120mm intake fan - Antec Sonata II

badboyz

badboyz

badboyz

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14 Sep 2006
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37
Hi, i should be getting a 'Zalman ZM-F3 120mm Silent Case Fan - 3 Pin' today, however, i was wondering how to fit a 120mm fan at the front of the Sonata II case (intake). Currently, the space where the hard drives are meant to be kinda blocks access to installing the fan?
 
I have taken out two of the hdd cages and 'wedged' a 120mm fan, top and bottom in the front with cardboard (acts like a vibration damper as well), so that it sucks cold air through the filter and into the case. I checked in the manual and all i could find was that the optional fan caould be installed behind the hard drives, but imo thats only going to recirculate warm air within the case.

I will later get some neoprene foam and make a more permanent 'wedge' later.
 
Wizard, do you use the Air duct that came with the Sonata II case? I'm thinking of taking off the fan from the stock cooler and putting it in the optional air duct for the Sonata to cool the GFX card? Good idea? Anyone tried this?
 
I got the thermaltake sonic tower in mine, so no duct. When i had the stock cooler in the duct dropped temps by about 3c (WOW). Your idea sounds good though, let me know if it works. Just be careful that if your pc is close to a wall or something at the back all u really going to be doing is recirculating hot air blown out by the psu.
 
Yeah, that was the disadvantage i was thinking of. However, i have at least 10cm from the back of the case. Will see if it works. I'll try it with and without the air duct. Will post results tonight.
 
Tried the air duct however, the fan on the standard AMD64 HS was smaller so it didnt fit in the air duct slot. The intake fan is working great, took about 5C off my chipset, now running at 33C idle and 34C load. My CPU temperature also decreased by 5C with the AF64P combined with the 120mm, currently at 39C idle and 45C load. I couldn't find a way to attach a 120mm intake fan at the front of the case, so i positioned it beside the hard drive slots.

Air duct: In my experience, i found that the air duct reduces noise but it doesnt really work if you havent got extra fans attached to the duct. It actually blocks air flow to the exhaust fan and increases temperatures by 2C - 3C, so i ended up taking that off after all.
 
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wizardmaxx said:
Sorry so late - 'family emergency'

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8148/p9218853nh0.jpg

Like i said - super hi-tech installation :D
Click to expand...
I have the same case as you, though I have my 120mm fan behind the hard drives so cool air is being sucked into the case and over my HDD's. Do you know what temps your drives are at being stuck at the top like that with no real cooling?

I've thought about doing it like you have but would be worried about cooling. At the moment my 2 hard drives never go above 32 C
 
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Strangely enough hard drives remain relatively cool even though fan is underneath. Prob due to circulating air, so no stagnant air lingering around the hdd's. Will run a smart and post temps later.
 
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