Cooling vs. Optical drives

[Moonraker™]

Hey guys.

I'll jump straight in.

I'm in a dilemma. To get 2 Optical drives and in the spare bay I have put a HDD cooler (as I can't get any black cooling airflow devices to fit a 5.25" bay).

Or 1x Optical drive and a 80mm fan mounted in two 5.25" bays.

I know which one I'm leaning to. But I mean, the system will be used for me as a gamer and as a media dude (or whatever I'm meant to be called).

So what you guys think?

[RAGING DRAGON]

Pictures would be helpful mate of what you plan to do and where you plan to do it in order to make a fully informed decision.

[Moonraker™]

Well it's up in the optical bays. With 2 DVD/CD drives and a HDD cooler or 1 DVD/CD drive and an 80mm mount for a fan.

[RAGING DRAGON]

Will it be intake or out?
Which other intake fans and out-takes have you got?
Without knowing which case you have, I'm figuring that having an 80mm fan won't make too much difference if you already have some case fans fitted.
Personally, I would go for two DVD drives if there were some other case fans which performed well enough.

[Moonraker™]

See I thought that, but I was testing stuff with two of my mates PC's and their system temps are still quite high.

Here's a plan I have done for the cooling - Does this help?

I think that #5 is the least feasable one to do. It's highly unlikely that I'll do that one. I'd just like it to help pass the heat away from the upper section.


http://www.marcrigby.co.uk/Rig4/P180plan.jpg

[RAGING DRAGON]

Okay I can see what you're trying. ( I have the same case if that's the P180)
For this to be effective all fans would have to be at high settings and this would make a lot of noise! I mean A LOT!
You could remove the metal sheet between the bottom 5.25" bay and the 3rd.
That way you could fit in both an 80mm fan and two optical drives.

I don't have enough fans yet to add in to the bottom PSU chamber and on below the graphics card.
front fan as intake.
Rear fan=intake
Top fan = out
So my CPU heatsink is in it's own "coolspot"

I also have a fan filter(120mm) between the rear intake fan and the chassis. It stops so much dust getting in but obviously lowers the CFM.

[Moonraker™]

I think I have sorted it now.

This baby is gonna be a beast... I've not got what I need right now, but all will be revealed in a few weeks! - when i have money! lol.

[Moonraker™]

I'm still wondering whether to put #5 in. lol. I suppose if I have a spare fan I will!

[ripken204]

i would highly suggest trying to get an 80mm up an #6. my pwmic temps can get high when i game for a few hours. for #1 i have a 120mm fan there but that required some cutting, otherwise a 92mm fan will fit with no modding.

[Moonraker™]

i would highly suggest trying to get an 80mm up an #6. my pwmic temps can get high when i game for a few hours. for #1 i have a 120mm fan there but that required some cutting, otherwise a 92mm fan will fit with no modding.

Have you tested a 92mm in there? I am in the process of trying an 80mm and have read labs tests of the Sharkoon 80mm fan and it's quiet and has high CFM. I will get a delta or something for the top one as it will be on my fan controller and will be ok to turn down so it's not as loud.

I've decided on 1x DVD drive now. So I can get the 80mm fan mod fitted taking up 2x 5.25" bays. The final slot being taken up by my Rheobus.

Now it's just a case also of what looks good and what doesn't! Fan at the top? Rheobus or DVD drive at the bottom? lol. ARGH! cosmetics eh? he he

But let me know bout the 92mm. I'm gonna try fitting a crap 80mm on there. If that fits I'll order the Sharkoon for when the rig is built end of the month.

I have 60% of the system now - ordered more yesterday :D

[mat128]

Just wanted to tell you that I have been in a particular case, only having a 80mm exhaust in the back of my case (antec lanboy), temps were getting very high, especially with the crappy coolermaster "stock replacement" heatsink I had. I opened 3 front 5 1/4 slots and put a 120mm in there, as an intake and removed my front door, this dropped my cpu temps bout 5c, then changing to TTBT dropped them ~15c :slobber:
Anyway, my 120mm is only held with a folded piece of paper that makes a pressure to the fan, it was worth it but dont forget to remove all cables that might block the airflow, since a 80mm isnt going to make as much CFM than a 120mm (with a few exceptions)

[Moonraker™]

@mat128 - Look here: http://www.chiefvalue.com/product/productdetails.aspx?submit=&item=35-185-019&ATTFans%20Heatsinks%20Case

That's the cheapest I could find it, but you can search for it they're usually under $20. It comes in black and silver too and is perfect for what you're talking about.

I live in UK. If I had space for one, I would have it. But one place stocks it here and it's £18!!! :eek: - so maybe I wouldn't!

I can only spare two 5.25" bays though, not 3. So an 80mm fan is all I can have. I've just ordered a Delta 80mm fan. Yup, the loud bugger. 80.1CFM @ 52.5dBA!! - But it's ok, I have my faithful Rheobus to help out!

... that Rheobus surely will need a lot of tweaking with all these fans! - It's only the 80mm "Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000" that will be running off the PSU. Thankfully that only gives off 21.5dBA (although it's rated at 17.8dBA).

[ripken204]

well i have no zip ties anymore to try to fit the fan in there. i know i have some 80mm fans, possible a 92mm sitting around. i also have a rheobus and a dvd drive so i may also have to put them in the lower slots... but my major problem is the fact that i have a scythe ninja, its just so huge and take up so much space!

[Moonraker™]

well i have no zip ties anymore to try to fit the fan in there. i know i have some 80mm fans, possible a 92mm sitting around. i also have a rheobus and a dvd drive so i may also have to put them in the lower slots... but my major problem is the fact that i have a scythe ninja, its just so huge and take up so much space!

lol. I've got a Tuniq Tower. I've just recently put a 38mm thick fan on the top and rear of the P180... I think the back will be well clear, but the top one is causing me distress! - though I've just looked on this forum and it's now 50/50 that it will work. I'm still bricking though! :(

I tried an 80mm screwed on there. It would stay, but I dunno if the dust filter will connect again and if it does, will it connect without clipping fans! I have a busy end of the month / start to September coming!

[RAGING DRAGON]

I would put the DVD drive in the bottom 5.25" drive bay. When I have my DVD drive at the top of the P1880 it's a bit tricky getting the CD/DVD in quickly as the part at the top of the case juts out and leaves less space to slip in the DVD.

[Moonraker™]

I think it will go into the top drive m8, as the cooling device will look out of plce at the top and won't run air as low as i want.

That bottom is already taken up with my Rheobus now:

http://www.marcrigby.co.uk/Rig4/SD001.jpg