S340 elite airflow mod

[Glasare]

I made a mod to my S340 Elite to improve the cooling of the front mounted MasterLiquid Pro 240, and the general intake of air into the case.

It actually turned out pretty well, and it wasn't hard to make, so I'm gonna share some photos here.

 

I decided to mount a couple of extra fans on the inside of the front panel, so first I had to even out the surface.

 

Offsetting the 120mm fans a bit if I ever (not gonna happen) decide to put 140mm fans here instead.

 

 

Drilled some 3.5mm pilot holes with the fan clamped in place, and then enlarged them to 4.5mm.

 

Tracing with my trusty IKEA pencil.

 

 

 

As I don't have the proper tools for it at home, I had to use a drill to make the cut out. Tried a 22mm drill first, but it was a lot faster and more "precise" to use a smaller drill.

 

 

Then I could just cut the hole open with a box cutter.

 

 

 

Ready for two fans.

 

 

Fans mounted. The front panel already had the slit for the cords to pass through, and there's a point of entry in the front of the case at that location. NZXT must've had plans for accessories.

 

 

Front attached.

 

 

Here's the metal sheet attached with M3 bolts and some random plastic plugs I found at home.

 

 

Up and running. My "new" 775 build with an Abit IP35-E, Xeon X5460 @4.2GHz 1.38V and a 780Ti. Both CPU and GPU run cooler under load than before, tho I need to do some more extensive testing.

I also need a Y-splitter to get the top fan running again for VRMs and Northbridge. This CPU will overclock futher if I can get the cooling right.

 

[TVwazhere]

5 minutes ago, Glasare said:

I made a mod to my S340 Elite to improve the cooling of the front mounted MasterLiquid Pro 240, and the general intake of air into the case.

It actually turned out pretty well, and it wasn't hard to make, so I'm gonna share some photos here.

 

Up and running. My "new" 775 build with an Abit IP35-E, Xeon X5460 @4.2GHz 1.38V and a 780Ti. Both CPU and GPU run cooler under load than before, tho I need to do some more extensive testing.

I also need a Y-splitter to get the top fan running again for VRMs and Northbridge. This CPU will overclock futher if I can get the cooling right.

 

I actually am not sure how much airflow you improved, since you put another panel over the modded one thats fairly close to the original. Usually cases with good side air flow leave 1" [25.4mm] between a fan and a solid surface. Push/Pull would make the workload on the fans easier though, interested to see the results.

[NoxiousOdor]

that is nicer than how I improved the airflow in my s340, what I did was when I removed the plastic from the metal I cut the entire middle section out so that the metal was mounted like normal on the left and right side but there was no plastic in the middle, I had to do that because I needed to be able to mount fans on the front of the case

 

nice job! I like like how yours turned out

[Glasare]

36 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

I actually am not sure how much airflow you improved, since you put another panel over the modded one thats fairly close to the original. Usually cases with good side air flow leave 1" [25.4mm] between a fan and a solid surface. Push/Pull would make the workload on the fans easier though, interested to see the results.

It is kinda push pull now. The Cooler Master fans are inside the case pulling, and the Fractal fans I mounted are pushing. Granted they're only half an inch from the metal sheet. But it's open all the way around. Half an hour of Doom (2016) had the GPU maxed out at 78C. It would always end up at 85C before. The CPU got no hotter than 62C, tho Doom is not as demanding as RotTR or some proper stress test. VRM temps (or Northbridge. Dunno what that sensor takes its' reading from) is worse tho since I disconnected the top fan, so I need to get that running again.

[mbox]

Hi I wanted to mod my S340 and I found out that my idea is really close to what you did and I wanted to have an opinion. I don't want to mod it to much and be able to revert to the stock look if I want to sell it. 

My plan is to cut a 140x280mm rectangle into the plastic part where the fans are and then with some risers and longer screws mount the original metal panel 2.5 cm (maybe less,1.5) away from the original position (that would give 5.5cm from the fans to the panel). Here are some photos to give you an idea. Any suggestion or observation?

[Glasare]

5 hours ago, mbox said:

Hi I wanted to mod my S340 and I found out that my idea is really close to what you did and I wanted to have an opinion. I don't want to mod it to much and be able to revert to the stock look if I want to sell it. 

My plan is to cut a 140x280mm rectangle into the plastic part where the fans are and then with some risers and longer screws mount the original metal panel 2.5 cm (maybe less,1.5) away from the original position (that would give 5.5cm from the fans to the panel). Here are some photos to give you an idea. Any suggestion or observation?

 

I suggest you go ahead  

As long as you don't cut away any of the original mounting points, you should be able to revert it just fine.

I can't really predict how it will turn out for you and your setup, but I knocked at least 5C from my GPU as I can't seem to push it above 80C anymore (It's a 780Ti. I *think* that generation GPU throttles at 85C, I might be wrong tho). CPU under 100% load (Prime95) sees the hottest core max out at 72C, running a Xeon X5460 @4.2GHz, 1.3775V

 

I use the top fan as an intake as well which really helps my setup with the temps on my board. Gonna replace the Corsair SP140 with something better, maybe a Noctua Redux 140mm 1500rpm.

[mbox]

27 minutes ago, Glasare said:

 

I suggest you go ahead  

As long as you don't cut away any of the original mounting points, you should be able to revert it just fine.

I can't really predict how it will turn out for you and your setup, but I knocked at least 5C from my GPU as I can't seem to push it above 80C anymore (It's a 780Ti. I *think* that generation GPU throttles at 85C, I might be wrong tho). CPU under 100% load (Prime95) sees the hottest core max out at 72C, running a Xeon X5460 @4.2GHz, 1.3775V

 

I use the top fan as an intake as well which really helps my setup with the temps on my board. Gonna replace the Corsair SP140 with something better, maybe a Noctua Redux 140mm 1500rpm.

Thank you for the info. Do you know the type of screws that are used for the panel?

[Glasare]

3 minutes ago, mbox said:

Thank you for the info. Do you know the type of screws that are used for the panel?

Probably some imperial measure. M3 is too small, M4 too big. I used M3, so I had to wedge a nut in there with pliers to be able to secure the bolt.

[mbox]

2 hours ago, Glasare said:

Probably some imperial measure. M3 is too small, M4 too big. I used M3, so I had to wedge a nut in there with pliers to be able to secure the bolt.

Ok thanks, I think that maybe are 6-32 screws. If I can't find the correct one the nut will do the trick. One last question, did you find the plastic easy to cut or was that an hard job? I want to cut my panel with a saw.

[Glasare]

18 hours ago, mbox said:

Ok thanks, I think that maybe are 6-32 screws. If I can't find the correct one the nut will do the trick. One last question, did you find the plastic easy to cut or was that an hard job? I want to cut my panel with a saw.

 

If you can keep it clamped down properly, a saw would make quick work of it.

[DIY tech]

I was in the same boat once. 

 

Edited January 19, 2018 by DIY tech