Do fan hole covers exist?

[Shuka]

Hey Guys,

Ok so I have an old case that I used to use as a server case but now I want to make it into a workstation case. The problem is that the case has 2 x 120mm fan holes in the side, and fans in the front and back of the case as well. This is way more airflow than I now need, and of course it's way too loud. I was thinking of using just the front and back fans in the case for airflow, and somehow sealing the 120mm fan holes on the side of the case. I tried just turning off the side fans but the processor heatsink+fan combo is right behind the fan holes and all the sound just comes right out of the case. I hope that made sense...

Anyways, I want to know if anything like a "fan hole cover" exists. I'm hoping that if I can cover the fan holes, coat the inside of the case in dynamat or some other acoustic dampening material, and use a quiet power supply, I will be able to make a quiet running workstation.

The case by the way is the Tornado 3000 that www.3dcool.com used to sell. The model I got had the option for the two 120mm side fans.

 

[Xrave]

I don't know about specifically built "fan covers," but you could improvise a little.

What I'd do (besides putting fans in the holes), would be to buy some fan filters to keep out the dust and to look nice, and if you're concerned with noise, I'd put some dampening material behind the filters, or just dampen your whole case while you're at it.

 

[jpmkm]

Get some scrap sheet metal and cut to cover the holes. JB Weld the metal inside the case to cover the holes. Put some body filler in the holes to get that area level with the rest of the case. Sand to get it all smooth. The finally, prime and paint to match the rest of the case. If done properly, there will be no indication that there were ever any holes there(unless you look on the inside of the case).

 

[Megalomaniac]

Improvising is best in this situation, or you could put fans in all the fan wholes, just buy the silent ones. I highly recommend doing this instead.
Buy something like this
http://www.3dcool.com/?module=product&sku=Stealth120mm

the airflow from a 120mm is huge, and in the case of these, its very quite..

 

[jpmkm]

Improvising is best in this situation, or you could put fans in all the fan wholes, just buy the silent ones. I highly recommend doing this instead.
Buy something like this
http://www.3dcool.com/?module=product&sku=Stealth120mm

the airflow from a 120mm is huge, and in the case of these, its very quite..

Maybe you missed this line:

I tried just turning off the side fans but the processor heatsink+fan combo is right behind the fan holes and all the sound just comes right out of the case.

I think even with quiet fans in the side he would still get sound from the processor fan.

 

[Vision864]

do like Xrave said Go with fan fliter mesh, i woudlnt do anything that would permantly obstruct those opentings you may very well find a need for them some day.

 

[Paragon]

Are you handy with tools? Get some sheet aluminum form Homedepot and make your own cover. A few nice bolts.. mount the cover on the inside.. done deal. Could even use plexi.

 

[Shuka]

Sounds good. I think I'll just cut some squares of sheet metal, paint one side black, and screw them to the inside of the case with a fan guard on the outside. It should look decent. Thanks for everybody's input.

 

[Pagan Wizard]

Sounds good. I think I'll just cut some squares of sheet metal, paint one side black, and screw them to the inside of the case with a fan guard on the outside. It should look decent. Thanks for everybody's input.

You're on the right road here, but if you want to make the fan holes completely dissappear, use JB Weld to attach your aluminum squares on the inside of the case. Use bondo (or any other auto body filler) to fill in the recess where the patch is, then repaint the case and you will never notice that there used to be a hole there.

 

[jpmkm]

You're on the right road here, but if you want to make the fan holes completely dissappear, use JB Weld to attach your aluminum squares on the inside of the case. Use bondo (or any other auto body filler) to fill in the recess where the patch is, then repaint the case and you will never notice that there used to be a hole there.

That sounds very familiar.

 

[BLsibub666]

if your fan hole is next to your hsf then its a good idea to bring new cool air in there, id say look for a silent fan to put on your heat sink, and use low rpm 120mm fans, but if you dont like that you dont have to go nuts unless you want to, you can just glue the botom of a take out food tin to the inside, that would work just as well, or get some foam (or fill the take out food contaner with foam and glue it in)

or you can use the 120mm holes as windows (150mm of plexi, glued or bolted from behind)

or you can afix some sheat metal behind it, fill the hole with bondo, sand it down smothe and paint over it. Id go with something like a window just bolted in the 4 corners incase one day you want to use those fans all you have to do is unscrew it and put your fan in, but thats just me.