Mobo Tray Mod - How do you do it?

nheather

nheather

nheather

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Thinking of buying an Antec 300 and whilst I'm getting lots of encouragement that it is a good case, I'm concerned by the number of people who have said that I need to cut holes in the Mobo tray.

I've done some research and I understand the rationale - to keep the PSU cables tidy and to prevent them from obstructing air-flow.

But I'm a bit daunted about how to do it. I've seen guides about using hole saws - I have some hole saws that came with a drill set but as far as I'm aware they are for wood only.

I have a dremel but can't imagine how I would cut neat circular holes with it.

The guides also talk about bottom mounted PSUs being a particular problem and suggest turning them upside down - of cours this means cutting a great big hole in the hottom of the case for the fan.

Any opinions on this - is it worth it - it's really putting me off the Antec 300 because I've never had to do this thing before but then again I've never had a case with a bottom-mounted PSU.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
Nigel the thing is you dont have to do any of this, this is turning a perfectly good case into a perfectly perfect case, lol. If you arent happy with any of it just leave it as it is, it will be fine
If you do decide to cut the holes, the ones to route your cables would be the only ones I would look at personally, then you dont need to get the holes perfect, after you've cut them use some rubber liners (cant remember proper name sry) to go round the holes, protecting any sharp edges etc
 
Many thanks.

Why do some recommend mounting the PSU upside down? Is it just to get the cable exit on the PSU closer to the Mobo tray?

Cheers,

Nigel
 
nheather said:
Many thanks.

Why do some recommend mounting the PSU upside down? Is it just to get the cable exit on the PSU closer to the Mobo tray?

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

Yes, was for the one I installed anyway, and there is just about enough room below it for the fan to get a feed of airflow too.

Also, it looked better with the label the right way up :p
 
nheather said:
Many thanks.

Why do some recommend mounting the PSU upside down? Is it just to get the cable exit on the PSU closer to the Mobo tray?

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

Well the cable issue is one factor as you shouldnt need to extend your cables.
The main reason I, personally would do it is that you can draw in clean fresh air.
Provided ofcourse, you use a filter under your case. I'd recomend a magnetic one for this aplication as you can remove, clean and replace in seconds with very little hastle from screws or rubbers.

Dont forget, if youre still rocking it IDE style, swap out your flat ribbon cables for round ones... why?
Same reason you want to hide your cables away, less obstructive.

If you want to see your results in numbers, make all your tray cuts (lined with U-channel ofcourse) before you mount your mobo. Set up your system with all the wires in front of your mobo, flat IDE cables and your PSU fan-side up. Run some intensive software (folding should do the trick) and make a note of your temps after a few hours.
Then re-assemble your case with a flipped PSU, hidden cabling and round IDE cables (if applicable) and check your temps again after the same amount of time in folding.

You should recieve a pleasant suprise.

Dude, it's dead easy stuff to do, just double mask up your metal before you cut, punch indent a small dimple to guide the hole-saw arbour, file back your burrs after you cut and use some quality U-channel to prevent your wires from finding the one sharp edge you miss.
Hole saws arent too dear.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Starrett-Hole...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item1c0a387e48
You can do a case 10 times over with the saw above.
And U-channel is dirt cheap
http://www.*****************/shop/product_info.php?products_id=242

Go on!
Do a propper job!!!
You will be propperly pleased with yourself when it's done.
 
Many thanks - I already have a set of holesaws - I just didn't realise that they would work on mild steel.

Also have a dremel - so nothing stopping me.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
Firstly, good advice jeckulz . . . .
Secondly . . . . PROPER! ONLY ONE P :p

Thirdly. If you are holesawing. Cut as slow as you can.
 
I have an Antec 300, Psu is mounted upside down with fan up. I have no holes cut in the case for cables etc and my Airflow is superb. Really cant see the point in cutting holes in the case..
 
