Anyone change the front 120mm on a Praetorian?

[Anonymous]

Trying to change out the front case fan (intake) on my CM Praetorian, but it seems to be in a "mounting cage," secured both in the front and back. Doesn't appear to be any way to remove it from the front or the rear.

The fan that's in there now is a 120x25mm, but I want to put in a 120x38mm Panaflo fan.

My case: Link (http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1121)

Anyone change theirs? Any ideas? Thanks

[jester]

Do ya have any more detailed pics? The ones on coolermaster site doesnt really show much. How does the cage seem to be attached, by rivets perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Do ya have any more detailed pics? The ones on coolermaster site doesnt really show much. How does the cage seem to be attached, by rivets perhaps?

Thanks for the help.

First pic-Frontal view:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/san-man/IMG_0194.jpg

Second pic-view of top of fan mount:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/san-man/IMG_0195.jpg

Third pic-view of side of fan mount:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/san-man/IMG_0197.jpg

And fourth pic-view of bottom area of fan mount:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/san-man/IMG_0196.jpg


As you can see, it seems as though the fan sits in a "bracket" of some sort. If you look at the frontal picure and if you look through the left edge of the fan, you can see the back of the bracket that is inset so the fan doesn't fall back into the case (if it weren't screwed in, i.e.). That's the part that is really holding me back. Hell, worst case is I gotta dremel out the area that's holding the fan in, since the Panaflo fan is 13mm deeper too :cry:

[Anonymous]

Sorry, stupid photobucket didn't resize that last pic.

[FunkZ]

It looks like if you remove the 4 screws on the front the fan would slide either up or down out of the cage, or is there something else in the way? If it's not possible to move the cage is it possible to move the something else?

If you don't mind giving up 3 of your 5¼" bays you could mount an iCage from Thermaltake. I use that to run an extra 120mm fan in front.

[SHaCK]

If you remove the 4 screws and the HDD behind the fan, can't you remove it from the inside ?

Your 3.5" bay seems removable ( at least the front part ) if you take it off, can't you slide up the fan out ?

[Anonymous]

No, there is an inset piece of aluminum behind the fan that is about 3-4mm in width. It sorta prevents the fan from falling into the case should you remove those 4 front screws. It will slide up or down, but that won't allow removal.

Thanks Funkz, I'll look into that fan bay kit.

[jester]

Yea that does kinda suck. Sits pretty tight in there. Like funk said looks like it would slide out. The probly put the fan in & then assembled the front piece right above it. What about using the dremel on the bottom of the case to get the fan out that way?

Either way & yea youd need to modify it for a thicker fan by cutting the front brackets off & drill new holes in the back or cutting the back side.

[Anonymous]

Yea that does kinda suck. Sits pretty tight in there. Like funk said looks like it would slide out. The probly put the fan in & then assembled the front piece right above it. What about using the dremel on the bottom of the case to get the fan out that way?

Either way & yea youd need to modify it for a thicker fan by cutting the front brackets off & drill new holes in the back or cutting the back side.

Ya, there isn't much room on the front to cut out much, since the cover for the fan sits close to the mount.

I think I'll have to end up dremeling the rear bracket.