Here's an easy way to cut down fan noise.

[sleepypost]

The noise from my heatsink fan was unbearable. It was on par with a small vacuum in terms of dB. I finally decided to do something about it. I just simply removed the finger-protection grill and it cut the noise in half.

I did this to all of my case fans and it is running much much quieter. Why do they even make finger-protectors? Well more likely to keep wires from getting caught in the fan than fingers. But, you should have all wires tied back regardless, right? :) An easy solution.

[avx]

Originally posted by sleepypost
Why do they even make finger-protectors?
Youve been here just as long as I have, youve read the posts...You know why they put finger guards on...for "those" people;):D

[David14259]

heh, ok, I admit I got a finger stuck in a case fan.....I had accidently put it in backwards so it was blowing the wrong way, so I disconnected it (while it was still running) and turned it around and as I was pushing it back in.... ouch. :)

[erucader]

How exactly would I remove this protector on an ordinary case fan? I have one that's so loud its just driving me nuts!

[avx]

if its really bad, you might just need a spray of wd-40

[Cricket]

Originally posted by erucader
How exactly would I remove this protector on an ordinary case fan? I have one that's so loud its just driving me nuts! Do you mean the chrome fan guard that screws to the fan body or are you talking about the chassis fan port with the perforations? If you're talking about the perforations, you can remove this area from the chassis with a Dremel Tool or jigsaw.

:) Cricket

[erucader]

not sure ... the finger protection grill that sleepypost is talking about.

[Cricket]

sleepypost is talking about the guard on the heatsink fan...most are just screwed on, but on the P4 it's molded into the fan retention mechanism so you can't really do anything about it.

:) Cricket

[homer15]

if my fans had still had their finger gaurds, people wouldn't call me nubby. remember that, youngins! ;):D

[erucader]

Originally posted by sleepypost
I did this to all of my case fans ...

What about this part?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by sleepypost
I did this to all of my case fansOriginally posted by erucader
What about this part? For the case fans, I use a Dremel tool to cut away the perforated fan port area so that there's only one big round hole.

:) Cricket

[grasshopperbe]

i have an aopen hq08 case and i am planning on cutting out the perforated parts, since they hold up waay to much air, esp in the back.
do i need to take out all my parts(mobo, hd's, ...) or can i just cover the back of the hole while cutting ? id hate having to take everything out of that case again, i think id rather buy me a new one if everything has to come out anyway.
(ive been looking at those old chieftec da01-w cases, and they seem to have quite some advantages over my current case (placement, rails, side door panel, 80mm fan holes instead of 60mm in the down rear)

any advice on if i do the cutting on my current case is very welcome, i haven't done anything like this before
(im going to buy a dremel if i do it)

[Force Flow]

heh, I've put a good slice or two in my fingers from unguarded case fans :p

If you really need a guard, try wire grill ;)

[erucader]

um, I'm sure you can think of possible consequences of cutting a case with your components inside :eek:

[grasshopperbe]

so cutting out with a dremel is an absulote no no (with the parts still in) .
thanks for the help Erucader. im going to look for an other solution then . (hmm think ill just get me that chieftec than, if everything has to be taken out anyways.)

btw, what if i did it with hand tools( small iron saw like from hobbyists shops) would that do or would the mini-parts of iron coming loose still be to dangerous)

[Force Flow]

It would be best to take all of you components out of the case and in a different room. Then, it would be save to start cutting the case. Metal shavings dropped on the right spots on hardware will play havoc with it ;)

[erucader]

As long as you clean up any shavings before reinstalling the components there shouldn't be a problem :)

[FLG]

Why not take a cup or something similar put it on the inside and twist tie it to where the fan rscrews would go put it real tight and dremel it from the outside all the shavings would either go on the ouside of case or in the cup hen carefully remove teh cup and you done. But if you would like to take the extra precaution and remove the components that would be the best way to go.