Antec p180 Fan Configuration

[Astray]

I just recently upgraded my old Antec Super Lanboy into a Atec p180, and I wanted to make sure I get all the proper airflow within the case, I also wasn't too sure what fan to use for the VGA duct, All the 80mm fans I've tried are too large and rub up against my 6600 GT which don't like.

I'm using stock fans it came with, all except the front panel, where I put a fan I pulled from the Super Lanboy case, (I think it's the same as the TriCool fans the p180 came with except it has LED's). And ofcourse the VGA duct, which has no fan at the moment.

Comments/Suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Shadowknight]

Ditch the VGA duct, useless. Even if you wanted to use it, you're stuck with an 15mm thick 80mm fan since 90% of current VGA cards are full height.

 

[Astray]

Would it be better to leave the duct itself in the case? or does it obstruct the airflow within too much to actualy do anything?

 

[nealh]

I used the vga duct for a while..I agree garbage

I would switch top fan so it blows into the case..this helped my temps

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: Astray
Would it be better to leave the duct itself in the case? or does it obstruct the airflow within too much to actualy do anything?

No idea. Might as well take it out.

 

[JJU357]

Drop the VGA duct, its worthless. The fans on the front should be sucking air in. I have both the top and rear fan sucking from inside the case and blowing air out. I tried to blow air in the top one and it seemed to make things worse, but my 2.5GHz athlon 64 x2 3800+ runs below 50 celcius at full load with an xp-120 in this configuration

 

[Astray]

Got rid of it finnaly, decided to use the exhaust for the VGA duct as a place to store wires :3

See pics below >

 

[pulsedrive]

Yeah, DO NOT turn the top fan into an intake, leave it as an exhaust. The reason for this is that it will make those nice air filters in the front of your case USELESS. And unless you like having to dust out your case on a regular basis, then leave the intakes up front and the other fans as exhausts. Also you might want to patch up the grill where the VGA cooler was, so that Dust can't get in their either.

 

[McPudd]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
Also you might want to patch up the grill where the VGA cooler was, so that Dust can't get in their either.

The grille should be taped over also to prevent hot air being evacuated by the PSU, (possiblly a Video card) and rear exhaust fan from being recycled back into the case.

 

[kruull]

I have the case and am running a TT SmartCase fan in the top - middle RPM + Primecooler 12cm 74CFM @ 24dB in the back (both exhaust fans) + one of the Antec fans in front of my HDDs. I also removed the VGA crap as is it really useless. Tommorow i will replace my Primecooler HC4+ (Zalman 7700Cu) for a Zalman 9500Cu which will pull air from the inside of the rig (VGA card mainly) just to the top exhaust fan which is acctually right above it (thank god for my mobo and its layout ) + i will also put a Akasa 54CFM @ 18dB instead of the back Primecooler (that will cool the HDDs) as its making aerodynamical noise because of the high CFM. Then ill try to play around a bit with the fans to lower the temps a bit, though i think 2x exhaust is the bet.... will let ya guys know round christmas

 

[One43637]

damn, and i really wanted to try and use the VGA duct just to see if it would be of any use.

my plan was to use the slim fan from here for the VGA duct on an Asus A8N32. i'm just not sure which combination of case fans and fan controller would work for me.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=88&code=013

shame everyone is saying how useless that VGA duct is =/

 

[kruull]

Originally posted by: One43637
damn, and i really wanted to try and use the VGA duct just to see if it would be of any use.

my plan was to use the slim fan from here for the VGA duct on an Asus A8N32. i'm just not sure which combination of case fans and fan controller would work for me.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=88&code=013

shame everyone is saying how useless that VGA duct is =/

that slim think could fit even with a high VGA card (like my 6600GT i had or the 800GTO FB) - but as ive listed in some forums it only does like -2/3C! But it might help too cool the rams on the VGA card if you are using some ram sinks (on VF700 or TR V1)

 

[klnyc]

so, whats the temp on you current GPU?
I might do a similar set up like yours.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

bin the duct

just have a rear fan, front fan, and might as well use the blow hole too. but on the blow hole id have an undervolted fan. dont think theres much need to have a fast fan at the top.

 

[McPudd]

Kruull:

I?m about to build 2 systems with the P180 which have the same basic parts.
I was going to use the duct and that very same fan. After thinking through the
air-flow and heat/noise best config, I?m going with the following:

P180 air-flow/heat dissiption
Lower Chamber:
Antec TriCool 120mm x 38mm intake fan set to LOW and moves air IN from
filter, over HDDs, over PSU and OUT the rear of case.
Enermax Liberty EL620AWT 620W Modular PSU has a 120mm smart intake
fan whose speed is controlled by need. Shouldn?t have to spin very quickly.

Upper Camber:
Extra Antec TriCool 120mm fan drawing air IN from filter through driveless bay
and into case. Set to MEDIUM.
No motherboard fan. Asus A8N32-Sli Deluxe heat-pipe.
VGA duct removed and remaining grille duct duct-taped over to prevent dust
and warmed air from the back of the case from recycling back in.
ATI Radeon X1800XT PCI-e card?s 92mm fan draws air from case and expells
Its heat OUT if the case.
Zalman CNPS9500 LED copper CPU heat sink w/92MM fan draws air from upper
case area (esp RAM slots) cooling HS, points at and cools motherboard
heatpipe fins and directly on to upper rear Antec TriCool 120mm fan set to
exhaust case and set at LOW.
Antec TriCool 120mm blowhole fan exhausts air and is set to LOW.

