Options for Closed Corner Fans on Thermalright Heatsinks?

DaveLessnau · Post by **DaveLessnau** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:03 pm

From what I've read here, the standard clip to attach the fan to Thermalright heatsinks requires a standard, open corner fan. Fans with closed corners, like the orange Nexus "Real Silent," have a solid tube spanning the gap between the mounting holes in the two faces of the fan and can't use those clips. Thermalright has a $2 kit of "Top Flange Wire Clips" which apparently hook into the top (and thus open) hole of the fan instead of the bottom (blocked by the tube) hole. But, the package is tough to find and spending $5-$7 shipping a $2 package grates. The sticky in this forum talks about removing that tube between the fan faces and thus converting a closed corner fan to an open one. But, is it necessary to actually remove that closed pipe to mount it on a Thermalright heatsink? Is it possible to get by with just carving a slot in the tube? Could a dab of hot glue (maybe not a good substance for a heat sink) or silicone caulk somewhere be enough to secure the fan? How specialized are those optional fan clips? Is it possible (though not elegant) to just bend a paperclip or some local wire as a replacement?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:12 pm

Hello David,

You can use the stock wire clips if you tweak them a little, and if you wrap a long cable tie (or two) around them and the fan to keep them in place.

Cutting a slot would probably be harder than cutting out the whole tube?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:32 pm

I'd vote for cutting the entire tube out. it doesn't take that much time. Maybe a minute for dremeling the sides, then another minute for removing the actual tube for that. That leaves you at 8 minutes for the entire fan. Give it another minute to clean it up, and another minute to attach it, and it's still only 10 minutes.