mATX case with side and top exhaust fans

DJai · 31 May 2020 at 12:59

Hello there,

I have a CiT S012B Slim Micro ATX/ITX Case wity 300W Power Supply Unit with Built In Card Reader.

It has vents on the sides (one on right for PSU and one on left for CPU fan) and top rear for exhausting hot air that rises.

I'm going to fit an intake on the bottom and wondered whether there was any type of fan I could fit to the rear as another intake?

Grandmaster Fap! · 31 May 2020 at 16:36

You mean fit fans to those vent holes above the back plate? If so, not worth it, id rather have intake fans on the bottom with high static pressure to cool the case, fan at the top and any holes in the case will expel hot air fine.

DJai · 31 May 2020 at 22:02

Great, thanks. Is it worth putting mesh over all the holes in the case or just the intake?

For example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADFEN-30x1...words=magnetic+mesh+pc&qid=1590958096&sr=8-44

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 12:13

Just mesh on the intakes, the pressure will keep dust out

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 12:15

Great, thought that was the case (no pun intended!)

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 14:02

Thanks by the way!

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 17:32

No worries mate, let us know how you get on and if the cooling is ok

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 18:32

I need a fan that is 2cm or less thick but 60-80mm wide. I'm really struggling to find them.

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 19:52

You mean you need an 80mm fan or the fan and its frame cant be more than 80? There are a few on the OCUK shop, some Akasa's are only 10-15mm thick.

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 19:57

That's right, no more than 80mm total.

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 20:33

Yeah thats going to be tough, where is the fan needed?

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 20:52

Bottom of case, it needs to sit under the bottom PCIe slot (there won't be a card blocking airflow).

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 21:25

Bare in mind the side panel hides a multitude of sins so you dont need a fan that fits exactly, it could just rest near the bottom as close to the holes as possible, no need to screw it in, it will still bring air in. I take it you cant fit fans to the side panel as cards are in the way?

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 21:29

I definitely could attach fans to the side vent, not sure of thickness. The issue isn't CPU cooler shoots hot air towards the side vent and adding a fan there would create a hot air trap.

The case isn't big enough for a rear facing CPU heatsink and fan.

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 21:47

Id definitely think about side fans, hot air will find its way out the top regardless so anything bringing cool air in is a plus(just not from the top, then all its doing is recirculating).

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 22:19

Grandmaster Fap! said:
Id definitely think about side fans, hot air will find its way out the top regardless so anything bringing cool air in is a plus(just not from the top, then all its doing is recirculating).

Fair point

It turns out I have hoarded over 10 large case fans over the years and some have barely been used.

This is the size of the vent on the side of the case.

Which fan shall I go with?

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 22:25

More:

Grandmaster Fap! · 1 Jun 2020 at 22:45

Haha wow some classic fans going on there!! Size wise go for the largest you can get away with, they move more air but do it quieter than the smaller fans.

DJai · 1 Jun 2020 at 22:45

Two fit quite well, shame these are two pin.

These two were manufactured 2007.

doyll · 2 Jun 2020 at 10:52

Interesting project. The grills in your case are extremely restrictive. Punched metal grill with 3.2mm diameter holes on 6mm centers has 30% open area. Looking at your pics and assuming holes are about same 3.2mm diameter it looks like it has even less open area. End result is it will be hard to move much air quietly.

2x 80mm intakes in in side is probably best. Are bottom vents same hole pattern and big enough for 2x 80mm fans? If they are I think I would put 2x 80mm fans on them and raise case up so there is 25-30mm on sides from what case sets on to bottom of case for better airflow to vents. Even better would be to cut out bottom vents to 80mm round hole for 80mm vent grill like Silverstone make. https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=269&bno=61&tb=54&area=en