PC-K62 Venting Issue

[kempcouger]

I recently built a new computer to replace a 6 year old rig and I'm very happy with it. I'm able to clock my i5 750 to 3510 MHz (haven't tried more) with only 1.131 Vcore and with memory (4 GB Corsair Dominator 1600 c8 1.65V) set at 1400Mhz @1.55v (also haven't tried more) with the IMC only at 1.125V with absolutely solid stability (75 passes LinX & 24 hours of Prime 95 all tests and then some).

 

This gets me some pretty cool temps with my Corsair H50 push/pull, but there is one drawback. The case.

 

The PC-K62 is an excellent case with nice features, but there is a major flaw in the design. The top cover for the two large fans on top of the case seems to act as a container for the hot air being pulled from below when the top is on. Because of the way the ventilation slots were designed, a lot of the air that would easily be pushed away from the system is instead back drafted and trapped in the remaining space around the fans which causes hot air to be pushed down into the system and around the processor, which is just under these fans.

 

Get this. With the top on my temperatures rise 5-7 degrees Celsius.

 

Core temp reports these average temps with prime 95 Large FFTs.

 

Top off: 50, 47, 49, 48

Top on: 56, 53, 55, 54

Fans: 100%

 

This is absolutely ridiculous, especially since this is their case and fans and I've done no alterations. I'm surprised I haven't seen other users comment on this issue with the case.

 

But anyway I've never modded a case before and I don't just want to leave the top off the top, so I was wondering what I could do to mod the top of the case to create much better airflow.

 

Any help is appreciated!

[bp9801]

What specs are those fans rated at and how much of a gap is there between them and the vents?

[eisbar]

I haven't noticed that with mine

[Alexandre]

I haven't noticed that with mine

Hmmm now you make me want to go check my own case for myself...

[sticknstone]

The mod for this case would be to allow more air to exhaust from the top; Therefore, to achieve this the current cover slot free area is going to have to be increased. Simply remove every other cover slot fin. That would double the amout of air currently escaping and keep the asthetic look pretty much intact. Test temp to see the effect.

[Boinker]

you could simply try using a different fan that has more static pressure and or higher CFM. Or else it may be the lack of spac between the H70 and the upper fans?

 

How loud do you mind a fan being Just to get a guess?

[wevsspot]

Another solution would be to move the twin fans to the inside of the case, then there wouldn't be any way for the "backdrafted" air to get back into the case.

 

Regards,

 

JW

Edited February 21, 2011 by wevsspot

[kempcouger]

Sorry for the late reply my power was off for a day. I still have no idea why but whatever its ok now.

 

As for what you said sticknstone I actually went to home depot yester and picked up some sandpaper and have been carefully filing the edges down and the plastic at each slit back about a centimeter. The case still looks fine and though I'm not done there is a noticeable difference though its still not perfect. If all else fails i'll take off every other bar.

 

As for fans i've been looking at the gentle typhoon fans for 120mm and maybe noiseblocker for 140mm as scythe doesn't have a 140mm offering for gentle typhoon.

 

Any suggestions?

[kempcouger]

What specs are those fans rated at and how much of a gap is there between them and the vents?

 

Can't seem to find the specs for these fans. Model # LI121425BE-B4-A

 

The PC-K63 case, however, has the 140mm Model # LI121425BE-4-A and they are rated by Lian-Li at 38 cfm which so-so right?

[wevsspot]

Here's an example with the twin 140s moved inside the case;

 

P1000173 by wevsspot, on Flickr

Edited February 21, 2011 by wevsspot

[sticknstone]

That will get the objective done of opening up space for more air to flow through. I did not know the actual shape of the slot bar, for I only have the website photo of the whole case to go by. When working with sandpaper having two grits is the best bet for handwork quality. A rough grit about 80 will do the rough cutting, and a fine grit about 150 will produce a smooth finish. The idea is to rough cut as much of the material but still leave material on the work piece for the finish cut. The result is a faster and better quality job. Remeber that this is HANDWORK not machine work, so don't worry about it being a slight bit off or a little scratch because you are not a machine.

 

To determine the fan specs check the decal on the fan. Search the web for that fan (http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1146-page6.html). The only data on the fan would be the manufacturer and voltage, amp, or watts. The manufacturer will have the static pressure and cfm data.