[Pc_Support] Case airflow dynamics?

[patrick]

On Sun, 2006-04-02 at 18:36 -0500, Jason Boxman wrote:
> Anyone know of any good resources on case airflow dynamics?  I've been trying 
> to reduce the noise signature of my systems without overly compromising 
> airflow and with it drive and CPU temperature, but have found amusing 
> results.
> 
> Perhaps obvious, but on one system with 3 x 300GB ATA disk in 5.25" bays one 
> bay down from the top of a large tower case (the top bay has, by general 
> convention, the DVD-ROM drive) I found that simply removing the lowest front 
> face plate resulted in a 3-5C drop in drive temperature.  Effective, but 
> somewhat ugly looking.
I grabbed some Floppy/Zip drive adapters, using the side rails to fit
my hot scsi hard drives into the large bays, and putting expanded metal
mesh into the opening so they get lots of air flow, and the front looks
neat.
> 
> Another more amusing example, I added a 12cm fan bay cooler that occupies 3 of 
> 6 5.25" bays in another tower case.  The four disk drive cage in the back 
> above the PSU with four ATA disk and two 8cm fans side by side aren't any 
> cooler with the 12cm bay cooler than without.  I almost find that comical as 
> I blew $23 shipped on the cooler.  It looks neat, though.
> 
> Perhaps in the future I need to buy those expensive airflow friendly cases 
> instead of a less expensive, random case.  (Although my AOpen AH700A tower 
> case wasn't exactly cheap and is quite roomy.)
> 

I am using any cases that come to hand... Have about 20 on hand, empty,
with the boards ready to go in... got sidetracked working on Macs and
restoring old video arcade games, over at the MacDoctor...