Is the XCLIO 3060 a suitable SPCR DIY computer case?
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:36 pm
The 3060 is obviously aimed at the gaming crowd, most of whom aren't sensitive to noise. But there are now two video cards in high-end gaming machines, and these cards run hotter and hotter. They need a 220mm fan!
The question is, is this $35 case (Newegg, no PSU) suitable for SPCR types? If you haven't seen this case, go to Newegg, search "xclio", and the first hit will be the white and the second the black version of the 3060. Lotsa good pics.
The case takes a full-size ATX mobo and PSU, and has 4 5-1/4" external slots, one of which will have to be used for the (optional) floppy because the 3.5" cage has to be removed to make room for the DIY HDD suspension.
I just got mine in via UPS at 8:01PM last night (it's the holidaze). I took it apart and removed the 3.5" cage, which is really two sides, each fastened with 4 rivets. Dremel time.
It's easier to remove the top rivets if you remove the case top. It screws in on the rear and the two sides, but not on the front. But it feels as if it's screwed into the front panel! Additional detail: the plastic bezel is attached by the usual six clamp prongs, but also by six screws that are located alongside the prongs. You won't be able to remove the top cover until these screws are removed from the bezel (the top ones, at least).
Once the top was off the Dremel made quick work of the 8 rivets. My current-favorite HDD suspension device can now be set into place:
Regrettably, the two obvious "hooks" for the suspension are not replicated on the other side. But the 4 rivet holes will be great to attach something that can hold the top end of the Stretch Magic suspension (this is where the DIY comes in).
Here's the star of the show:
You may be able to see that there's a ~.2" gap between the side and the fan, which will allow the fan to recirculate quite a bit of case air in addition to the cool outside air. This is a design error that's easy to fix with cheap sticky-back 3/8" wide by 1/4" high soft foam, which I have.
The case is deep enough to mount an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, with one or two tenths of an inch to spare (clearance from heat-pipe tip to fan mount screw bottom). Since this is an SPCR DIY experiment, I removed the stock 90mm fan and discarded it, substituting a Scythe 100mm 1000RPM fan, mounted using soft foam and a single strand of 1mm Stretch Magic.
The idea is to test the HS with and without the fan, and it'll be easier to start with the fan already mounted. BTW: I rotated the HS mounting 180 degrees, so the flat part of the HS is to the rear of the case, and mounted the fan to the flat portion so it sucks air thru the HS fins.
If a case vibrates, it's almost always due to rotating machinery. If all the rotating machinery is suspended, then the case will not vibrate. My HDD suspension housing hold two HDDs and a 100mm cooling fan, the same as on the HS. I'll cut out the rear exhaust grill and not mount a fan there. I'll remove the fan from the PSU.
The HS fan is foam-and-SM mounted, and besides I expect to use the HS passively.
I plan to first see how the 220mm fan works as currently mounted, with the foam seal added. If there is any trace of vibration-noise, I'll suspend the fan with Stretch Magic. Heck, I'll eventually do that anyway.
Like I said, if all the rotating machinery is suspended, then the case will not vibrate at all, and so it won't make noise at all. I don't count the floppy and DVD burner, because I use those once every week or two for backup. I go for a walk (literally) when the DVD is burning, anyhoo.
----------------------------
Some additional notes: for those who are turned off by the appearance of the bezel, the PSI Solo 604 (Directron) appears to be the same case with a different bezel. Not as dragons-and-dungeonsish.
Remember the TJ08 and Athenatech A301 being essentially the same case with different bezels and exhaust cutouts? Not only do we have the same stuation here, but the same company designed (and produces?) all 4 cases. Take a look at the first foto: there's no top connection between the front and back of the case once the top cover is removed, so the top cover is a structural element - the same as the TJ08/A301. There are numerous other details that are duplicated, like the shape of the oval hole in the front panel to pass wires thru, etc.
It's a fact that big fans can move a given CFM more quietly than small fans. A 70mm fan is closer to a 120mm fan than a 120mm fan is to this 220mm monster! If I need 25CFM of cooling air, can I get it more quietly using a 70mm or 120mm fan?
The 3060 case, under whatever name, is now the smallest US of A-available case that has that 220mm fan. I suspect that others will appear. So I'm presenting an approach to adapting that fan to an SPCR environment that doesn't threaten kids, pets or divorce papers.
