Third party fan grills or the default ones?

[ehhhhhhh]

Hi All,

I would like to ask your opinion on the following cooling related subject.

I have read on many forums that lots of people cut the factory default fan grills (picture below) and replace it with a third party grill for getting weaker air resistance and lower noise.



I have cut the grills for the 2 front fans (these are completely hidden behind the dust filter so no grills needed)


So what do you think, would it make sense to get rid of the default grills on the back and top? The case is an antec 300.

thanks

[kalniel]

Makes no sense to me - a hexagonal grill pattern like that would not create enough resistance to cause any problems at computer fan speeds I'd have thought.

[ehhhhhhh]

thanks.

well, I might just get a passive cooler for the GPU (which is the noisiest thing in my rig) and replace the stock CM V8 fan with an other scythe s-flex.

I would like to make this pc as quiet as possible without using any liquid cooling, (I am almost there :-)

I was thinking of buying these, as one of my friends uses them and these completely silent the HDs and it makes them around 5C cooler than in the case:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Scyth...HDD-on-525-bay

[Queelis]

Yup, I've read on SPCR forums that people do that, cutting out the grills and claiming that it reduces noise. Haven't tried myself, since my CPU HSF is stock, so whines at 3k RPM, saw it climb to 3700(!) RPM after some gaming. Horrible.

[lego batman]

Might get more mileage out of suspending/rubber-grommeting the big 140mm fan - that top panel is really prone to vibration. What fan is it by the way? Is it any good? I'm looking for a quieter alternative to the tricool on top.

[ehhhhhhh]

I have changed the top one for a Fractal Design silent series 140mm (9dB / 600RPM / 40CFM) which does not make any sound whatsoever (highly recommended) and put 2 Scythe S-Flex fans to the front, 800RPM / 33CFM / 8.7dB, and again a same Scythe on the rear.

I found these to be the best options

The MB temps dropped to 27C from 33C and the noise of the antec fans have been eliminated.

the top fan is seated on a sound-proofing layer (rubber sheet approx 0.3mm, I got it from a DIY store, I have coated the side-panels as well)

The improvement in sound levels well worth the effort and the money spent. (4 fans, ~£40, rubber sheet 80p)

Now the computer makes a minimal noise, which is barely audible, and as I have checked, it comes from the video card....so that will be the next target