X-Discovery Unnoticed Cooling

[Overclocked Dirtbike]

I just walked into my room, and I felt a radiating heat against my leg. I knew it was my computer, so i put my hand behind the exhaust fan. The air coming out was cool ( [smilie=icon_biggrin.gif]. ) I touched the side of my case, it was slightly warm. This is the motherboard side. I was thinking, you should be able to mount a fan there, to dissipate the motherboard heat, as alot of it stays in that area behind the tray.

Heres a link to what part I am talking about, for your convenience.

http://www.ocia.net/reviews/aspirediscovery/page3.shtml

Would this help if some kind of custom fan were placed there?
How do i accomplish this?

Thanks!

[fstroupe]

Though all mods are possible, some are impractical...this is probably one of them, though it is a viable first mod project.

Get a 3" hole saw (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?offerings_id=5315&cookietest=1) (warning...commercial site...for info purposes only)

Here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G2HPQY/ref=nosim/102-9239478-8332961?n=228013) is an adjustable hole cutter, that looks pretty appealing to me. Seems that it would probably be easier to use with a hand drill than a regular hole saw. (Also a commercial site used for info only)

And a very thin 80mm fan (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37&products_id=2223&zenid=e29fd264173014488acdb4c4798b2b9a) (ditto!) (Before starting, it would probably be a good idea to measure the case to make sure a 15mm fan would fit between mobo tray and side panel...it is pretty tight back there.)

Cut a hole in the side panel, either directly behind the processor, or maybe a little higher. Watch out for the raised parts of the mobo tray. Actually, I personally would probably use the hole saw to cut one out and place the fan above that. There are primers all over the net at how to cut fan holes, Here's one. (http://case-mods.linear1.org/case-mod-101-stealth-blowhole-and-case-handles/2/). Unless you are extremely handy with power tools, I would borrow/rent/get someone else to use/etc, a drill press...much less likely to damage your case. Make a template of the fan and make sure you get your screw holes lined up right before drilling them.

Here (http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=27) is a primer for making a fan hole with a dremel. He leaves out photos of the hard part, and makes it sound much easier than it is, unless you have a lot of experience using one.

I'd probably run the fan at a very low speed...run it from the +5v side of a molex. I would probably make the fan an exhaust rather than an intake, but that's me. Really doesn't matter.

Though, this would just as easily be accomplished by removing the side panel. Another possible mod would be to cut vent slits in the side panel behind the processor and northbridge....though probably even more impractical than mounting a fan back there, unless you are very handy with a dremel, or have access to a chop saw.

[Overclocked Dirtbike]

I was thinking, I could make a new side panel for my computer. I know a car body shop place that could easly match the paint. (Plus, I might be one of the few to have a computer painted with car paint!) I would think this would be the easiest method, as I could get side panels from an old computer, drill them, and which ever one is the best I could get painted. (If I do this, I would most certainly post my progress on a topic.)

By the way, a 15mm thin fan would not fit behind that tray. Are there custom ultra slim fans available? A PCI slot fan would be slimmer, right?

I do not need a blowhole, as my PSU sucks air in from the inside of the case to the outside, and it never gets that hot in there.

[fstroupe]

Nah, though a blowhole does make a difference, it was just for the instructions for cutting a fan. (You'd be surprised at how much warm air pools up behind the PSU...I wish someone would come up with a quality, quiet PSU with intake fan on the back instead of the bottom...or both)

Some chipset fans would fit. I've seen a few that look like a minature case fan. They are usually pretty loud, though.

Surf the mod sites to see how many people have auto paint on their rigs...actually, I have reviewed one case that had auto paint on it.

[billb]

I was thinking, you should be able to mount a fan there, to dissipate the motherboard heat, as alot of it stays in that area behind the tray.Yes, the space between the MOBO and the tray traps heat. On old OCing trick is to cut a hole in the MOBO tray and add a small (40 x 10mm?) fan to circulate air into this dead space.