Aside from what is mentioned above, the main sources of heat:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo
Corsair XMS-3500LL PRO 2GB kit (2x1GB modules)
2x500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 500GB SATA 3Gb/s

Also take into account that an overly negative air-pressure state in the case
will cause unfiltered dust laden air to enter the case from every unsealed
?nook and cranny?.
That is why I will set that extra front Antec 120mm fan?s intake to MEDIUM
instead of LOW and put up with the added noise.

Nice that you can play with the variables depending on your gear with these cases.

Happy trailz,

 

[kruull]

Originally posted by: klnyc
so, whats the temp on you current GPU?
I might do a similar set up like yours.

If you mean my GPU - max. 63C what i have seen (used RivaTuner to monitor temps) - but its going down with time - now its @ 61,5C which is great as a 850XT has round 79C when fully loaded. Unfortunately im not sure about the rams - now their cooled by the Primecooler but dont know if setting up the Zalman wont higher the temps on the rams... if i only had a tool to monito those - ill search google or something

 

[kruull]

Forgot top mention - Zalman didnt arrive so will have to wait a week more, but i installed the Akasa fan and its great.... cant hear it really. (Now i just have to get rid of the small crapy motherboard "cooler"... - Zalman NV1 is nothing for me as im planning to buy an AC for my nex VGA card...

 

[kruull]

Originally posted by: McPudd

1. Freaking nice setup - i like the 500GB Seagates the most and the CPU too, though i'd rather go for an Opty175/180

2. I would recomment to get those fans replaced by something less disturbing.... the Akasa is a good choice - quite powerfull and very silent

3. Why are u buing a 620W PSU - is not a 500W enough? Ur not buyin an Intel... planning to upgrade to CF or SLi?

 

[McPudd]

Hi kruull:
1) Thanks.
2) 3 of the 4 120mm TriCools will be set to LOW and by spec are quiet.
The one 120mm TriCool set to MEDIUM may be a bother but its location makes it easily replaceable
later. Akasa is one to look at though it seems more familiar/available in Europe.
3) I'm expecting the house lights to dim when I fire up the HDDs
PSUs tend to last in your system longer. Who knows how much more power hungry other
components will become over its life.

Happy merry xmas!

 

[kruull]

Originally posted by: McPudd

U might be right on the PSU...why didn't i buy a stronger PSU then??? Ahhh yet short of $$$ - but the 480W should be enough even for a 2xGTX 512MB in Sli: 420W max! But i would be glad even with one of those

Merry Xmas to u 2...

 

[HO]

Originally posted by: McPudd

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
Also you might want to patch up the grill where the VGA cooler was, so that Dust can't get in their either.

The grille should be taped over also to prevent hot air being evacuated by the PSU, (possiblly a Video card) and rear exhaust fan from being recycled back into the case.

Putting tape over that grille dropped my CPU temps by 3C. Well worth the little time it took.

 

[GimpyFuzznut]

Does anyone recommend the Zalman CNPS9500 over the Scythe Ninja? I'm probably going to be running the exact same setup at McPudd above and decided to go with a Ninja with a fan mounted on it. That fan would be positioned towards the front of the case and suck air in while the nearby top and rear fans exhaust. I'll also add the one extra fan in front of the drive bays, also intaking air.

 

[keldog7]

Be careful using the Scythe Ninja on the A8N32-SLI (forgive me if you're planning a different MB). Basically, using the Ninja will block off some RAM slots in a big way. It DOES work though.
Also, anyone looking at P180 performance and fan configuration should check out silentpcreview - they have an exhaustive review of the product, with temperature and noise benchmarks. Basically, with the Ninja, you'll get better cooling by leaving the TOP fan OFF, so that it DOES become an intake for cool air. Dust problems...well, my house isn't that dusty I guess.

-Adrian

 

[GimpyFuzznut]

I don't really mind dust that much - I'm really used to regularly cleaning my PC. Technically, couldn't you install the same dust filter from the front into the top fan (now working as an intake). And ya, I'm getting the A8N32-SLI - could you recommend something other than the Ninja if it is going to be a problem with the ram slots. What exactly is the problem? Would the XP-120, Big Typhoon or Zalmann be a better idea?

I see you have Ninjas setup with Nexus fans... where do you have the Ninja fan facing - pulling air in from the front? On the A8N32 does the CPU end up in the top corner next to the exhaust fans like I saw somewhere on a review for the Ninja with a particular Intel board.

I'll check out the silentpc review as well - thanks for that heads up.

 

[keldog7]

Since the HS doesn't actually push air downwards, I thought it best to point the airflow at the MB heatsink...that puts the fan on the RAM side of things. The fan will apparently only fit in a PUSH direction - though I didn't actually examine it to try the PULL direction. Here's a few pics to see the fit... Ive got a ton more, if you want to see some other aspect of this setup. The pics I'm showing display the FIT near the ram more than anything.
I think the Zalman might be better - both in terms of fit and airflow over the MB. On the other hand, the Zalman is noisier (without a 92mm fan swap) and less effective as a cooler than the Ninja.

http://pages.istar.ca/~kellya/ninja_3500LL_does_fit.jpg

notice which RAM banks I was forced to use...
http://pages.istar.ca/~kellya/top_down_view.jpg
http://pages.istar.ca/~kellya/ret_clip_height.jpg
http://pages.istar.ca/~kellya/tight_fit.jpg

a rough pic of the end result is...
http://pages.istar.ca/~kellya/final_build800x600.jpg
-Adrian