Cases with 120mm fans

Enclosures and acoustic damping to help quiet them.

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ChemGeek
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Post by ChemGeek » Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:40 pm

The Lian Li PC-V1100Plus II has three low speed 120mm fans.

krick
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Post by krick » Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:27 pm

I'd like to see a few bullet points about each case that indicate some of the strengths, weaknesses, and interesting features that might help someone make a decision.

Of particular interest to me is the physical size of the case. In my opinion, the Antec Sonata is probably the holy grail of cases from a size standpoint (of cases that will fit a full ATX board) and it's hard to tell without digging into the manufacturer's web sites if the cases listed at the top of this thread are larger or smaller.

Another important point is the presence of a "drive bay door" which I personally hate.

I'm sure there are other things that people would like to see in the bullet points.

aristide1
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Post by aristide1 » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:46 am

Would this qualifier as 2 120mm fans? :shock: :shock: :shock:

Image

That's a 250mm fan, more than 120 * 2. 8)
Maybe tornado isn't such a bad name for a case after all. :?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811124114

zenboy
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Post by zenboy » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:27 pm

Built a system in one of those last weekend, just FYI, not quiet. It didn't have a bad sound character though, just a lot of whooosh of moving air.

aristide1
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Post by aristide1 » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:41 am

My bathroom fan isn't that big.

I suppose we could slow it down to the speed of a Dutch windmill.

Trip
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Post by Trip » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:29 am

Whoa! When air cooling requires that, it's time to try water cooling.

Felger Carbon
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Post by Felger Carbon » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:02 am

zenboy wrote:Built a system in one of those last weekend, just FYI, not quiet. It didn't have a bad sound character though, just a lot of whooosh of moving air.
That fan is just like all the rest, turn down the voltage and it gets quieter fast with much less dramatic drops in CFM. There's no RPM (tach) signal on this (really 22cm, not 25) fan, so just tune for the sound level you want and then monitor your temps to see they don't go too high.

I modded a uATX case, mounted one of these fans, and was able to cool my PC (both case and PSU) using only the 22cm fan, turned down to inadibility from the computer user position. Why not try your luck? :)

Trip
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Post by Trip » Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:10 am

Where did you get the fan? Which brand, model, etc.?

Post pictures in a new thread, please? :o

Felger Carbon
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Post by Felger Carbon » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:30 am

Trip wrote:Where did you get the fan? Which brand, model, etc.?

Post pictures in a new thread, please? :o
How about info and pics in an old thread?

pashap
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Post by pashap » Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:14 am

coolermaster elite rc-330

only 42$ canadian

Felger Carbon
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The Antec P190 does not qualify for this sticky!!

Post by Felger Carbon » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:46 pm

I understand the P190 is available without PSUs. So the only fans it has are two 140mms and one 200mm. No 120mm! So, that case does not qualify for this sticky! Right?? :D

Praxis1452
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Post by Praxis1452 » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:13 am

The Stackers are steel and come with a hard drive cage for a 120mm up front and another 120mm out back or 2x120 if you get the RC810. Also the large side panel is designed for an 80 but I doubt it'd be hard to upt a 120 there as well.

Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:13 am

I haven't been keeping up to date with the latest cases. Is there a handful of cases that I need to add to the list, or is it getting to the point where there are many new 120mm models showing up often, and it would be pointless to try to keep up a list?

born2code
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Post by born2code » Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:10 pm

The Silverstone TJ09 has slots for five 120mm fans.

Lt_Dan
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Post by Lt_Dan » Sun May 27, 2007 2:34 pm

The Gigabyte Poseidon (which i have), nice case, 2 120mm fans, 1 in front and 1 in back.
they spin at 1000rpm and are very quiet, although i think i should dampen them from the case because it's from Aluminum and it vibrates.
(how can i do that btw?please!).
the front fan is just in fron of the HDD bays (room for 2) and has more space above it. the front has a removable air filter.
it looks nice and estetic and not childish.
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Cha ... uctID=2149
my friend has the Aurora, which has 2 120 mm fans in the back and one in the front, it a freaking huge case!

Traith
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Post by Traith » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:22 am

Katana Man wrote:I haven't been keeping up to date with the latest cases. Is there a handful of cases that I need to add to the list, or is it getting to the point where there are many new 120mm models showing up often, and it would be pointless to try to keep up a list?
No, no. Do keep it up to date ^ ^. In fact, as one Lian-Li fanboy to another, add the server tower models too.

V2000
http://www.lian-li.com/product/product0 ... ss_index=6

Front and back 120mm intake fans plus a 120mm extractor fan.

Lt_Dan
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Post by Lt_Dan » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:45 am

that's a gaient case.
so big it has a back intake.
do you really need that?

thejamppa
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Post by thejamppa » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:32 pm

Nexus Caterpillar has 2x 120mm fan places and comes with two 120mm Nexus Real Silent fans. It has preaplied noise absorption mat, small resistance intake and exhaust fangrills.

