Limited Cooling Options

http://www.pichut.org/up/Imagegkgjjgkjg1.jpg

That's my case right now, I leave the side panel off because it gets pretty hot (the fan spins on high and gets really loud if the panel is on).

Would it help keep the CPU cooler if I reversed the fan to blow the hot air off the CPU? I would test it out myself but this cheapass Dell doesn't have any temp sensors.

 

don't reverse the fan, if it is a pre built computer(it is) then it should be on the right way, the back fan shoudl be sucking air out and the cou fan blowing towards the ehatsink, If you want it to run cooln'quiet you could get a quality cooling fan like a zalman from newegg.com and some arctic silver 5 thermal paste.

 

I agree leave your CPU fan as is.

I will assume the hardware in the bottom right hand corner standing vertically are 2xHDD?!? Can you mount them horizontially in the bay properly? Then you may find there is a fan mount just behind your front panel but in front of the drive bay.

Things you could consider are to remove that green hood and mod the right hand side of your case adding an extra inlet fan directly onto the CPU fan.

Mod the top of your case and add an extraction fan (you will have just enough room between your PSU and I assume CD/DVD drive.

As splittr states get an after market CPU fan and heatsink (I think leaving your side cover off for long periods of time will not benefit the lifetime of your sys).

Do a google on PC case modding there are heaps of sites out there that will show you how to add extra fans.

 

I just noticed that wth? why are the hdds standing vertically? pfft dell

 

I think the HDD mounting is probably important because if you dont have holes already in your side panels then you will probably find that the air flow path is suppossed to come from the front to the rear. The way you currently have it you have inflow being blocked by 2 hot HDD and what ever air is reaching the CPU is prewarmed or hot!?!

 

Sorry my first post wasn't so detailed, here are more pics:

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/frontview39084234.jpg
  Front View - There are no fans mounted in the front of the case. The HD is located there.

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/sideview216565.jpg
  Side view

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/sdeinside3405i4.jpg
  Side View w/side panel off

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/abcdefgP3100428 (Medium).JPG
  Heatsink and exhaust fan

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/insideinside389432.jpg
  Closer up

The back fan is the only fan on my system. Since there isn't any cool air coming into the case with the side panel on, I leave it off. So i was wondering if reversing the fan to blow cool air onto the CPU will help it cool down more than having the fan the other way.


Around May when it gets really hot, I'm planning to add fans (any suggestions of quality brands?) to have actual airflow. How does this look?

• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/topdfanfanf.jpg
  
• http://www.upshizzle.com/x/sidefan.jpg

What should I do to the CPU? I don't want to mess with thermal compound because I have no idea how to do it even after looking at the directions on the arctic silver site. I'm guessing a heatsink fan is a must, but would the back fan still be necessary?

Thanks in advance

 

Firstly don't reverse the flow of your fan as it will only blow heat back onto your CPU and crud into your heatsink=heat dispersal (completely defeating the purpose of it). It will lead to greater problems even if you think it may be a short term solution.

I hope you don't have your sys directly on the carpet this will only:
a. increase temp potential
b. increase dust potential
Therefore ensure it is elevated above carpet (high density foam (packaging foam) or a couple of bits of timber at each end, what ever just get it off the carpet!!!)

Secondly looking at the pics:

http://www.upshizzle.com/x/frontview39084234.jpg, and
http://www.upshizzle.com/x/sdeinside3405i4.jpg

It seems to show an intake slot under the apple (the big smile) and a coarse fan grill (circular holes in a circle shape). I'm certain if you laid down the HDD you will see mounting screwholes for an 80mm fan! I would focus on some method of laying the HDD horizontially and mounting a front intake fan (AU$6) for the time being. When laying the HDD always consider the front inflow and ensure to get them out of the path.

The modding pics look really good!!!

 

Secondly looking at the pics:

1. http://www.upshizzle.com/x/frontview39084234.jpg, and
2. http://www.upshizzle.com/x/sdeinside3405i4.jpg

1. seems to show an intake slot under the apple (the big smile) and 2. a coarse fan grill (circular holes in a circle shape). I'm certain if you laid down the HDD you will see mounting screwholes for a 80mm front intake fan!

 

It looks like you might not have mount there for your HDD. Wonder of you have heard of "Meccano", little hobby kits for building anything??? You could bolt a little metal frame from toghther to mount your HDD and have an open basic frame to allow front airflow.

 

Earlier I implied that the CPU fan blew air away from the heatsink but I have found that I was wrong and that they actually blow air onto the heatsink, needed to clear that up. Here is a link for creating extra HDD brackets (very simple and withs parts lying around):

http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/194/1

and the site in general (good for mod tuturiols):

http://www.gideontech.com/content/guides/modsaccessory#modsaccessory

Hope it helps.