PhillyDee said:
Firstly, good advice jeckulz . . . .
Secondly . . . . PROPER! ONLY ONE P :p

Thirdly. If you are holesawing. Cut as slow as you can.
Click to expand...


Forgot to mention to use 3-in-1 oil when sawing metal :p

Tis proper, well done lol

MOOGLEYS said:
I have an Antec 300, Psu is mounted upside down with fan up. I have no holes cut in the case for cables etc and my Airflow is superb. Really cant see the point in cutting holes in the case..
Click to expand...

You can't?
Your airflow is superb with all your cables in the way you say?
Dude, think... If its good now, it'll be great after a quick fettle!
I think people underestimate how easily airflow can be disrupted, and how that disruption can affect internal temps and as a knock-on,, performance and end results of any OC in progress.
Even if you arent OC'ing, and youre on standard coolers and a handfull of low budget fans, wouldn't you still wish to improve your machine and it's stability should a fan fail without warning (as they usually do)?

Just puttin it out there :D
 
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If you look at this photo of my case all my cables sit below the line of the fan. So the cables are not restricting the flow from the fan at all.. The bottom fan cools the Hard drives as per normal but the top fan is pumping air direct from outside over the the motherboard.

P1020155.jpg
 
I need to do this on my CM Stacker - its a nest of cables due to fan controllers and temp sensors...

Though I think the steel used for the mobo tray isnt that flimsy...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
My Antec 300 arrived late yesterday and I've just managed to find time to have a look at it.

Firstly, I'm very impressed with the case - the aesthetics, the design, build quality etc.

I've had a look at the PSU mount and I can see exactly what you mean about a mounting upside down to give better wiring BUT ....

I'm not sure I'm going to do it because

(i) The bottom of the case is ridged with different panels - this means that a fan filter won't fit very well.

(ii) The hole required will slice about a 1/3 of one of the case feet off.

Just seems like a lot of work for something that won't finish that well.


However, if I do go ahead, would this filter be okay

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-194-OK


The only other thing I don't like about the case is that the tri-cool fans have no filter - seems a bit silly that they crow about having wasable filiters for the fans they don't supply but for those that they do they don't supply anything.

Or is it that both the back and top fans blow out?

Also does a PSU fan (Corsair TX650) blow out or suck in?

Cheers,

Nigel
 
All PSU fans will suck the air out of the case. Always imagine that it is going out of the rear of the PSU where the power connector is. If the fan is on the bottom, then it is blowing air through the PSU.
 
All PSU fans will suck the air out of the case.
Click to expand...

Cheers - that's what I guessed.

So if I did mount upside down I would definitely need a filter otherwise my PSU will fill with dust.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
You don't need a hole in the bottom of the case below the PSU. I know it doesn't look like much, but the gap underneath created by the little PSU risers is just about enough to allow the PSU room to breathe.

I have installed one with the fan down months ago and it has been running with zero issues.
 
You don't need a hole in the bottom of the case below the PSU. I know it doesn't look like much, but the gap underneath created by the little PSU risers is just about enough to allow the PSU room to breathe.

I have installed one with the fan down months ago and it has been running with zero issues.
Click to expand...

I did think that myself. As you say there is a small gap between the case and the PSU, but I wasn't confident on my own that it would be enough for the PSU to breath. My only worry is there is no sensor in the PSU so the first you will know if there is something wrong is when it fails.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
If you do decide to put a hole in the floor of your 300, it really doesn't have to be that big (i.e. the same size as the PSU fan).

A 92mm hole for instance would be fine:

4173034838_e3346a5520_o.jpg


(I'm intending to do this myself soon)

As for the washable fan filter, did you not get the front panel filter with your 300? The top and rear fan should be blowing out btw.

The 300 is a great little case, and what I really like about it is the fact that you can make so many mods (if you want to)...but it also works fine as it is :)

one more thing, if you do decide to cut any holes it's probably best to check that your hole saws are designed for cutting metal!
 
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