Need help cooling my PC

[SirDrums]

(I think this issue belongs here)

Just finished upgrading my PC. Runs great so far. Just a little problem. The case is about 5 years old. Its a wonderful case, super tower, plenty of room. Just doesn't have many places for fans. Besides the PSU the only other place for fans is two pre cut/drilled locations side by side right above the PSU. No front/top/side place for fans. The two previous builds I have had in this case didn't need any additional fans in the case at all. This one is a different story.

After running the PC for about 3 hours yesterday I placed my had on the side of the case and it felt warm. Heck the air around the PC was a degree or two higher than the rest of the room. So I ended up putting an old fan near the rear of the pc to try and help place some cooler air back there.

So I need fans. Most definitely. I have been doing some research and have learned that there are two different size fans people use (80mm and 120mm right?) I have no idea which size the pre cuts on the back of the case are. Is there a standard size for the rear of the case?

Anyway, I was thinking about getting two fans for the precuts but I was wondering about what I call 'slot fans'. I have seen them down near the vid car and I have seen one in a spare bay near the CD ROMs at the front of the case. Would these help? I am concerned that if I place a fan in the Bay that the fans at the rear of the PC will pull the air it brings in straight thru the back before it can go down to where the Processor is.

Another option is to cut a new spot for a fan on the side panel of the case.

Any suggestions?

[GSXdan]

If I were you I would cut an opening on the front of the case to fit a 80/120mm fan, and if you have room, a 120mm fan in the rear would be best, as they move more air.

Also, put some 80mm fans in the pre-drilled places provided by the case. You can never have too many fans :)

[SirDrums]

ok, so you think the rear fans are 80mm?? I guess it makes sense since they are side by side. 120's are probally to wide for that eh?

I would like to cut a hole in the front but there is a plastic cover that goes over the front and I do not want to cut that since it would look really bad....

hmmmm... now that I think about it. There seems to be a slot right under the speaker on the front of the case... perhaps you can put a fan there? Never gave it much thought since there are no holes for screws and the plastic covers it... I need to look at that when I got home this afternoon.

[Cricket]

You can never have too many fans :)No, you can have too many fans in your case. If you just install fans all over the place you'll end up with lots of turbulence and really screwed up air flow. Better to really plan out the air flow through the case and install fans only where you need them.ok, so you think the rear fans are 80mm?? I guess it makes sense since they are side by side. 120's are probally to wide for that eh?Yes, they're probably 80mm fans (standard case fan size). I've never seen a 120mm fan port on the side of a stock case.I would like to cut a hole in the front but there is a plastic cover that goes over the front and I do not want to cut that since it would look really bad....Don't worry about the plastic face plate, there is probably a hole on the bottom to allow air to enter from.hmmmm... now that I think about it. There seems to be a slot right under the speaker on the front of the case... perhaps you can put a fan there? Never gave it much thought since there are no holes for screws and the plastic covers it... I need to look at that when I got home this afternoon.If there is a fan port available on the front of the chassis you can install a fan there if you want to. Sometimes it's just 4 bolt holes and sometimes there is a plastic fan holder you can use.

:) Cricket

[BIG jay]

you could also look at hdd cooling fans and pci exhaust fans, oh and you can also get psu's with two fans, but remember the more stuff you put in, the more power you will need, i have 11 fans in total, its a bit loud but i dont care, just turn the music up higher............. :D

[SirDrums]

accidently posted this in another thread last week. Just pasting it here:


UPDATE:

I went to my local CompUSA last night to pick up some 80mm fans. I ended up buying 2 antec fans (they didn't have a big selection).

When I opened up my case and looked at the front I was very happy to see that there is indeed a place for a fan!! Its a plastic housing that clips on to the inside of the case. It also covers the PC speaker (which is why I never gave it much thought in the past) The housing has clips in it that grab the fan and hold it in place. The fan fit in there perfectly.

Cricket, you were right about the face plate. There was a place on the bottom for air.

Any after hooking up the power to the fans and then hooking the fans to the MOBO and enabling the cool and quiet setting in BIOS. I powered it up and let it run for a few hours and played some Rome: Total War. I then placed my hand on the case and am pleased to say it was not warm like two days ago. I did not have the old fan on either. The air around the case was not as warm either.

I would like to thank all of you who have given me advice and those you maintain this forum. The help and research that I have received here has been invaluable.

Thanks!

p.s. If I can remember to take my camera home. I will post some pics of my new set up.