MORE AIR?! Guide to adding 250mm cooling to your case

[MonsterMawd]

Here is my guide on installing a Thermaltake 250mm cooling fan in your side panel. The case I'm using for this guide is a Lian Li PC-7plus B midtower

Thermaltake 250mm cooling fan from performance-pcs, here
Thermaltake 250mm Silent Case Fan Products Model: TT250FAN

Fan Dimension 250 x 250 x 30 mm
Rated Voltage DC 12V
Fan Speed 600RPM ±10%
Airflow 67.69CFM
Noise 15 dBA
4 Pin Molex connector

List of Tools Needed:
Power drill
1/4" drill bit
Jigsaw with 18 TPI cutting blade
Dremel or Rotary Tool with 1.5" cutting wheel
Measuring Square or Ruler
Pencil or Pen
3M brand Green Painter's Masking Tape
Center Punch
Phillips Screwdriver
Rounded Hand File
Medium grit sandpaper
"SEM brand Self Etching" Primer
"Plastikote brand Black Enamel paint

List of Supplies Needed

1x 1' x 1' sheets of Honeycomb Modders Mesh



4x #10 x 5/8 self tapping fan screws



4x fan silencing grommets



1x 6ft U-channel (cut down to 27")



Finding placement of the 250mm cooling fan in left side panel. We've positioned the fan 4" from the rear edge and 7" from the bottom edge of the panel.



Trace the outline fan with pencil onto the panel after applying 3M brand Green masking tape.
The masking tape also prevents scratches while cutting the fan hole.



Here is traced outline of Thermaltake 250mm cooling fan. Mark fan mounting holes



Using center punch to mark 1/4" drill holes for fan silencing grommets



Using 1/4" size drill bit to drill holes for fan silencing grommets.



Before we can using Jigsaw to cut the 250mm fan hole, we first make an incision for the Jigsaw blade with Rotary tool using 1.5" cutting wheel for dremel



We're using this styrofoam cushion to prop the panel so we have clearance below for using the Jigsaw.



Cutting 250mm fan hole with Jigsaw (use 18 TPI cutting blade)





A sheet of Honeycomb Modders Mesh will provide excellent ventilation



Cut down to 10" x 10" panel to serve as a grill for 250mm fan.



Let's paint the Modders Mesh Black to match our color scheme. First scuff the surface of the mesh with medium grit sandpaper to promote adhesion for the "self etching" primer base coat



After applying SEM brand "self etching" primer, we apply 3 coast of Plasti-kote Black enamel paint



4x Fan silencing grommets ready for installation


fyi: You can use a micro flat head screw driver to help gently pry the grommet into 1/4" hole



Finishing the edge of the 250mm fan hole with U-channel molding cut to 27.5" length



Our 250mm fan hole is finished and ready for installation of the fan!

You can mount the 250mm fan as your system "Exhaust" or "Intake" cooling fan, depending on individual hardware cooling needs.



We prefer to use #10 x 5/8" self tapping screws, these are Black Oxide



First lay down the Modders Mesh sheet (after the Black enamel paint has cured!



You will have to remove a small portion of the mesh around the mounting holes accommodate #10 x 5/8 self tapping fan screws



The 250mm fan mounts as an Exhaust. It pulls warm air out from inside your computer case.





Now you have a cooler running system with less fan noise than smaller fans!

[xeromist]

I did a custom side panel on my previous system with 2x 120mm fans but this would have been perfect I think. Maybe on my next build 🙂

[MonsterMawd]

Yes, and likely more Quiet, depending which models you chose?

[xeromist]

They were yate loon medium speed clear blues. Yeah most likely quieter.

[MonsterMawd]

xeromist wrote:
They were yate loon medium speed clear blues. Yeah most likely quieter.

I used to sell those fans, great choice!

[MonsterMawd]

I was cruising Performance-PCs this morning and they have a good selection of 190 - 360mm cooling fans here, http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=327&main_page=index