Need Help Cooling a mATX Build

[jedihobbit]

I’ve created this thread for those of you who do not read work logs. Have a small project going called Kermit the Folder. It is a mATX case that the platform is earmarked for a dedicated folder. So please review and give me your feed back as I need to do some cutting this weekend. For the most part this build is a “clandestine” one and therefore has to use “in house” parts.

The really big issue is how to improve case cooling as it pretty much sucks! Stock cooling originally was provided by two thin 60mm fans similar to what is used on some HDD coolers. Supposedly one in and one out, but as you can see by this rear view it would seem they would “fight” each other!!

From the get go the stamped grills will go and I’m replacing the stock fans with more noisy Evercool aluminum 60mm x 25mm Case Fans. Again these are from the parts box, therefore paid for, and no one said the folder would be silent!!

Also I’m looking at how to add maybe a 120mm intake fan, but space is hard to find. In the first picture I taped off the available space for a fan. Everywhere else for all intents and purposes the internal components “touch” the side. Up top center is the approximate center of the hsf fan.

This shows three different placements for one. Please note that the CNPS-7500 is 3” tall with the total case about 5”. That doesn’t include the mobo standoff height either.

The high mount covers the hsf, the middle cover the hsf and deletes the handle, the low is close to the psu. If I make both 60s exhaust then maybe the low mount would be best as the cool air comes in low and is pulled up by the 60s.

For a top fan I would be limited to a 92mm as the mobo offset will hit anything else and then it would need to be 20mm or less thick and have to be most likely offset. As the last pic shows a 120mm is as wide as the case!

Well this is all the pre-engineering I’ve had time for and any input would be greatly appreciated! Already 2 weeks behind because of borking my bios chip while setting up the OC, so help IS DESPERITLY NEEDED!

 

[nlancaster]

How wide is the case. Specifically where you have 3/4inch of space above the motherboard?

You can probably use one or two of these in that space up there as exhaust.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...th=394&zenid=ec4b564f3acce567e611a834e5377a5c

or put that 120mm fan anywhere in there you want as an exhaust. preferable near the top of the case as heat rises.

Also get rid of those grills over the 60mm fans and that will help alot.

 

[jedihobbit]

Semantics always get me in trouble so I’ll give all of the dimensions as width x height x depth. Sooooo…….. 5.25”w x 14”h x 15”d.

As I’ve never left a stamp fan grill in any case I’ve build, didn’t think to mention that they are going, but good point! Was hoping that if I do the blow hole I could get away with using one 92mm and yeah it would have to preferably be 10 – 15mm thk. Going to have enough noise with the 2 x 60s much less an additional 2 x 80s! Good pick on a source as performance-pcs and I go way back! However as I need to avoid purchases where possible (domestic tranquility) may look at shoe horning a 92 x 25 that I have in Celtic Spirit (a build started so long ago that I don’t even have a thread here for it!).

As far as the 120 was thinking more of in as opposed to out (leaving that to the 2 x 60s and possible blow hole). Was brought up in the school of “over pressuring” a box. So would like a little more on what you’re suggesting.

 

[Zero82z]

Ever thought about cutting out a large chunk of the side panel and replacing it with mesh?

 

[jedihobbit]

Ever thought about cutting out a large chunk of the side panel and replacing it with mesh?

Yes, especially if I can find it locally and be able to sneak it by the wife!

Seriously I have concidered may variations on that theme. The only real "concern" would be trying to match the case color as my cutting skills sometime leave a lot to be desired. One of the "setups" I had looked at was to run a "strip" along the bottom where the factory holes are, a square over the hsf area, and then a blow hole.

Having always "pressurized" a box not sure about making passive cooling holes thought. Again open to suggestions.

 

[jedihobbit]

Just tripped across a 120mm case fan in the parts box that at 12V is rated at max of 79CFM @ < 36Db. Talk about pressurizing a case! If I could find a way to control that and the 2 x 60s I might be able to do what was originally considered. One "compromise" with the blow hole issue would be to do a "passive" vent in top. The only thing here would be, again, where on the side of the case would be most beneficial and finding a controller for the three.

Also had someone at pcApex suggest I make the 90mm blow hole an intake as opposed to exhaust, thoughts?

 

[Zero82z]

The only real "concern" would be trying to match the case color as my cutting skills sometime leave a lot to be desired. One of the "setups" I had looked at was to run a "strip" along the bottom where the factory holes are, a square over the hsf area, and then a blow hole.

You could always just repaint the entire side panel and the mesh, so you wouldn't need to worry about matching any colours.

 

[Adidas4275]

what about water cooling with the radiator mounted externally or cut out the side panel and mounting a 120mm ran on the side pannel?

 

[jedihobbit]

.......review and give me your feed back as I need to do some cutting this weekend. For the most part this build is a “clandestine” one and therefore has to use “in house” parts.

........... the low is close to the psu. If I make both 60s exhaust then maybe the low mount would be best as the cool air comes in low and is pulled up by the 60s.

I've come to the conclusion that I will take the "low road" and either leave the 60s out (as was suggested because they may block air flow with the 79CFM fan I'm going to use) or use them for exhaust. May do both and monitor case temps. Having it low will also allow a bit of cooler air to reach the hdd that is under the optical drive in the lower right hand corner. Decided not to place it over the hsf as they would be less than an inch apart and am concerned with possible turbulence and resonance cause by that closeness.

With the wife coming home Monday it'll probably be next week before any more is done, to insure domestic tranquility!

Okay that's it for this thread as everything else will be done in Kermit the Folder's work log. Again thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Mohonri]

Might I make one other suggestion? Cut a hole in the side panel directly over the CPU HSF, with a diameter matching that of the fan on the CPU. Add a duct from the side of the case to the fan. That way, the fan not only cools the CPU, but it also acts as an intake fan. In addition, it'll be blowing all fresh, cool air over the heatsink, rather than some percentage of recycled, warmer air. You can make the duct out of pretty much anything you want--PVC pipe, empty milk jug, manila folder.

On top of that, if you face both 60mm fans out, they (along with the PSU fan) will help ensure that the duct over the CPU fan is pulling the largest portion of fresh air into the case.

I don't think that overpressuring a case is going to do much as far as cooling is concerned. It's great for keeping dust out, assuming you put filters on your intake, but for the sake of airflow and cooling, a balanced setup is better.

 

[Diablo2K]

Looking at the back of the case it looks like you can place larger fans into the back panel, 70mm most likely but maybe even 80mm fans. It would take some cutting to get them mounted but its fairly easy

 

[jedihobbit]

Looking at the back of the case it looks like you can place larger fans into the back panel, 70mm most likely but maybe even 80mm fans. It would take some cutting to get them mounted but its fairly easy

The way that area is made a 70 could be shoehorned in, but vertically the would only be room for one.