Felger Carbon
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A case for the "with 120mm fans" hall of fame!

Post by Felger Carbon » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:04 am

This computer case, the Coolermaster CM 690, supports seven 120mm fans and is called a "mid-tower"! It's smaller than an Antec P182, especially in height. Let me say that again: it supports 7ea 120mm fans. A 120mm fan in the PSU would make eight (does the PSU fan count?).

It comes equipped with three: the exhaust fan on the rear, the intake fan in the front, and one of the two left-side fans is included.

The full complement:
front intake fan (1)
rear exhaust fan (1)
left side fans (2)
bottom fan (1)
top fans (2)
---------------
grand total, 7 (not counting the 80mm right-side fan)

The two top fans can be either 120 or 140mm, but that counts as 120 for the purposes of this sticky, right?

Besides being on sale with a rebate at Newegg (and possibly other places), this case has some interesting features. The soft-rubber HDD mounts are a notable step up from plastic grommets, if a step down from suspension. If you google "Coolermaster CM 690" you'll find, among other things, the new Madshrimps review of this case.

Truly, I'm impressed! And appalled...

Ralf Hutter
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Re: A case for the "with 120mm fans" hall of fame!

Post by Ralf Hutter » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:49 am

Felger Carbon wrote:
Truly, I'm impressed! And appalled...
I'm just appalled.

badkarma
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Post by badkarma » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:56 pm

pashap wrote:coolermaster elite rc-330

only 42$ canadian
Anyone use this case? Thinking bout using it for a RAID media server build of my old parts. It'll be in the next room other side of the wall to my theatre. Doesn't need to be super quiet, as long as it's not crazy loud.

MungeonDaster
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Re: A case for the "with 120mm fans" hall of fame!

Post by MungeonDaster » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:20 pm

Felger Carbon wrote:This computer case, the Coolermaster CM 690, supports seven 120mm fans and is called a "mid-tower"! <snip>
Just picked up the CM Centurion 590 for a $60 US at the local Fry's last week. The bones appear to be the same on both. Fits up to 3 120mm in front, 2 on the side, 2 on the top, and one in the back. Going to need to do a lot of dampening with all the vents in this thing.

Moon GT
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Post by Moon GT » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:44 am

I'd like to find out first hand if this one is any good:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/121088

Space for a 12cm fan at the back, and comes with not a 12cm fan at the front, but a 14cm fan! And for only £17... I can only imagine they're not particularly quiet fans, but for a budget case it certainly looks good on paper.

NeilBlanchard
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Post by NeilBlanchard » Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:33 am

Hiya,

Two comments (though I have only seen that grainy picture):

The sound from the front fan has a direct path out -- this is precisely where is the most critical.

And the fine mesh they appear to be using, is not particularly free-flowing.

Moon GT
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Post by Moon GT » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:15 am

NeilBlanchard wrote:Hiya,

Two comments (though I have only seen that grainy picture):

The sound from the front fan has a direct path out -- this is precisely where is the most critical.

And the fine mesh they appear to be using, is not particularly free-flowing.
A candidate for modding, perhaps. Put some some nice hexagonal mesh in. Plenty of quiet cases have fans at the front, although I guess for a budget system you might not even need one there. At least it can take 120mm at the back, which is rare for a budget case.

Moon GT
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Post by Moon GT » Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:56 am

Has anyone mentioned the Akasa Zen yet? It comes with front and back 120mm fans fitted. Although I was a bit disappointed with how thin and flimsy the back panel is, and I had to trim the CD drive cover button thing down for it to work (it's supposed to come with two different size pieces, but mine came with two both the same). It's actually a much bigger case than I really need and just a tad ugly. I liked it at first, but then, it is a massive improvement over the old beige case it replaced.

One thing that I do like about it is the power LED is so strongly directional that it actually projects the Power Button symbol onto the opposite wall.

GRexer
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Post by GRexer » Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:28 am

Was wondering, would it be time to have another list with cases that has it's PSU located at the bottom? Stuff like the Cooler Master RC-590/690 or Antec Three Hundred.

forester joe
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Post by forester joe » Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:17 am

GRexer wrote:Was wondering, would it be time to have another list with cases that has it's PSU located at the bottom? Stuff like the Cooler Master RC-590/690 or Antec Three Hundred.
I second the motion

GRexer
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Post by GRexer » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:13 am

In case anyone's interested to know. There's finally a budget case from Cooler Master with a bottom mount PSU in the form of the Gladiator 600 and also the slightly costlier Xigmatek Midgard

swivelguy2
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Post by swivelguy2 » Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:45 pm

forester joe wrote:
GRexer wrote:Was wondering, would it be time to have another list with cases that has it's PSU located at the bottom? Stuff like the Cooler Master RC-590/690 or Antec Three Hundred.
I second the motion
You could get a bit more ambitious with this and call it "Cases with specific silencing features." It could contain a list for each useful feature, such as soft HDD mounts, bottom-located PSU, separate PSU airflow chamber, etc.

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