External Case Cooling

[seekermeister]

I have a Startech Esatcase2 connected to each of my PCs, and the one on the desktop is now getting old enough that the cooling fan is beginning to make noise. Even when new, due to the small size of the fan, it was never very quiet, and is louder than the PC which has many cooling fans.

I'm not certain whether the fan is accessible for replacement or not, because all that I see are only two screws at the bottom rear of the case, but even if those were all that were necessary, a new fan wouldn't be any quieter than originally.

Therefore, I've been considering the possibility of mounting a large fan on the side of the case...if I could find an appropriate cage to put them in. If I did, I'm not sure that the airflow pattern would cover each of the hard drives because the drive on the side the fan was on, would block the other one. I'm hoping that the airflow around the drives would suffice, which seems possible comparing it to that of the little fans that now exist.

Any ideas or opinions would be very helpful. Here is a link to some photos of the cases:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817707092

 

[ignatzatsonic]

a new fan wouldn't be any quieter than originally

What makes you say that?

Is it not possible that the original fan is dying and therefore making more noise than a new one?

Is it possible to replace the original fan with a same-size superior new fan from another manufacturer that would be quieter than the stock fan, even if the stock fan is in good shape? I have no idea what kind of fans those things take, but there are dozens of fan manufacturers and hundreds of fans.

If the stock fan is quite small, any same-size replacement may be noisier than you would like. Small generally means higher RPM and more noise.

Can you currently monitor the temps of those drives and the RPM of the fans?

If I recall correctly, the huge study that Google did some years ago on drive longevity did not establish a high correlation between temperature and longevity. But of course that was for ordinary cases, not those add-on externals like you have.

 

[seekermeister]

a new fan wouldn't be any quieter than originally

What makes you say that?

Is it not possible that the original fan is dying and therefore making more noise than a new one?

Yes, it is making more noise now than it did previously, however I know both from my memory, and by listening to the other case, which is not all that old, that the fan has never been as quiet as I would like.

Is it possible to replace the original fan with a same-size superior new fan from another manufacturer that would be quieter than the stock fan, even if the stock fan is in good shape? I have no idea what kind of fans those things take, but there are dozens of fan manufacturers and hundreds of fans.

I have never come across a truly high quality fan in that small of a size. If you know of one, please tell me. I suspect that even if there were a high quality fan that small, it still wouldn't be ideal, because of the high speed involved.

If the stock fan is quite small, any same-size replacement may be noisier than you would like. Small generally means higher RPM and more noise.

Can you currently monitor the temps of those drives and the RPM of the fans?

I can monitor there temps, but not their fan speeds. The temp of one drive in the case in question, is currently at 41 degrees, which is within limits, but is also somewhat higher than the drives in the main case.

If I recall correctly, the huge study that Google did some years ago on drive longevity did not establish a high correlation between temperature and longevity. But of course that was for ordinary cases, not those add-on externals like you have.

 

[Phone Man]

The spec on that enclosure shows the fan at 27.1 dBa. Check out this 60mm fan at 12 dBa and 14cfm which may do the job.

Newegg.com - SilenX IXP-34-12 60mm Case Fan

Jim

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I did a little Googling, which leads me to believe those things take 40mm fans.

As you say, ANY 40mm fan is likely to be noiser than ideal.

Scythe does make 40 mm fans and they are a high quality manufacturer.

Here is an example:

Scythe "Mini Kaze" 40mm Silent Mini Fan

The description says it can be used in external cases. I have no idea if it will work in your case or its noise levels. Rated at 14 DB and 3500 rpm.

Jabtech is a good outfit.

I would guess other manufacturers also make small fans. Root around for Nexus, Noctua, etc.

I know you frown on Newegg, but you might look there just for ideas:

Newegg.com - Hard Drive Coolers

 

[Phone Man]

When I Binged it shows this unit which uses a 60mm fan. Seems to be what the OP has.

http://www.startech.com/InfoSafe-Dual-35-Drive-eSATA-to-SATA-HD-Enclosure~ESATCASE2

Jim

 

[ignatzatsonic]

When I Binged it shows this unit which uses a 60mm fan. Seems to be what the OP has.

http://www.startech.com/InfoSafe-Dual-35-Drive-eSATA-to-SATA-HD-Enclosure~ESATCASE2

Jim

I think you are right, Jim. I went to Startech but didn't find that exact model in my fumbling.

If it is 60mm, look at these ideas:

Hard Drive Coolers*::*Case fans and accessories*::*Jab-tech

60mm Fans*::*Case Fans*::*Case fans and accessories*::*Jab-tech

Seeker: if I were in your shoes, I would tolerate temps a bit higher than you might like in exchange for quiet, but it's your call.

 

[seekermeister]

There is one good aspect of asking questions, it causes me to get off my haunches and do things that I have put off far too long. I did find a couple more screws on the back of the case, allowing me to disassemble it, and to give it it's first cleaning since I bought it. That quietened it down some, at least got rid of the rattly noise it was making. Considering how long it has been, it wasn't as dirty as I expected though.

