Antec Super Lanboy mod questions...

[Poosnarf]

The 1200rpm fans that came with the Super Lanboy seem a little weak, so I'd like to replace them with 120mm white LED Cooler Master fans. I'm also doing some medium overclocking, so I've considered hole-sawing two extra holes for 120mm fans into the case window. Is this overkill for a 3.0C at 3.75GHz (250 FSB) and a 6800GT at Ultra speed? There's only one 7200rpm HD, one floppy drive, and one optical drive creating heat besides those.

I installed the rear fan with the rubber grommets that came with the case, but then I took the fan and the grommets out. Problem is, I snipped off the ends before I realized none of the screws that came with the case seemingly fit the holes that the rubber grommets were in. Does anyone who's used a Super Lanboy know what kind of screws would be best for attaching a 120mm fan to the rear fan grill without using the provided grommets? I don't have any screws that fit both the fan and the screw holes in the case firmly.

 

[BLsibub666]

i think the two 120s in the window are over kill, and will take up the entire window, two 80s should give you the extra air you need, especialy since your putting in two stronger fans where the stock fans where.

standerd fan screws should do the trick (i did the same thing, use the rubber bits, then wanted to change something around, so i just used some stock screws either ones i had from other fans, or ones from the order of like 100 i made two years ago) you may end up making the holes a little bigger when you put the screws in, you may want to put the screw into the fan outside the case to make a bit of a piolet hole but you dont have to.

if you only have one optical drive and its gonna say like that, you can make a blow hole above the 5.25 bays.

good luck and happy modding (if you realy need some screws let me know i can part with a couple if you realy need them)

 

[Poosnarf]

2 80's huh? Sounds good to me...the same CM LED fans at 80mm are 32CFM at 25DB, 2500RPM. Not bad for $6 fans.

Guess I'll bring a fan with me to Home Depot and find some screws. It's gonna be interesting if I can find some screws that are that thick but that short.

 

[BLsibub666]

you can alwase bolt them on (get some threaded rod, and nuts, or get a long thin bolt and a nut and run it form the outside of the cas threw the fan and top it off with a nut.I kinda did that with two of my HFSs i used threaded rod, and black spikes that i got in bulk to cap off the end and hold the fan and trill onto the HS.

good luck and happy modding

 

[Poosnarf]

Another question: I don't have the space at the top for a blowhole, so that's not an option....so which of these fan setups in the side window would cool better:

2 80mm exhausting
2 80mm intaking
2 80mm, one exhausting, one intaking
1 120mm, exhausting
1 120mm, intaking
2 120mm (overkill or just right?)

 

[XeRo_Dark]

overkill entirely alls you probably need is at a maximum 4 120's and dont even bother with the 80's there just loud and dont push as much air, theres always the possibility of fabricating a ducting system through your case.

all that air cooling......
ever think of going WC?

 

[philodox]

overkill entirely alls you probably need is at a maximum 4 120's and dont even bother with the 80's there just loud and dont push as much air

are you saying that 80mm fans are louder than 120mm fans?

comparing a vantec stealth 80mm to the same fan in the 120mm variety I get the following:

dBa - 21 vs. 28
CFM - 27 vs 53

Now, I'm not really too sure how the CFM numbers work, but I do know that a 6 dB increase is equivalent to doubling the sound... so a 7 dB increase means the 120mm fan is more than twice as loud. If the CFM has a linear relationship, then the 120mm fan pushes less than twice as much air. This would mean the 80mm fan is more efficient. If your case has enough room 4x80mm will be quieter and outperform 2x120mm. Moving from one to two fans increases the sound by 3dB and each additional pair of fans over two adds 3dB [assuming you have an equal number of intake and exhaust fans]. Also, by adding an exhaust you do not increase CFM, only intakes do that. [exhausts are very important though obviously]

2x80mm in, 2x80mm out = 27dBa with 54CFM
1x120mm in, 1x120mm out = 31dBa with 53CFM

I'm not sure if this relationship is true of all fans, but wouldnt be suprised.

 

[XeRo_Dark]

yah if you buy shitty 120's but if you buy good quality ones then the noise will be much lower doyeeeeeee

 

[timske]

technically speaking yes a 3db increase is twice as loud. However most people percive a 10db increase to be twice as loud. So a 6db gain while signifigant wont be that much louder for the extra airflow of a 120mm.

I have the same case and put a single 80 in the window helped alot but in the end small cases (at least in my experiance) run a bit hotter. went back to my older thermaltake cause it runs alot colder.(xaser II) too bad really I liked that my comp weighed 10lbs in that superlanboy my xaser case weighs 46lbs kinda heavy to take to lans heh.

