Improve custom NAS server HDD cooling

[kriegalex]

Hi,

 

I own a Caselabs S5 custom NAS and I recently added a second Supermicro 5 HDD bay to it. On the first HDD bay, I had removed the original fan and replaced it with a much slower and quieter Noctua NF-A9. I wanted to keep the quiet aspect but improve the cooling to something the original (which is super loud) would provide. Also keeping the big fan box of the second HDD bay would have interfered with my motherboard, so I had to find a way.

 

Finally, I did it the "Linus way", but it works quite nicely. Only requirement, you must have some space under the HDD bay, so that's why I left one 5.25" bay in between. I plan on doing a 3D printing of a piece that will be screwed on the side of the HDD bay and will allow to fix the fan properly.

 

I will update if I can create the 3D model and use the printer we have in the school where I work. It won't be easy as I have to avoid interfering with airflow (and I'm not used to create 3D models). 

 

If someone has already done something similar, feel free to share your experience