Help me improve my silent system. 92mm -> 120mm fan.

t_k · Post by **t_k** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 5:48 pm

I've got the Swiftech MCX478V with a 92mm Papst 3412NGM, 72m³/time, 28 dB(A) Cooling a P4 Northwood 3.0 Ghz @ 3.6 Ghz at a Abit IC7-G mobo.

I'm kind of happy with this.

...But I want to improve my system.

What i was thinking about was buying a fan-adapter like this: http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/varer.asp?ARTNR=FA80120
...And then remove the 92mm brackets, put on the 80mm brackets, put on the fan-adapter and a papst 120mm fan like this: http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/varer.asp?ARTNR=4412FGL
My case is a Lian-Li PC6070A and i think it have room for a 120mm fan.

Do you think this can be done with a good result? Have any of you tried a fan-adapter before?

A big thanks by the way to all the good people on this forum. It's you i have to thank for my interest in silent PC systems.

This is my first post after lurking around for ages!

t_k · Post by **t_k** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 10:58 pm

*Bump*

To make it easy. Have anyone tried a fanadapter made out of plastic?

Will it make a lot of resonance/noise with a 120mm fan on top of it?

The fanadapter looks like this:

Morpheusman · Post by **Morpheusman** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 9:13 am

While I've never used an 80mm to 120mm adapter, I have used 60mm to 80mm adapters on older heatsinks with good results. However, going from 80mm at the heatsink to 120mm could be a little more tricky.

Anyone who has used these adapters will probably agree that using an adapter with a cooler designed for a smaller fan will never be as good as a cooler that was designed from the start to use a larger fan. You will certainly loose cooling efficiency due to the restriction caused by the adapter. However, adapters are generally inexpensive and I've found them to be very useful in situations where a larger fan/heatsink combo won’t fit due to crowding around the cpu socket.

BTW, the adapters I used were all plastic. They didn't seem to cause any additional vibration on thier own. However, I think a gasket between the fan and the adapter is a good way to reduce vibrations from the fan.

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:04 am

Buy some of rubber sticks when you order the adapter. Even if you don't need it for the vibration, I found this just an easy way to attach fans. And if you need it for the vibration, they work better than a gasket and screws.

t_k · Post by **t_k** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 5:07 am

Thanks for the tip.

Gonna buy rubber sticks if i'm gonna go for it.

Maybe i just buy a fanadapter to try it out. I can always sell the adapter and the 120mm fan to someone if it don't work. I guess the airflow would not be as good with the 80 -> 120 adapter, as Morpheusman says. I wish i could buy some 92 -> 120 mm adapters. It may not restrict the airflow that much, but i can't find any in the shops over here.

Thorz · Post by **Thorz** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 6:15 pm

How did it go with the fanadapter?

I like to buy the same fanadapter that you posted for my Lian Li case rear exhaust fan. Now there it sits an 80mm fan and I have a spare Nexus 120mm still sitting in its box.

I have another question for the people that can help me: What is better against vibration, the rubber sticks http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... V&toc=5870 or this rubber frame http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... 0&toc=5870?

Thank you very much

frankgehry · Post by **frankgehry** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 4:12 am

I like the way this adapter is cut out around the sides. This is what I would do for an 80 to 120 adapter. So instead of concentrating all the air into an 80mm opening, air is blown on the heatsink and on the mainboard too. - FG

This is from www.directron.com. I didn't see a 92 - 120 adapter.

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:38 am

Thorz wrote:I have another question for the people that can help me: What is better against vibration, the rubber sticks http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... V&toc=5870 or this rubber frame http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... 0&toc=5870?

I already answered that one, but you probably didn't know that "rubber frame" is called a gasket in English.

Tibors wrote:Buy some of rubber sticks (...) they work better than a gasket and screws.

Thorz · Post by **Thorz** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:55 am

Tibors wrote:
Thorz wrote:I have another question for the people that can help me: What is better against vibration, the rubber sticks http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... V&toc=5870 or this rubber frame http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/php/rd.p ... 0&toc=5870?
I already answered that one, but you probably didn't know that "rubber frame" is called a gasket in English.
Tibors wrote:Buy some of rubber sticks (...) they work better than a gasket and screws.

Thanks !

niels007 · Post by **niels007** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 6:37 am

My experience with ducting a 120mm fan on a 80x60 heatsink was that with short ducts, reversing the fan got me better results. I.e. have the fan suck air away from the heatsink instead of blowing on. With longer (>5cm / 2inch) the difference got realy small and longer length favours blowing onto the heatsink by a degree or 2.

Could be different in your case, but try the fan mounted both ways to see what's best

Thorz · Post by **Thorz** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:32 pm

Ok guys, this question can sound silly but beleive me I have no idea:

How do you actually use these rubber sticks? http://www.microplex.no/rubweb/varer.asp?ARTNR=SDVMAV
I have been trying almost ONE HOUR to mount my rear fan with these things and the fan keeps falling off the case! The rubber sticks don't go totally inside the fan mounting holes or the case holes (I have apply a reasonable ammount of presure and twisting but not too much, I am afraid to damage (break) the rubber sticks) and I feel that even when the fan is in place it feels very unsecured.

I have never use something like this before. I have several types of fans here and have tried with all of them to see if there was my Nexus 120mm that were the problem but I have been unable to mount open corner fans as well as closed corner ones.
I would really appreciate a link that can show some pics about how to use these things or a kind user that can post a pic here about it.

Thank you very much!

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:03 pm

100% silicone caulk and nylon screws/nuts work quite well for mounting fans. Let the caulk set up for about 30 minutes before attaching. This will make sure the caulk doesn't completely squeeze out, but is still adaptable if not put on perfectly even.

Depending on the application, I also use rubber washers on the screws. Sometimes I slice a soft grommet in half to make the washers. Don't overtighten the nylon screws.

frankgehry · Post by **frankgehry** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:11 pm

http://www.earshockandvibe.com/fantechniques.asp

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:30 pm

You have to apply a fair amount of force to pull the triangular part of the rubber stick completely through the hole in the fan. The rubber sticks don't easilly break. With a Nexus 120mm fan you have to cut the corners first, otherwise it won't work.

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

Thorz · Post by **Thorz** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:10 am

Thank you Tibors. I have used a tool for help me pull the rubber sticks. It worked

It was nice to have confirmation that the things were so resistent, that was my main concern. I have cut the corners of the Nexus for I could pull the things trough the holes.
Thanks again for the pics.