I'm still interested in the idea of a large side fan for it though, because that would make a lot of difference, if it would work. Noctua is the only brand of fan that I have found that is truly quiet, but when I did search their website for a fan of this size, I found nothing. I measured the fan at ~2 1/8" in diameter, and ~5/8" thick. that diameter doesn't correlate exactly for either a 60mm (2.362 204 724 4") or 40mm (1.574 803 149 6") fan, but I'm not sure whether they are measure the size of the tunnel in which it is mounted, or the fan blades themselves? Obviously, 60mm comes much closer than 40mm.

 

[seekermeister]

A side question that I'm wondering about, is that I noticed in the Newegg ad, that it said that this case would support a 750GB hard drive, but I'm running a 1.5TB and 2TB drives side-by-side, and haven't had any problems that I know of. Of course the drives are only for archived data, not for running an OS from. How is that size limit involved?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm still interested in the idea of a large side fan for it though, because that would make a lot of difference, if it would work. Noctua is the only brand of fan that I have found that is truly quiet, but when I did search their website for a fan of this size, I found nothing. I measured the fan at ~2 1/8" in diameter, and ~5/8" thick. that diameter doesn't correlate exactly for either a 60mm (2.362 204 724 4") or 40mm (1.574 803 149 6") fan, but I'm not sure whether they are measure the size of the tunnel in which it is mounted, or the fan blades themselves? Obviously, 60mm comes much closer than 40mm.

I'd assume Jim is right and that you have 60mm fans. The difference between your measurement of 2 1/8 and 2.36 is under a quarter inch. In fact, that measurement of 60mm may actually be for the mounting holes?

I can't find 60mm Noctuas either.

You are just going to have to experiment. Any exposed fan is going to be noisier than a concealed equivalent. I'd pay next to no attention to marketing claims of DB ratings.

Here is a Yate Loon 60mm. Other Yate Loons I have used were low noise.

Quiet 60mm Case Fan

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I'm also in need of (2) replacement 50mm case fans and as you found out Noctua doesn't chase after the small fan or extremely large fan market. Does anyone have experience with quiet 50mm fans?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

When you get down below 80mm, fan choices become fewer.

I'm accustomed to even numbers--80, 100, 120.

All I can suggest is to pound the net and various dealers.

Here's a few meager possibilities. "Quiet 50mm" may be a contradiction in terms.

50mm Fans :: Case Fans :: Case fans and accessories :: Jab-tech

 

[seekermeister]

Even though cleaning the fan quietened it down, it has slowly returned to the original noise level, so I went ahead and order the SilenX IXP-34-12 that Phone Man suggested. I don't know if it is the quietest one available, but from the spec is should be a big improvement over what I have.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Good news seekermeister, let us know how it works out and if they work well I'll order (2) 50mm's from them. Mine are taken from a $6.00 HDD cooler and make a real racket till the little lube inside warms and then go fairly quiet.

 

[seekermeister]

My order for the SilenX IXP-34-12 just arrived, and it looks as though I shall have to return it, because the fan is 1" thick, which is far more than I ever expected, and it will not fit into the space alloted inside the case. The ads did specify the thickness of them, but in millimeters, and my mind doesn't work on that scale. I guess that is why the fan is able to move as much air as it does, because the blades are as deep as much larger fans.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

It's funny you mention that because I notice that myself. The smaller the fan the deeper the blade. Sounds like some ancient computer saying "ah...smaller the fan, deeper the blade". Hope you find the depth, keep looking their out there. Where I'll be using my twin 50mm's they can be as deep as possible.

 

[Phone Man]

My order for the SilenX IXP-34-12 just arrived, and it looks as though I shall have to return it, because the fan is 1" thick, which is far more than I ever expected, and it will not fit into the space alloted inside the case. The ads did specify the thickness of them, but in millimeters, and my mind doesn't work on that scale. I guess that is why the fan is able to move as much air as it does, because the blades are as deep as much larger fans.

Sorry to hear that. You can use the built in calculator to convert units. Open Calculator and Under View select Unit Conversion.



Hope you can find one that works.

Jim

 

[seekermeister]

Being able to convert the numbers is not the problem, thinking about the need to do so is, and they don't make a calculator for that purpose.

 

[seekermeister]

I just had to reopen the case to measure the old fan, and was surprised to find that there is some extra space available, but unfortunately not enough. The new fan would have fit, except that the circuit board extends into the back panel ~3/16". If not for that, it would have been a perfect fit.

Now I have to decide about a fan of 20mm or less to buy. The good part of that is that what I have seen is a lot cheaper. I wonder if they are anywhere as good? I also may need a 2 to 3 pin adapter, since all of the fans I've seen so far are 3 pin, and the case socket is only 2 pin.

 

[seekermeister]

The fans that I ordered arrived...at least they are supposed to be in the mailbox, so I will be installing them later today. I got wondering if it might be a good idea to spray them with some additional lubricant? I know that they are already lubed, but when I sprayed the old fans, they stopped making a racket for a little over a week each time. Would more lube be good, or would it be an overkill?