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25629
February 16th, 2018 01:00
XPS 8930, possible to install a front case fan?
In an effort to cool my hard drive, I was wondering if a front case fan could be fit into an XPS 8930. When I looked inside, there seems to be enough room for one. I've never installed a fan before and I'm reading that it could be powered by plugging the power cable into a spot on the motherboard. On the XPS 8930 motherboard, I do see the words "Front Fan" in a location where such a spot would exist but there's nothing to plug into. Unlike the "Top Fan" and "CPU Fan" which do have something a power cable plugs into, I don't see anywhere in the motherboard where a front fan would plug into. Is it possible to install a front case fan into the XPS 8930?
rh310
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175 Posts
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January 23rd, 2019 19:00
To those who replaced the 92mm TOP fan in their 8930 with a 120mm fan, where did you find a bracket to mount that 120mm fan to? I'm guessing/hoping the same bracket that the 8920 presumably uses.
Vic384
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3.2K Posts
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January 24th, 2019 03:00
You can find mounting brackets on eBay.
rh310
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175 Posts
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January 24th, 2019 10:00
I've seen ones to mount a front fan, but not for the top 120mm fan.
546insp
2 Intern
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732 Posts
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January 24th, 2019 11:00
I'm sure you could make one or used double sided tape which also helps with noise. My 8920 came with a 120mm in it and after adding another 120mm in front with tape it is all quiet and good.
Vic384
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3.2K Posts
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January 24th, 2019 11:00
You are right, the ones listed are for the XPS 8910 & 8920. I don't know if the XPS 8930 can use the same bracket.
rh310
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175 Posts
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January 24th, 2019 12:00
Ok, see it. Was not searching for 8920. Yes, almost certain that will fit. It doesn't say 120mm but I think ALL 8920's got 120mm top fans. Thanks!
rh310
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175 Posts
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January 24th, 2019 12:00
When my 8930 debacle is over with, I'm going to consider that for my 8920 also. I didn't realize there was space for a fan in the front. If I end up keeping the 8930, I'll probably do the same.
546insp
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732 Posts
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January 24th, 2019 19:00
Read my thread on how I did it before you do it.
rh310
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175 Posts
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February 2nd, 2019 09:00
How do you plan to mount the Noctua in the front? I've seen the setup @546insp created which looks nice. I've got the stock front fan w/mount which I'm going to try. But I also like the simpler approach of adding a fixed speed Noctua in the front - powered via SATA - so I don't have to unbuckle the CPU fan/heat-sink just to get power. The price I pay for getting the bigger CPU :-)
546insp
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732 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 08:00
It boggles my mind how Dell went backwards on their fan noise problem. That's like Ford saying; The wheels are coming off the pickup trucks, we better start using flimsier ones.....lol.
546insp
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732 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 08:00
The way those fans are in that picture they are doing very little, I hate to toot my own horn but you need to do it like I did.
HanoverB
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798 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 10:00
Disagree... any fan in the upper compartment helps direct airlfow in the upper part of the chassis to the upper exhaust fan. This case has too many obstructions for the lower fan to be effective by itself. The lower fan is more for the GPU.
HanoverB
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798 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 10:00
Use the Alienware R5/R6 lower fan bracket to mount the lower intake fan. Existing fan in the bracket can be removed and you can put the Noctua fan into the bracket and just snap the bracket into place.
https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-CPU-Liquid-Cooler-GTX-1080-Hybrid-GPU-Upgrades/m-p/6138060/highlight/true#M16396
The Noctua fan you are using is a static pressure fan, did you already have that fan and moving it to the XPS 8930?
Can you link the fan filter you have pictured? I find it interesting that there appear to be 92mm and 120mm fan holes there on it.
The upper fan location has holes on the outside of the chassis already there, and I believe the metal bracket for the hard drive holder that you removed has 92mm fan holes there. Wondering if the fan dust filter can act as an adapter and allow you to mount the 120mm fan without drilling using rubber fan mounting pins.
The four holes located on the upper chassis fan location are on small tabs that protrude slightly into the case. Not sure if they would hit the fan blades with a flush mounted fan. Check that as well.
3M Advanced Moulding Tape should also lock that fan into the upper position if you can actually mount it flush against the inside part of the chassis. The fan doesn't weigh much and would try that before drilling. On the Noctua fans you would remove the brown tabs on the outside corners and can apply tape there.
If you put a fan filter on the front of the chassis you can use the 120mm/140mm magnetic fan filters. Note that you would need to shave a little off the pins on the front bezel that lock into those holes on the front of the metal chassis if you put fan filters on the outside at those locations.
HanoverB
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798 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 11:00
Mounting a 92mm fan in the upper compartment using the existing HDD bracket would be an easier task and should be considered as a viable option as there isn't any drilling involved. Fairly easy to do
https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-CPU-Liquid-Cooler-GTX-1080-Hybrid-GPU-Upgrades/m-p/7199726/highlight/true#M22014
546insp
2 Intern
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732 Posts
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February 3rd, 2019 14:00
Disagree, it all flows around just fine but more fan= cooler PC, it's a no brainer. 92mm is for those PC's with no problems. Why advocate a 92???