Air cooling a QS Help?

[racerblur]

I'm looking for a simple Heat issue fix -- Would just adding two fans to the top of my case help keep it cool? Or do I need to go with liquid cooling?

I have a Dual QS with a Sonnettech 1.8gig, 1.5gig RAM, DVD-R Sonnettech combo ATA and FW400/USB, a FW800 card, M-Audio Delta LT1010 digital audio board and a ATI9800 pro with 500gb Cheeta ATA and a 400gb Maxtor Diamond 11.

The sucker gets super hot... javascript:add(%22%20:-[%22)

I don't thing I could manage getting liquid cooling to work correctly as this is my prime Graphic Design and Photoshop machine...

[aquamac]

There is no doubt that putting 2 x80mm fans in the top of your case will make a big difference. I just outlined a post to Gotoh about the same subject. This would allow the heat build up to escape & let the processor fans do their job! The thing to do would be to set the lower 120mm fan to suck air in & the top 80's & rear top fan to expell the air out.

[racerblur]

Ok -- sounds like a plan... I haven't studied the case enough, but what did you use to cut the actual metal? Can that metal be taken out so it's easier to cut? And how do I reverse the 120mm fan? -- I am ready to mod! =)

[aquamac]

Hi Raceblur,

Have a look here at the bottom of the page for the tools I used.

www.aqua-mac.com/quicksilvermodsw.html

You can get away with only the stammet hole cutter & use this on the metal also. However, undo the handles & take off the plastic top first. Put the holes in this first, off the computer. Use a 73mm cutter. Then put it back in position and mark the centre of the hole on the metal. Take it back off then cut the metal.

When you position the holes MAKE SURE that the fans underneath do not obstruct the power supply. An easy mistake to make & a costly one. Go slowly & strip down the computer completely, metal shavings & computers do not work well together!

If you have any other questions - Fire away!

[racerblur]

Aquamac,

How do I reserve the 120mm fan? Do I just physically rotate the fan? Or is re-wire the the fan?

Thanks!

[aquamac]

You just physically reverse the fan so it is facing the opposite way. Fans cannot have their electrical polarity reversed.

[racerblur]

Ok I read what Gotoh did with his GigE machine... Is it better to pull air from the bottom Or Push air out? Would the top of the case be the best place to pull air out because "hot air" rises or if adding FANs to push hot air out better? Or having a combination of both? I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on this... Or does it really matter where the fans are placed? Thanks!

[reddrag0n]

I would say, pull cool air in from bottom, or side, then expell air out through back or top. Take a page from the PC modders. They seem to have it down pat when it comes to cooling their mods.

[aquamac]

I would tend to agree, don't fight the convection currents in the case. Cool air in at the bottom (the coldest air in the room also) & blow the hot air out of the top. I did however reverse the whole thing on my Quicksilver though as I wanted cold air blown directly onto the mosfets of the Giga upgrade. These get pretty toasty & are not part of the watercooling system, relying on air only to cool them. As the system was watercooled there was not the usual heat sink producing a load of heat at the top of the case either.