SN85G4V2 120mm Back Fan Mod [Pics]

[Randell Floyd]

Before I begin let me point out that I’m as much of a 'modder' as I am a gooseberry, so even an idiot would be able to complete what I have!
First things first, time to remove the hdd cage, fan shroud and the ICE cooler/cpu.

First of all a blurry pick of tools in use:


A nibbler and a normal pair of wire cutters


Now the Shuttle, most sane people would take the mobo out to isolate any problems, but I used to go round with a No Fear T-Shirt so as you can guess no such safety, a good plastic freezer bag and some gaffer tape and were ready for the off!




First of all you just have to use the wire cutters to just get enough of a hole to allow the nibbler to fit, then its a case of squeeze and repeat until you've gone all the way round. This half done only took around 5min, and you’re soon able to do it rather easily and quickly.



Once the grill is fully moved, I canned air to be safe of no small metal bits in the shuttle. Took time out to clean the CPU and reapply some AS5.
Time to fit it all back in.

Now it's time to fit the 80>120mm adapter.

This is the area I had the biggest problem as I had no screws that would get all the way to the fan shroud holes through the adapter, the ones that came with the shuttle are thumb ended and won’t fit. A quick drive down to B&Q for some 3.3mm screws with a larger length.
Fitted first go.
Now it's time to just add the fan, I choose a 3 pin with a 4 pin adapter for two reasons. First the 3pin will fit through a small hole ( top right corner of the sff there are two of them ) were as the 4 pin would have not. Then I choose not to use the 3pin on the actual mobo instead hook it up to a four pin adapter as there has been far too many people reporting the three pin being too much for the mobo.



Job done! All the back wires should all fit, the older sff are slightly pickier, and the only slight problem was the soundcard pin needed a very very small amount of force to slip in.

[Randell Floyd]

Job done and temps are far better!

Before: idle/full load

CPU: 43/48
Ambient: 42/48
GFX 60

After:

CPU: 37/42
Ambient: 30/32
GFX 57

What I would say is the 120mm is more of a sound reducing job than a big cooling mod, the grill removal was the major cause of the reduced temps as I tested before doing the 120mm mod.


All I have now to test is if the position of 80mm inside will make any difference, as it's currently still in the fan shroud. I have turned it off via Speedfan and it's not making any difference. I wonder if the removal of the fan will help, also if relocating to the outside of the shroud might be better.

Oh and a setup pic!

[menthel]

Got the same on my 45g. I also have 2 other fans in it. Slightly noisy but overclocks well. My mobile 2500+ reaches 2500mhz in it, but i keep it at 2400mhz for the safety margin.

[Apex]

I have one of these fitted to a 120mm > 80mm adapter

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=137426

works rather well.

Question, does the adapter fit to the fan shroud (What the old 92mm fan use to sit in) ?

ps i used a dremal to cut my grill out.

[Randell Floyd]

I have one of these fitted to a 120mm > 80mm adapter

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=137426

works rather well.

Question, does the adapter fit to the fan shroud (What the old 92mm fan use to sit in) ?

ps i used a dremal to cut my grill out.

The fans a 80mm inside, the V3 has the updated 92mm. Yes the adapter with the help of longer screws go straight in no problem.

[Firelord]

My housemate did this and had a huge difference (12c under load ) and ended up taking the 80mm out as it was grinding and noisy

[Apex]

The fans a 80mm inside, the V3 has the updated 92mm. Yes the adapter with the help of longer screws go straight in no problem.

So the V1's of the sn85 is 80mm ?

the v3 is 92mm ?

wonder if the 120mm adapter will fit the 92mm with out much modding.

[Randell Floyd]

V1 and V2 are 80mm ICE systems, and the V3 being the 92mm.

[Firelord]

I wonder why shuttle don't do this as standard tbh as it makes so much more sense. Not only does it make the CPU cooler but also a massive difference to the overall system temp

[Apex]

I wonder why shuttle don't do this as standard tbh as it makes so much more sense. Not only does it make the CPU cooler but also a massive difference to the overall system temp

Yeah i wonded that too.

[Ice On Fire]

This is great.
I have the exact same Shuttle and I've now decided I'll do this mod as well, one thing, did you keep the suron fan on as well as the 120mm fan?

cheer!

[ekundo]

Just taken the grill off my sn45g, its worked wonders, also reseated the cpu (properly this time, unlike my last attempt) and cleaned the heatsink. dropped about 10 degrees of my temp

[Ice On Fire]

That back grill removed does work well.

[Randell Floyd]

This is great.
I have the exact same Shuttle and I've now decided I'll do this mod as well, one thing, did you keep the suron fan on as well as the 120mm fan?

cheer!

I was going to test the fan inside in different positions, but with this new level of silence I took it out and it made a difference, even though it was a upgraded 23db fan, it still made noise with only a max 1oC better cooling when it was still in.

Now Im just about to test the Shuttle Mesh replacment cover and will report my finding.
Then I have some free 4" cathodes Im going to test out in there, pics will be supplied with that too

[ekundo]

what fan would people reccomend for me trying the 120mm conversion with? i have a noiseblocker S4 at the moment, was wondering if there was a point me trying this or if it wouldnt make much differance compaired to what i have already.

also is it worth getting gaskets/mounting rubbers if im doing the 120mm conversiony thing? do they make any differance?

[Tifosi]

Noiseblocker are the business for shuttles