 

[philodox]

yah if you buy shitty 120's but if you buy good quality ones then the noise will be much lower doyeeeeeee

a vantec stealth is a shitty 120? what is an example of a good one?

technically speaking yes a 3db increase is twice as loud. However most people percive a 10db increase to be twice as loud. So a 6db gain while signifigant wont be that much louder for the extra airflow of a 120mm.

I have the same case and put a single 80 in the window helped alot but in the end small cases (at least in my experiance) run a bit hotter. went back to my older thermaltake cause it runs alot colder.(xaser II) too bad really I liked that my comp weighed 10lbs in that superlanboy my xaser case weighs 46lbs kinda heavy to take to lans heh.

From what I've read a 6dB increase is twice as loud... but regardless of the percieved increase, I think we can all agree that 27dBa is less than 31dBa, so it doesnt really matter too much.

Yes, a 120mm has extra airflow, but if you look at the math I did above, there is more airflow with less noise with 2 80mm fans...

 

[Stellar]

The thing you have to realize about larger fans, particularly going from 80 to 120mm, is that larger fans create a lower-pitched hum as opposed to the higher-pitched whine created by an 80mm fan, so that even at a higher dB rating, the actual noise is less intrusive from the larger fan.

 

[BLsibub666]

the size of the fan has nothing to do whith the sound coming off it (im looking at two fans, an 80 and a 120 and they make no noise b/c they arent pluged in)

the type of motor in the fan, the type of berings in the fan, and the speed of the fan are what do it. If you want quiet get two 120s that run slow but move an ok amount of air ( a 120 can move the same amount of air as an 80 but the 120 will have lower RPMs than the 80 making it quieter) I dont think you need to put in 4 high RPM 120s, 4 low RPM 120s would do, or two 120s and two 80s with mid ranged RPM.

but it all depends on what you want, you can cover your case with low rpm 120s and not hear a thing, and get good airflow if thats what you realy want, but there is no definate "120 or 80mm fans are better and thats that"

 

[philodox]

Well, looking at this spreadsheet it seems that 120mm fans make more noise than 80mm fans. Perhaps I am reading it wrong.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/fanspecs/fanspecs.pdf

I guess smaller fans do have a slightly higher pitch to them, but they only tend to whine if there is something wrong with them or they are clogged with dust.

there is no definate "120 or 80mm fans are better and thats that"

I agree with this, there are times when one or the other work better, but no clear superior fan... I just wanted to point out that mathematically 80mm pairs seem to have an advantage over a single 120mm fan. But I'm sure there things other than dBa and CFM to consider.

 

[Stellar]

My whole point was you can't go SOLELY by that chart and the dB ratings.

As was mentioned above, different motors make a big difference in the TYPE of noise that is created by the fan and how intrusive it will be, as well as the size. I can attest to that considering my cooling system consists of 4 8cm Panaflo L1A's and 1 92mm Panaflo H1B. The larger fan has a much lower pitch and is much less noticeable. All I really hear are my case fans (with the side on).

 

[philodox]

I can appreciate that argument, but it is a very subjective quality and as such it could be different for each fan manufacturer and each size... which basically drives me insane

Anyone know anywhere that I can audition case fans?

 

[Stellar]

I can appreciate that argument, but it is a very subjective quality and as such it could be different for each fan manufacturer and each size... which basically drives me insane

Anyone know anywhere that I can audition case fans?

Actually now that you mention it, you can do that. I went to a couple of local PC shops and also Fry's as well.. places that usually have several custom builds setup and running for display around the aisles.. and I took note of the fans used it each case. While this doesn't always cover the fan you're interested in, it can sometimes help you get a general idea.

Overall I'm very pleased with Panaflos, not so much with Vantecs (although Thermoflows I haven't tried), and no so much with Coolermasters. I would like to try YS Tech and SilenX for my ultra-quiet SFF when I next build it.

 

[philodox]

Actually now that you mention it, you can do that. I went to a couple of local PC shops and also Fry's as well.. places that usually have several custom builds setup and running for display around the aisles.. and I took note of the fans used it each case. While this doesn't always cover the fan you're interested in, it can sometimes help you get a general idea.

Overall I'm very pleased with Panaflos, not so much with Vantecs (although Thermoflows I haven't tried), and no so much with Coolermasters. I would like to try YS Tech and SilenX for my ultra-quiet SFF when I next build it.

too bad I'm in canada... no Fry's... maybe a local computer store might work, but I doubt many of them use good fans

Have you tried the Vantec Stealth's? I can get a good deal on them... but am thinking more and more that it might be safer to go with Panaflo or SilenX