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Low profile PCI slot cooling for HTPC?

post #1 of 11
7/31/09 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all,

I recently built a HTPC using the HEC 7K09 case.
I love my setup sooo much, but the case is a little cramped and runs kinda hot.

Here's my setup

LG GGC-H20L BD/HD/DVD drive
Western Digital 320gb HDD
4gb G.Skill DDR2 1066 RAM
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e
HEC 7K09 HTPC Case

What I would like to do is find a PCI slot fan that will fit in this case...so something low profile.

I tried looking but haven't found much. Has anyone found anything similar, or just a way to enhance airflow in a case of this size?

Cheers,

Pat.
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post #2 of 11
7/31/09 at 8:31pm
how hot is hot?

I don't think any of those components use all that much power.
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post #3 of 11
7/31/09 at 8:34pm
I don't think anybody makes a half-height PCI cooler. Your options with a case that small are pretty limited for off-the-shelf solutions, but you might be able to rig something up.

If you're not using any of the PCI slots, you could fit a 60mm or 80mm fan inside of the case, exhausting out through the slot openings. Alternately, you could cut a hole in the top of the case and mount a fan above the slots. A slim fan like this might even fit above a half-height card if you're using one.
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post #4 of 11
7/31/09 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the info, I didn't think anything half height existed.
Things aren't toooo hot, but it's the middle of summer, we live on the 3rd floor of a house with no air conditioning, the HTPC is not in that well a ventilated area, so even with fans in the house, it's constantly around 90 degrees F, and the CPU temp hovers around 120 F.
It's not the end of the world by any means, I just thought if there was something I could easily slot in to help ventilation, that I would do so.
I don't really want to take a dremel to the case...at least not yet, as I am waiting to see if I will end up putting a dedicated video card in there for better HD video processing.

Cheers,

Pat.
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post #5 of 11
7/31/09 at 10:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by patdman08 View Post

I am waiting to see if I will end up putting a dedicated video card in there for better HD video processing.

Better video processing likely means more heat as well. If you're concerned now, it will only get worse with a dedicated video card.

You could always try replacing the existing 80mm fan with one that pushes more air, though that will jack up the fan noise considerably.
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post #6 of 11
8/1/09 at 12:23am
Rather than get a case fan, I would consider getting a window air conditioner for that room. Blowing air that is already hot into a computer will not make a system run cooler. Ambient air is a killer when it gets hotter than your components.

And how do you sleep at night with it that hot? I live in Arizona where the night temps get down to 90f. I could not sleep in that. There is NO way I could live here with out A/C!
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post #7 of 11
8/1/09 at 8:29am
Here's a possible solution, if you have an area of 40mm x 40mm x 40mm that you can attach internally to a vented area (like right above the rear sockets on your case, you can see if you can find a Thermaltake Extreme Spirit (the original, not the II) chipset cooler, take the fan off the heatsink and attach the fan to a vent, it comes with a 3 speed controller also. It'll suck the warm air out and exhaust it to the exterior.

http://3btech.net/thexspnosobr.html
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post #8 of 11
2/3/11 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by patdman08 View Post
Hi all,

I recently built a HTPC using the HEC 7K09 case.
I love my setup sooo much, but the case is a little cramped and runs kinda hot.

Here's my setup

LG GGC-H20L BD/HD/DVD drive
Western Digital 320gb HDD
4gb G.Skill DDR2 1066 RAM
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e
HEC 7K09 HTPC Case

What I would like to do is find a PCI slot fan that will fit in this case...so something low profile.

I tried looking but haven't found much. Has anyone found anything similar, or just a way to enhance airflow in a case of this size?

Cheers,

Pat.
I sell a Low Profile PCI Fan Card and a Low Profile PCI Exhaust fan card on Ebay.
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post #9 of 11
2/3/11 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by branded888 View Post
I sell a Low Profile PCI Fan Card and a Low Profile PCI Exhaust fan card on Ebay.
You are two years late to this party it seems, LOL.
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post #10 of 11
1/28/13 at 10:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by branded888 View Post


Quote:



Originally Posted by patdman08 View Post

Hi all,


I recently built a HTPC using the HEC 7K09 case.

I love my setup sooo much, but the case is a little cramped and runs kinda hot.


Here's my setup


LG GGC-H20L BD/HD/DVD drive

Western Digital 320gb HDD

4gb G.Skill DDR2 1066 RAM

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e

HEC 7K09 HTPC Case


What I would like to do is find a PCI slot fan that will fit in this case...so something low profile.


I tried looking but haven't found much. Has anyone found anything similar, or just a way to enhance airflow in a case of this size?


Cheers,


Pat.


I sell a Low Profile PCI Fan Card and a Low Profile PCI Exhaust fan card on Ebay.


I see the one you are talking about......seller bryanmoore? $30 is a bit expensive plus the thing looks like it won't even fit in most SFF systems. If that is you...
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post #11 of 11
1/29/13 at 12:00am
yeah,i agree with you, $30 is a bit expensive plus the thing looks like it won't even fit in most SFF systems. thanks for your sharing 1.gif
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