Need help for my Antec SLK3700AMB...modding case fans, panel

[mtx]

1. I have 2 120mm fans in my case - one for intake one for exhaust. First mod I'd like to do is make both fan holes accept 120x38mm fans. I know the exhaust can, because ive forced it into the fan mount and it stays in place although it's not 100% secure (can't snap it in place but the snaps still hold it place). Intake fan is impossible to add a 120x38 fan because the HDD cage is right beside it and blocking it... has anyone found a way to mount a 120x38 fan in intake, or am i just dreaming? :S

2. How can I dampen the noise generated by these two case fans using case mounts? if i buy the vantec vibration dampener kits and put the silicone covers between the case mount and the fan itself, would that solve the problem? someone advised me to ditch the case mounts right away and drill holes into the fan spots and mount the fans with rubber screws but i'd like to do the SIMPLEST solution. i dont have a drill, i dont have experience with a drill, and its gonna take some time, possibly some $ to get it done. so id rather jus buy the vantec kit if it can solve my problem.

3. I want to add a side case fan, and possibly a clear window, that blows directly on my video card. however, again, i dont have a dremel, i dont have experience with one, and its gonna take time and $ to do it myself.. id rather just buy a completely new side panel with prebuilt window/case fan hole.... do they have any for the SLK3700AMB? I know stores sell them for lian-li pcs but ive never seen any for antec..


Thanks

[mike047]

HI

I have two of those cases. I have install 38mm fans front and back. The only way I saw to do this was to ditch the plastic mounts and drill the holes. It is a tight squeeze even without the mount to get the Hdd cage back in.

I put a 152cfm DELTA in the front of both cases. In the back of one I put a 85cfm Panaflo and a 80mm in the side cover. The other one has a 114cfm Panaflo with a fan controller I made in the back, no side fan.

I found that if the exhaust was too high cfm it would "steal" the air from my HSF. The case with the side fan was the first one. The second one with the fan controller works better. I can adjust the rear fan for optimum temp.

I don't know about the video card thing, I run cheap MX400 cards. No games for me:D I'm an old guy:)

[mtx]

HI

I have two of those cases. I have install 38mm fans front and back. The only way I saw to do this was to ditch the plastic mounts and drill the holes. It is a tight squeeze even without the mount to get the Hdd cage back in.

I put a 152cfm DELTA in the front of both cases. In the back of one I put a 85cfm Panaflo and a 80mm in the side cover. The other one has a 114cfm Panaflo with a fan controller I made in the back, no side fan.

I found that if the exhaust was too high cfm it would "steal" the air from my HSF. The case with the side fan was the first one. The second one with the fan controller works better. I can adjust the rear fan for optimum temp.

I don't know about the video card thing, I run cheap MX400 cards. No games for me:D I'm an old guy:)
so it IS POSSIBLE to put a 120x38 fan in the front case if you take the mounts off?

did your side panel come with a side fan hole? or you made that yourself?

[mike047]

so it IS POSSIBLE to put a 120x38 fan in the front case if you take the mounts off?

did your side panel come with a side fan hole? or you made that
yourself?

Yeah, you can fit it in the front, tight fit but it will go.

I cut the hole in the side with a 3" hole saw in a hand drill. Just clamp the side plate down to a table real good and go slow. If you don't have a hole saw, they are sort of expensive, maybe you could borrow one or rent it?

I just remembered, be sure and put the hole in the side cover, so it does NOT hit the cross brace under the power supply:D

[mtx]

Yeah, you can fit it in the front, tight fit but it will go.

I cut the hole in the side with a 3" hole saw in a hand drill. Just clamp the side plate down to a table real good and go slow. If you don't have a hole saw, they are sort of expensive, maybe you could borrow one or rent it?

I just remembered, be sure and put the hole in the side cover, so it does NOT hit the cross brace under the power supply:D

thats the thing, i dont have any of those tools to do this kind of work, and im not experienced at doing it so i dont want to screw it up! i rather pay someone to do a good job for me rather than to experiment and potentially screw up.. thers so many other things i wanna do, like spray painting my whole clase in and out black :D..

i was planning to put the side hole near the video card, and maybe put another one near RAM? put two side fans :P

[mike047]

thats the thing, i dont have any of those tools to do this kind of work, and im not experienced at doing it so i dont want to screw it up! i rather pay someone to do a good job for me rather than to experiment and potentially screw up.. thers so many other things i wanna do, like spray painting my whole clase in and out black :D..

i was planning to put the side hole near the video card, and maybe put another one near RAM? put two side fans :P

I looked and the case I have the side fan in has two[side by side, one for cpu, one for ram], I didn't remember doing that. I'm an old guy and am starting to forget stuff:D

[mtx]

I looked and the case I have the side fan in has two[side by side, one for cpu, one for ram], I didn't remember doing that. I'm an old guy and am starting to forget stuff:D

nice!

[mtx]

UPDATE:

I checked if a 120x38 fan fits in the front, and it does, without the fan mount. However, it is touching the HDD cage (not the back of the HDD). It's pretty much sandwiched between the front of the case and the HDD cage even without screwing it on! Would this be a problem?

Another problem I got is... i dont know where to drill the holes for the fan, there's not enough space to put it in the middle of the fan grill and there's already 8 holes for the fan mount...

[mike047]

UPDATE:

I checked if a 120x38 fan fits in the front, and it does, without the fan mount. However, it is touching the HDD cage (not the back of the HDD). It's pretty much sandwiched between the front of the case and the HDD cage even without screwing it on! Would this be a problem?

Another problem I got is... i dont know where to drill the holes for the fan, there's not enough space to put it in the middle of the fan grill and there's already 8 holes for the fan mount...


I have two boxes that have run like that for about 4 months without problems.

The holes you need to drill need to be placed half way in-between the pairs of existing holes. Place some "duct tape" on the inside where you will be drilling, it will help catch/contain the metal shavings. Clean everything up good after you drill, look it over real careful. Drill the hole just a little bigger than the screw.

Have fun on your first mod:D

[mtx]

:S...
drill haf way in between existing holes?

then the new fan wont be blowing in the middle of the hdd cage.. wtf?

[mike047]

:S...
drill haf way in between existing holes?

then the new fan wont be blowing in the middle of the hdd cage.. wtf?


Apparently, you and I are not looking at the same thing. What cage are you talking about. My boxes do not have anything I would call a cage. Are you referring to the hole pattern in front of the fan??

The only way to mount the fan, from my experience, is to drill holes inbetween the existing pairs that now are used to hold the plastic mount. There may be an alternative, but I am not aware of it. These are the paired hole at approximately 45 degrees and are in the same central location as the original plastic holder/mount. My method works and provided massive amounts of cooling air over the Hdd and into the lower portion of the case.

I don't have the means to draw a diagram and post it. I might, If I get time to remove the box from my rack, remove the covers and post pictures. It will be several day if I do.

Sorry if I confused you. I really should not have said anything. The things I do work for me but maybe others don't like it.

[mtx]

well.. i went over to my friends house today and we used his drill + hole saw on my side panel.. it went horrible..

i taped down my side panel, marked the centre of my fan hole and he proceeded to drill.. it looked as if everything was going fine, then my friends hand started jerking around because of the resistance.. next thing you know, half my circle is cut but the other half is only 50-60% cut.. we try drilling it but it wont work and we dont have tin snips either..

sigh.. hes gonna try to give it to another friend who has a drill press :\