Hardware Yeah, my computer tower has a flaw

[the_randomizer]

So, what I thought was a dead tower fan was not a dead fan at all. This sucker here, the HAF 922 from Cooler Master, has a very strange flaw for the top-loading 200 mm fan. I assumed that the fan stopped working, but, turns out the design of the case (here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197 ) makes the fan rattle and buzz loudly. in fact, the blades touch the inside of the case at the top, rubbing against the metal. Clearly, this is a design flaw and the enclosure or the mesh where the fan goes is not big enough to house the fan.

So naturally, I removed the top fan, but the case has a 200 mm in the front, 120 mm in the back, one for the CPU and one for the PSU, so, there is plenty of airflow, but, I can't but feel somewhat wary of it getting drastically hotter under load, like say, a PC game or an emulator like PCSX2. Others have argued that having a fan on the top affects airflow and can accumulate dust faster, so, this begs the question, is it going to be a detriment to have the top fan out of the case from here on out?

Is the case just too low-grade or somehow warped to the point where the fan rattles and grinds incessantly? I never overclock my CPU, heck, I can't since it's locked, I just want to be sure there will be no lasting harm without that top fan. Or, should I get a case with better fan placement? I don't want to fry my computer.

 

[DinohScene]

Can you somehow turn up the fanspeed with Motherboard monitor or Fanspeed or whatever program that can regulate them?

Also, try a washer between the case and the fan, to create a small gap.

 

[the_randomizer]

Can you somehow turn up the fanspeed with Motherboard monitor or Fanspeed or whatever program that can regulate them?

Also, try a washer between the case and the fan, to create a small gap.

Never thought of the washer idea, but yes, there's definitely not enough clearance, and is it true, that the top fan creates "negative pressure" and exacerbates the amount of dust accumulation? The mesh may be askew or bent out of shape. As for controlling the fan speeds, I don't trust myself messing with that, but the BIOS does control them and is set to their default speed. If I were to change the front and back fan speeds, wouldn't that, well, reduce their lifespan faster (if that makes any sense)? Like I said though, the fan rattles and is noisy against the tower, but it's still very functional.

 

[DinohScene]

Put some washers between them.
Nah their fans, easy to replace and won't cost much, besides they can operate for 50k hours iirc.

Hmm, if you can manually control them, just bump them up a notch or 2.
I personally cbf with fan noise, I'd rather have me equipment run cool then having it overheat, yes Microsoft, I'm looking at your product!

 

[the_randomizer]

Put some washers between them.
Nah their fans, easy to replace and won't cost much, besides they can operate for 50k hours iirc.

Hmm, if you can manually control them, just bump them up a notch or 2.
I personally cbf with fan noise, I'd rather have me equipment run cool then having it overheat, yes Microsoft, I'm looking at your product!

I have a spare 200 mm fan if need be, and yeah, they are cheap. If the CPU fan goes out, then yes, that would be a cause for concern. CBF?? I haven't had any heat issues so far, the air coming out is warm, but not super hot. I just don't want to screw something up, that's all.

 

[DinohScene]

I'd say install Speccy and keep it open in yer taskbar (with the temperature display option)
Cbf mean "can't be fucked" just like cba ;p

I'm interested tho, what are the temperatures when idling and when playing heavy games/emus?

 

[the_randomizer]

I'd say install Speccy and keep it open in yer taskbar (with the temperature display option)
Cbf mean "can't be fucked" just like cba ;p

I'm interested tho, what are the temperatures when idling and when playing heavy games/emus?

I actually don't monitor temps at all, it makes me very paranoid, I must admit, as I refuse to play games if I see fluctuations or anything that's worrisome, as desktop CPUs have a lower threshold for higher temps than Mobile CPUs do. So, measuring temps is something I'd rather not have to do, as again, I hate seeing temps go up and up. I don't know what the max temp threshold for the 3570 (non K) is, so somethings are better left not known for people like me lol. As long as I have four fans, I think I'll be fine, but maybe I should increase the speed on the fans.

 

[DinohScene]

I think somewhere around 90c.
Seriously tho, if you keep temps under 60 ish then yer fine.
I keep me RGH under 60 at most of the times (heavy intense games push it up to 65 sometimes)
I know it's no comparison but still, 60c ish is a good threshold for temperatures ;]

If you're really paranoid, opt for watercooling ;p

 

[the_randomizer]

I think somewhere around 90c.
Seriously tho, if you keep temps under 60 ish then yer fine.
I keep me RGH under 60 at most of the times (heavy intense games push it up to 65 sometimes)
I know it's no comparison but still, 60c ish is a good threshold for temperatures ;]

If you're really paranoid, opt for watercooling ;p

Too damn expensive and complicated to set up water cooling, and I don't think my tower would work well given its shape and dimensions. Plus, I can't afford water cooling right now.... I still wonder if the top fan really makes dust worse.

 

[DinohScene]

Clean it out with a can of compressed air once it's getting dustier.
Their like a few quid only.
If you let the top fan suck out air then it would help with cooling.

 

[the_randomizer]

Clean it out with a can of compressed air once it's getting dustier.
Their like a few quid only.
If you let the top fan suck out air then it would help with cooling.

Again, I'll need something to offset the fan so it doesn't vibrate, but should I not have it in for a while, it would be terribly bad will it, so as long as I've a PSU, CPU, front and rear fan?

 

[DinohScene]

You could improvise with making yer own from cardboard? ;p

You'll be fine yep.
Hardware doesn't damage that fast, unless temperatures are extreme (100c+)

 

[the_randomizer]

You could improvise with making yer own from cardboard? ;p

You'll be fine yep.
Hardware doesn't damage that fast, unless temperatures are extreme (100c+)

And I don't overclock, so with that, I should be fine. I think the tower has a design flaw though.

 

[DinohScene]

Yell be fine then yup ;]
You also could bend it a bit back into shape, the mesh.

 

[the_randomizer]

Yell be fine then yup ;]
You also could bend it a bit back into shape, the mesh.

I'll see what I can do about that

 

[DinohScene]

Ahah aye.
Good luck with it~

 

[the_randomizer]

Ahah aye.
Good luck with it~

Thanks again, man

 

[DinohScene]

No prob~ ;]

 

[endoverend]

I had the same problem (the rattling and banging) with my top fan (pretty sure it was the heatsink fan). I would tell you the heatsink model, but I'm too lazy to open it up right now.
Eventually the fan just... stopped spinning. So... problem solved?

 

[the_randomizer]

I had the same problem (the rattling and banging) with my top fan (pretty sure it was the heatsink fan). I would tell you the heatsink model, but I'm too lazy to open it up right now.
Eventually the fan just... stopped spinning. So... problem solved?

Nah, the fan still is operational, it's just the tower may have been bent around the mesh a bit, and grinds against it, but it does still work, the front, rear, CPU and PSU fans all operate just fine still. The heatsink isn't a problem and not really something I'm focusing on, just the top fan I took out due to it grinding and hitting the inside of the case, it was really annoying. I might need to wedge or bend it to there's space.