Why are PC fan fixings rubbish

Kurgen · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:29

why are PC fan fixings/screws rubbish, its the only part of a pc where you need to use a self tapping style screw. why not some nice bolts with thumb screw style nuts. Ive just bought 2 bitfenix pwm fans, i have to say these are the worst fans for fixings i have ever seen. The plastic is a brittle perpsex and some of the screws go in ok to start with but are a real pain for the last few mm. I had stand above my pc case and push down withboth hands on a screwdriver full force to get them fully in. the case was bending under the pressure.. i weaker case probably would have bent. If you were fixing to a perspex panel or window, then you would have no chance.. so BITFENIX get your fans sorted! :mad:

ps they look pretty tho.

i have tried to used some diy bolts, but they just popped through the case holes as the heads were to small, plus they were silver.

kaku · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:31

Those rubber anti-vibration mounts are far and away the better choice.

Used the self-tapping screws once and it's a huge waste of time.

edit: I have ones that look like these: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-053-AK&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=795 but I've seen ones that are shorter and more bolt-like too.

MrMD · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:33

I dont even bother with using regular screws for fans,its a PITA at the best of times.

Just buy some rubber fan pins,cheap,easier to mount fans with and reduce potential vibration noise aswell

Armageus · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:34

Most cases these days seem to have fan mounts anyway - but in the past I always used to screw the self-tappers in to just the fan whilst outside the case to cut a thread, remove the screws, then fit them to the case.

Kurgen · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:37

MrMD said:
I dont even bother with using regular screws for fans,its a PITA at the best of times.

Just buy some rubber fan pins,cheap,easier to mount fans with and reduce potential vibration noise aswell

hmm ok,, so how do they work.. it looks like you would have a rubber bobble at the end not being flush to case. or am i being a muppet :confused:

MrMD · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:42

This image shows how the work,they work just like screws,but you pull them through,rather than screw them.Once secure you can cut off the excess rubber thats used to pull them through the mounting holes.

EDIT:Heres them on OCuk store https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-053-AK pack of 20.

Kurgen · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:44

cool, im going to buy a stock pile of them

Kurgen · 24 Apr 2015 at 16:49

when they are in stock, i will get some

MrMD · 24 Apr 2015 at 17:02

Kurgen said:
cool, im going to buy a stock pile of them

Yea good idea,done the same already myself.

Extremely usefull to have lying about

NMBlack · 24 Apr 2015 at 19:33

Kurgen said:
cool, im going to buy a stock pile of them

Definitely worth it. Made a noticeable difference to noise levels when I used them on my case fans.

ttaskmaster · 24 Apr 2015 at 21:51

Never had a problem with the screws, myself.
Noctua, Corsair, Enermax, Silverstone, Akasa and a few others that I vaguely recall, all worked fine with a selection of screws.
Only issue I've ever known was in getting some SPs fixed to a rad, but that was with the spindly rad-supplied screws.

deano-5 · 26 Apr 2015 at 03:06

Can you reuse those easily?

OracIe · 26 Apr 2015 at 03:32

maklabouhlel · 26 Apr 2015 at 09:55

deano-5 said:
Can you reuse those easily?

As long as you don't slit them whilst removing.

andicole0 · 26 Apr 2015 at 09:59

These are in stock.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-033-AL&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=795

Andi.

ttaskmaster · 27 Apr 2015 at 12:15

deano-5 said:
Can you reuse those easily?

Yeah, sure.
I've relocated them all several times and reused all the ones that I didn't like, apart from the Enermax ones where the bearings went.

Just nip them up, rather than tightening as far as the screw will go and splitting the frames, as Makla mentioned.