decent thermal paste will lower your temps alot more than the pipe thing and a stock cooler! - assuming your case temps arent crazy, Good luck

[bluephi1914]

Nah, my case temps show 29 degrees... and currently my cpu is @ 57 degrees... i want to get down to about 42 degrees... if thats possible ??? i will look at something with an all copper base? Something like the Evercool CUD-725 Copper Cooler or the Volcano 7+

[Jonny M]

That's the kind of arrangement I had with my Micro-ATX box:

[Nox]

try tidying up the cables in the case as much as possible too - can help airflow a lot, especially if its really messy in there.

Nox

[p0lish]

I added two 120MM Panaflo Fans on the side of my Case. My temp for the system in my sig was 37 degrees idle 47under full load. I already had TT Volcano 7+ as my cooler. Adding those fans on the side reduced the temp by 4/5 degrees respectively.
The fans blow in the cold air from teh outside of the case and the fans in the back pull teh hot air out.

I know, from experience that a DUCT mod is a very efficient way to bring the temperatures down by a few degrees. I suggest you connect it to a 120 or 80mm fan on the side of the case.

[daniel_owen_uk]

Depends on how much you want to spend, the SLK range is awesome (but expensive).