HAF X Front Fan Mod

[WalkerThePirate]

I recently got my HAF X case to store all my goodies. HAF stands for high air flow, but is it really as high as it could be? I didn't think it was, seeing only one front intake fan. That one fan does give high air flow, but if you have a ton of hard drives behind it, the air won't be as effective as it could be. I decided I would try to lower my temps even more by adding on a 120mm Cooler Master R4. To start off, here are my specs:

i7 950 @ 4.2Ghz OC

Asus Sabertooth X58

Corsair Dominator 6GB @ 1600Mhz

EVGA 570 Superclocked

Corsair HX850W

Noctua NH-D14

Before the fan was installed, my idle CPU temps were at 37-39° C on average.

My idle VGA temps were at 34-38° C on average, but did not change after installation.

First, I took off all of the metal tabs in front of the optical drive bays. Then, I removed all of the front grills and both hot swap bays.

Then I ziptied the four corners of the fans to 2 of the front grills.

After that, I unscrewed the PCB and moved it up. Since there are two hot swap bays, I put it directly under the top plastic grill, leaving room for an optical drive (I don't have one at the moment. Also, dirty side window, deal with it

.)

Lastly, I snapped in the two attached grills and then the middle grill.

I now have a nice cool flow of air going directly to my RAM and HSF.

Now, you might be wondering. Is it worth the trouble? Well, I'll let the temperatures do the talking. You decide.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, there is no rattling, shaking, or any sort of movement with a tight ziptie. No additional noise was heard, other than the smooth spinning of the fan.

 

[Zraupp]

i know a lot of people do that BUT they put the fan on the top so the fan blows air on ram and cpu

 

[tinytomlogan]

i know a lot of people do that BUT they put the fan on the top so the fan blows air on ram and cpu

Going against the very first thing you will learn in thermodynamics then. Heat rises.

 

[Ya93sin]

intake at the bottom, exhaust at the top.if you have more fans exhausting rather than intaking air is that better?

 

[Zraupp]

Going against the very first thing you will learn in thermodynamics then. Heat rises.

but the case they have i don't think there is a fan on top, they have 3 fans in front (fan(blows on ram+cpu) fan(blows on video card) CD fan(blows on HD))

 

[Technex]

Thanks for this thread, good guide / info.

I am planning to do the same on my HAF X after a few months as I use none of them drive bays at all lol...

BTW might want to fit a filter to it like the rest of the fans, have one without it and it won't stay clean for long

.

 

[Stryker64]

intake at the bottom, exhaust at the top.if you have more fans exhausting rather than intaking air is that better?

Really depends, I personally prefer having a more fans intaking resulting in positive air. With all intakes being dust filtered, because if you do that the extra air will try to force it's way through all the little gaps, so dust can't get in. But if you have negative pressure (more exhausts) dust can sneak into the little gaps.

 

[Zraupp]

Really depends, I personally prefer having a more fans intaking resulting in positive air. With all intakes being dust filtered, because if you do that the extra air will try to force it's way through all the little gaps, so dust can't get in. But if you have negative pressure (more exhausts) dust can sneak into the little gaps.

nice info

 

[Technex]

Too much positive air pressure can also create dead airflow spots. Best to have neutral or slightly positive.

 

[Technex]

I think I'm going to get a 140mm if possible looks like it will fit.

Nice orange one blue if not

.

 

[WalkerThePirate]

but the case they have i don't think there is a fan on top, they have 3 fans in front (fan(blows on ram+cpu) fan(blows on video card) CD fan(blows on HD))

Actually, we only have 1 large (230mm) fan intaking air in the front, at the bottom. There's a 200mm side fan also intaking air. All of the exhaust is near the top of the case.

I think I'm going to get a 140mm if possible looks like it will fit.

Nice orange one blue if not

.

I measured the distance across, actually. It would be VERY tight, if it could squeeze in there at all. It'd be a pain to try to attach it to the filters with zipties, but that not be a problem if you're a handyman with the drill or something.

 

[rrplay]

Thanks for the guide and info

.were you able to turn the leds on/off with the second front fan via the case switch ?

 

[PCMoDKiiD]

I have the HAF x case and that looks like a great mod

But i use the hot swap bays a lot so wouldn't be for me, i might add one where the other HDD's go to extend the airflow more

 

[Ralm]

I have the HAF x case and that looks like a great mod

But i use the hot swap bays a lot so wouldn't be for me, i might add one where the other HDD's go to extend the airflow more

Dont is possible to change the Hotswap location??

 

[Technex]

It's possible to change hot swap location to anywhere you want on the front.

Funny this thread was bumped, I'm just doing this mod right now

.

(came to check the cable ties)

 

[Ralm]

LOL the cable Ties =)

Why not screws??

Much better looking if you know what are you doing =)

 

[Technex]

Because cable ties work just fine, don't involve damaging any filter, can't be seen and offer a slight amount of vibration dampening

. Plus drilling wouldn't work with my 140mm fan lol.

 

[Ralm]

... don't involve damaging any filter, can't be seen and offer a slight amount of vibration dampening

. Plus drilling wouldn't work with my 140mm fan lol.

Damaging?? the front grils dont have filter as I know. Maybe Im wrong. And vibration dampening I got a solution for you: Rubber washer ( dont know if is the right term, I just trust on Google translator XDD)

Then only what you have to do is dril the gril with holes with the required diameter for you screws and done.

I will buy an HAF-X very soon, and I want to do this mod. Then I post a guide XDDD I will try to use an 140mm noctua fan, with no Leds ( is a secret fan LOL)

 

[Technex]

Yeah they all have filters, my last post was incorrect.

Rubber washers just get compressed when you do up the screws, or they vibrate, I never find them a great way of dampening vibrations

.

Hehe, my 140mm Noctua fan works well but I want LEDs... Might mod it with my own.

 

[Ralm]

Ok, they may have dust filters. And thats very nice. But a litle hole, with an hot wire or something will not hurt at all.

I think the is not better material to absorve vibrations then Rubber. You dont need to squeeze them. The fan will not fly away XD