Lotsa football games coming up, but when I get this thing together I'll post pics and some temperature measurements, and whether it really is as quiet as I expect it to be.
The question is, is this $35 case (Newegg, no PSU) suitable for SPCR types? If you haven't seen this case, go to Newegg, search "xclio", and the first hit will be the white and the second the black version of the 3060. Lotsa good pics.
The case takes a full-size ATX mobo and PSU, and has 4 5-1/4" external slots, one of which will have to be used for the (optional) floppy because the 3.5" cage has to be removed to make room for the DIY HDD suspension.
I just got mine in via UPS at 8:01PM last night (it's the holidaze). I took it apart and removed the 3.5" cage, which is really two sides, each fastened with 4 rivets. Dremel time.
It's easier to remove the top rivets if you remove the case top. It screws in on the rear and the two sides, but not on the front. But it feels as if it's screwed into the front panel! Additional detail: the plastic bezel is attached by the usual six clamp prongs, but also by six screws that are located alongside the prongs. You won't be able to remove the top cover until these screws are removed from the bezel (the top ones, at least).
Once the top was off the Dremel made quick work of the 8 rivets. My current-favorite HDD suspension device can now be set into place:
Regrettably, the two obvious "hooks" for the suspension are not replicated on the other side. But the 4 rivet holes will be great to attach something that can hold the top end of the Stretch Magic suspension (this is where the DIY comes in).
Here's the star of the show:
You may be able to see that there's a ~.2" gap between the side and the fan, which will allow the fan to recirculate quite a bit of case air in addition to the cool outside air. This is a design error that's easy to fix with cheap sticky-back 3/8" wide by 1/4" high soft foam, which I have.
The case is deep enough to mount an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, with one or two tenths of an inch to spare (clearance from heat-pipe tip to fan mount screw bottom). Since this is an SPCR DIY experiment, I removed the stock 90mm fan and discarded it, substituting a Scythe 100mm 1000RPM fan, mounted using soft foam and a single strand of 1mm Stretch Magic.
The idea is to test the HS with and without the fan, and it'll be easier to start with the fan already mounted. BTW: I rotated the HS mounting 180 degrees, so the flat part of the HS is to the rear of the case, and mounted the fan to the flat portion so it sucks air thru the HS fins.
If a case vibrates, it's almost always due to rotating machinery. If all the rotating machinery is suspended, then the case will not vibrate. My HDD suspension housing hold two HDDs and a 100mm cooling fan, the same as on the HS. I'll cut out the rear exhaust grill and not mount a fan there. I'll remove the fan from the PSU.
The HS fan is foam-and-SM mounted, and besides I expect to use the HS passively.
I plan to first see how the 220mm fan works as currently mounted, with the foam seal added. If there is any trace of vibration-noise, I'll suspend the fan with Stretch Magic. Heck, I'll eventually do that anyway.
Like I said, if all the rotating machinery is suspended, then the case will not vibrate at all, and so it won't make noise at all. I don't count the floppy and DVD burner, because I use those once every week or two for backup. I go for a walk (literally) when the DVD is burning, anyhoo.
----------------------------
Some additional notes: for those who are turned off by the appearance of the bezel, the PSI Solo 604 (Directron) appears to be the same case with a different bezel. Not as dragons-and-dungeonsish.
Remember the TJ08 and Athenatech A301 being essentially the same case with different bezels and exhaust cutouts? Not only do we have the same stuation here, but the same company designed (and produces?) all 4 cases. Take a look at the first foto: there's no top connection between the front and back of the case once the top cover is removed, so the top cover is a structural element - the same as the TJ08/A301. There are numerous other details that are duplicated, like the shape of the oval hole in the front panel to pass wires thru, etc.
It's a fact that big fans can move a given CFM more quietly than small fans. A 70mm fan is closer to a 120mm fan than a 120mm fan is to this 220mm monster! If I need 25CFM of cooling air, can I get it more quietly using a 70mm or 120mm fan?
The 3060 case, under whatever name, is now the smallest US of A-available case that has that 220mm fan. I suspect that others will appear. So I'm presenting an approach to adapting that fan to an SPCR environment that doesn't threaten kids, pets or divorce papers.
Lotsa football games coming up, but when I get this thing together I'll post pics and some temperature measurements, and whether it really is as quiet as I expect it to be.