Question Need help installing Case Fan

[iSpextor]

Hey guys,

So the other day my old case fans (stock fans that came with the case) started rattling, etc. and at the end of the day I decided to have them replaced.

Coming to the actual problem now.. I ordered a pair of Noctua NF-P12 fans. Great product really, but I couldn't even get to install the damn thing. Why? Because the "screw holes" on my case are waaaaay too small to fit the silicone things in, let alone the metal screws (short thick screws, pretty standard ones apparently). The holes for case fans in my case are like 2 times smaller than those things though and I can't install the case fans if my life depended on it.

Tried to order a new pair of Case fans hoping they'd provide a nicer installation method (smaller screws) but it's the exact same problem. Then I also tried to fiddle around with my screwdriver (gonna sound stupid now) and attempted to expand the hole in the case a bit, but I stopped that quickly as it didn't even work properly..

Any ideas?

 

[Karadjgne]

Oh no lol. The slims are a great idea. Solves every issue. What cracks me up is the use of the 20mm fans in the first place, since those would be special order manufacture, it'd be far cheaper overall to just have either used slims from the start or made the front facia 6mm deeper to accommodate standard 25mm fans. But I guess Sharkoon knows what it's doing....

 

[Darkbreeze]

Sharkoon, and other manufacturers, do that so that you will need to purchase their own proprietary fans from them because if you've bought one of their cases then it is likely it will be easier to get them from them than to source similarly oddball models from elsewhere. Idiots.

It's as bad as the proprietary case and power supply connector form factors used by some of the OEMs. There is only one reason for it and that is to drive you back to them for replacement hardware.

 

[Karadjgne]

Whereas to me, stuff like that has 'oh hell no it didn't, time to break out the Dremel tool' written all over it. There's way too much metal in front for any decent airflow. And while I'm at it, wonder if I can make 140mm fans work instead....

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd probably rip out the drive cages and move the fans to the inside, on the OTHER side of the metal panel, anyhow. Plus change it up to 140mm fans. Plus get one of those universal magnetic filter panels to stick on the outside of the metal panel to filter the intake air.

And I wouldn't do any of that these days when there are so many options out there, unless it was REALLY a financial imperative to do so. Aesthetic modifications are one thing, these days, but modifications just to give a case basic functionality that can be had from a 50 dollar Focus G case, I'm not doing that. Again, unless I had to, or unless it was a client's case and I was getting paid to do it.