XPS 8920, added 120mm front fan (with pictures)

[546insp]

Just happened to have theseAdd double sided tape to low spotsCut 3/8" thick weatherstriping pieces for corners and wrap with 1/4" x 1 weatherstripingAdd a little glue to 1/4" sides. It touches on 3 sides, not going anywhere.Tape anywhere air can get in other than outside.Pwm signals pulse , not controlled by voltage and are more precise for synching.Those rectangular vents are the only place (outside) air can get in.I tapped into the top fan lead with the Arctic fan pigtail (cpu fan spins too fast)I found one more breezy area and used some more weatherstripping to fit

[546insp]

Update; This new front fan dropped the air temperature 9* F on the average at the top fan and eliminated the fan racing when stressed, also it is completely quiet. 

[Dell630i]

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@546insp wrote:

Update; This new front fan dropped the air temperature 9* F on the average at the top fan and eliminated the fan racing when stressed, also it is completely quiet. 

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Great pictures - very helpful. Now I see what you mean by sealing off extraneous air sources. I am going to try to put two fans in the front; top and bottom. I don't really need to, I don't have a heat problem, I don't even game. I'm just having fun and hopefully learning a little from this community.

[Dell630i]

Isn't the hot case air that is pulled across your two lower HDD baskets and out the bottom vents sucked through this lower front base port and circulated back into the case by your fan?

[546insp]

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@Dell630i wrote:

Isn't the hot case air that is pulled across your two lower HDD baskets and out the bottom vents sucked through this lower front base port and circulated back into the case by your fan?

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???? Can you rephrase that?
 

[Dell630i]

sorry, sometimes it takes a while for pictures to be approved - arrows are supposed to represent air flow.

[546insp]

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@Dell630i wrote:

sorry, sometimes it takes a while for pictures to be approved - arrows are supposed to represent air flow.

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The only place the air can get in is at the 1/4" wide gap at the bottom and sides in extreme front, all else is blocked off. The air goes straight back and up (much better than a top mounted fan).

[Dell630i · Accepted solution]

That is the only place fresh air can get in . . . but your fan is sucking case air from that bottom port, unless you have blocked that off, or taped over the vents below your HDD drives.

[546insp]

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@Dell630i wrote:

That is the only place fresh air can get in . . . but your fan is sucking case air from that bottom port, unless you have blocked that off, or taped over the vents below your HDD drives.

 You're right! I took the front bezel off and there is a vent down there that goes to the "basement" and up through the bottom of the HDD cages. I admit I messed that up so it took a few minutes to block it off with my duct tape and an exacto knife...………...thanks!

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[Dell630i]

Thanks to you!

The only reason I am even looking at air flow is because of your advice in this discussion.