Ideas for fan placement without designated fan vent.

[Jae Tee]

Hey guys. Im building this workstation in an iStarUSA D Storm Series D-400-7P 4U, link below. Problem is there aren't enough places to put any fans. Im willing to use unconventional methods. Use my pics as a guide. This chasis will be on a mobile rack mount. So this case was kind of a must. 

 

Link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1002379-REG/istarusa_d_400_7p_d_storm_4u_compact_stylish.html?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAjwh7H7BRBBEiwAPXjadpHJauqDQWOsnAAngq-g89vb3UYJthLg82RdyQ71hCBHjhso6jM1vBoCeGoQAvD_BwE&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=y

[Demonic Donut]

Can you mount an intake at the bottom left of the first picture? Near the GPU. Looks like an intake?

 

What's in the box where the mess of cables from the PSU go into?

 

You might be able to mount a fan at the unused PCI slots. Another 80mm might fit.

 

Are you willing to Dremel and cut for custom mounts?

 

Is your rack open on the sides?

[narrdarr]

1 hour ago, Demonic Donut said:

Can you mount an intake at the bottom left of the first picture? Near the GPU. Looks like an intake?

 

it is vent them, but no mounting available. it 4x 5.25 bay and they are turn sideways, but the cage is missing. maybe zip ties would work to hold a fan in place

1 hour ago, Demonic Donut said:

What's in the box where the mess of cables from the PSU go into?

 

theres a HDD there

 

@Jae Tee

 

Do you have the extra 5.25 drive bay?

 

If so , this is what i would do.

I would move the hdd down the to other cage. giving you 3x 5.25 bays x2. then use something like two 3x 5.25 to 120mm fan mount

there are different verities of these adapter to fit different needs. feel free to look around see what would work best for you.

[freeagent]

If it were mine I would try an intake in front of the GPU, looks like there can be a spot, and under the GPU you have space for a 92mm fan, I would have one exhausting there, like the two rear exhausts you have already. And I would maybe try an intake in the spot where you have your wires stuffed, and then effectively manage the cables. I would also take the CPU fan off and remount it to the frame so it pushes through the heatsink.

[Jae Tee]

 

13 hours ago, Demonic Donut said:

Can you mount an intake at the bottom left of the first picture? Near the GPU. Looks like an intake?

That would be an ideal location, but there is no designated mounting space. 

13 hours ago, Demonic Donut said:

What's in the box where the mess of cables from the PSU go into?

Usb ports, and 3 sata ssd's. 

13 hours ago, Demonic Donut said:

You might be able to mount a fan at the unused PCI slots. Another 80mm might fit.

I plan on using some more of those so not really an option. 

13 hours ago, Demonic Donut said:

Are you willing to Dremel and cut for custom mounts?

Sorta. Looking for pluasable ideas for that.

13 hours ago, Demonic Donut said:

Is your rack open on the sides?

Front to back only. 

12 hours ago, narrdarr said:

it is vent them, but no mounting available. it 4x 5.25 bay and they are turn sideways, but the cage is missing. maybe zip ties would work to hold a fan in place

Something like this. Just looking for the best ideas. 

12 hours ago, narrdarr said:

theres a HDD there

 

@Jae Tee

 

Do you have the extra 5.25 drive bay?

Yes.

12 hours ago, narrdarr said:

If so , this is what i would do.

I would move the hdd down the to other cage. giving you 3x 5.25 bays x2. then use something like two 3x 5.25 to 120mm fan mount

there are different verities of these adapter to fit different needs. feel free to look around see what would work best for you.

Looks promising. I'll have a look.

6 hours ago, freeagent said:

If it were mine I would try an intake in front of the GPU, looks like there can be a spot,

Correct. But no actual mount. Will need some sort of modding. Suggestions?

6 hours ago, freeagent said:

and under the GPU you have space for a 92mm fan, I would have one exhausting there, like the two rear exhausts you have already.

I plan on adding some more expansion, so not quite. 

6 hours ago, freeagent said:

And I would maybe try an intake in the spot where you have your wires stuffed, and then effectively manage the cables.

I want to but I need it for other stuff. 

6 hours ago, freeagent said:

 I would also take the CPU fan off and remount it to the frame so it pushes through the heatsink.

Can't see a true benefit, if I'm understanding correctly, but I'll have a look.

 

Thanks all. If you have other ideas or options, feel free.

[Jae Tee]

Hey guys. Looking for a fan adapter to take the place of 4 5.25in bays. I know there Is more than enough room for a 140mm fan, but i only found adapters for 3 5.25 to 120mm. If anyone has seen what I'm looking for or what key words to search. And No. I don't have a 3D printer. 

[narrdarr]

i dont know anyone that make them probably would need to use a 12o to 140 shroud, but that would be useless in your case.

 

 

[57chevy]

6 hours ago, Jae Tee said:

I would also take the CPU fan off and remount it to the frame so it pushes through the heatsink.

 

6 hours ago, Jae Tee said:

Can't see a true benefit, if I'm understanding correctly, but I'll have a look.

 

The way the CPU fan looks in your pictures, it is pulling air through the cooler and blowing it towards the front of the case. Flipping the fan will blow the air through the cooler towards the back of the case where you have two exhaust fans venting warm air out. 

[Demonic Donut]

I'd recommend an intake fan at the front filter area. It'd be quite simple. Drill holes then run fan screws through. Does noise matter? If not, get a Delta fan etc.

[freeagent]

16 hours ago, Jae Tee said:

 

That would be an ideal location, but there is no designated mounting space. 

Usb ports, and 3 sata ssd's. 

I plan on using some more of those so not really an option. 

Sorta. Looking for pluasable ideas for that.

Front to back only. 

Something like this. Just looking for the best ideas. 

Yes.

Looks promising. I'll have a look.

Correct. But no actual mount. Will need some sort of modding. Suggestions?

I plan on adding some more expansion, so not quite. 

I want to but I need it for other stuff. 

Can't see a true benefit, if I'm understanding correctly, but I'll have a look.

 

Thanks all. If you have other ideas or options, feel free.

You want the air in your case to flow in one direction. Front to back. If you have your fan pointing the right way, at least you can get some more air over the vrms, and then straight out the back. And it would satisfy my OCD temporarily. But hey, if you cant see a true benefit, then leave it. Just calling it as I see it. As for a mount, you will need to cut a hole, and drill some smaller holes for the screws, should take 10 minutes.

[LogicalDrm]

Zipties?

[narrdarr]

3 minutes ago, LogicalDrm said:

Zipties?

that has been mentioned. This post piggy backs off the OP's other thread

[LogicalDrm]

13 minutes ago, narrdarr said:

that has been mentioned. This post piggy backs off the OP's other thread

Well then, @Jae Tee, you can blame this one right here for prompting me to merge threads. Please keep discussion concerning one problem in one thread. Helps all of us.

[Jae Tee]

On 9/25/2020 at 9:39 PM, 57chevy said:

The way the CPU fan looks in your pictures, it is pulling air through the cooler and blowing it towards the front of the case.

The pics mustn't be very good, because this isn't the case.

On 9/26/2020 at 7:45 AM, freeagent said:

You want the air in your case to flow in one direction. Front to back

It is going front to back. Should've got better pics. 

On 9/26/2020 at 4:24 PM, LogicalDrm said:

Well then, @Jae Tee, you can blame this one right here for prompting me to merge threads. Please keep discussion concerning one problem in one thread. Helps all of us.

To be fair they were different in content, but I understand.