Installing a Case Fan
TychoCelchuuu
Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
<div class="IPBDescription">I KNOW It's Supposed to Be Easy</div>Installing a case fan is about the easiest computer thing possible, right? I mean, you don't even have to plug the thing in to the motherboard if you don't feel like it. Somehow, though, I'm having trouble.
The case: Antec Sonata III with a nice ol' mounting for a 120mm fan near the front.
The fan: An Antec TriCool 120mm. Same brand as the case, even! Cute how that works out.
The situation: Tycho opens fan. Tycho takes off little twisty thing holding wires together. Tycho opens case. Tycho takes one of the four screws that came with fan and attempts to insert in one of four holes in case. Tycho keeps trying. Tycho gets another screwdriver. Tycho keeps trying. Tycho tries another screw. Tycho tries another hole. Tycho tries another screw in the other hole. Tycho reexamines fan. Tycho reexamines case. Tycho looks suspiciously at identical fan that came with the case, screwed to the back, which appears to use smaller screws that would be far easier to screw in. Tycho wonders if Antec likes to screw with customers.
I've got the four fan screws. They BARELY make it in to the fan/case/whatever I screw them in to, and once they're in they won't go any farther and occasionally get stuck so that I can't get them out without a pair of pliers and some yanking. Am I missing something here? Is there a secret? I've narrowed down my options to four choices:
1. Use some crazy alternate mounting method, like duct tape or glue or something.
2. Go to hardware store and attempt to find some screws that are very slightly smaller than the ones Antec gave me, or that look like the ones that Antec saved for themselves in order to get the back fan mounted.
3. Use an awl or a tiny file to slightly widen the holes in my case where the screws go, and possibly do the same to the fan.
4. Learn some amazing secret from the Natural Selection forums that lets me get my freaking case fan in to my freaking case with the freaking screws provided by the freaking company that made both freaking parts and ought to be able to get them to work together without me making a freaking forum post about the easiest freaking thing ever.
Aaaaaargh. It's not super time sensitive or anything since it's just a front intake fan, but uh, I want it in there. Bad. 'cuz I'm <i>mad</i>.
The offending fan:
<img src="http://geizhals.at/img/pix/222928.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
The offending case:
<img src="http://www.aicmicro.com/images/sonataIII_Q.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
I think I can rig something up with 8 little bars/toothpicks and four rubber bands. It'll be awesome. But seriously screws are still my first choice.
The case: Antec Sonata III with a nice ol' mounting for a 120mm fan near the front.
The fan: An Antec TriCool 120mm. Same brand as the case, even! Cute how that works out.
The situation: Tycho opens fan. Tycho takes off little twisty thing holding wires together. Tycho opens case. Tycho takes one of the four screws that came with fan and attempts to insert in one of four holes in case. Tycho keeps trying. Tycho gets another screwdriver. Tycho keeps trying. Tycho tries another screw. Tycho tries another hole. Tycho tries another screw in the other hole. Tycho reexamines fan. Tycho reexamines case. Tycho looks suspiciously at identical fan that came with the case, screwed to the back, which appears to use smaller screws that would be far easier to screw in. Tycho wonders if Antec likes to screw with customers.
I've got the four fan screws. They BARELY make it in to the fan/case/whatever I screw them in to, and once they're in they won't go any farther and occasionally get stuck so that I can't get them out without a pair of pliers and some yanking. Am I missing something here? Is there a secret? I've narrowed down my options to four choices:
1. Use some crazy alternate mounting method, like duct tape or glue or something.
2. Go to hardware store and attempt to find some screws that are very slightly smaller than the ones Antec gave me, or that look like the ones that Antec saved for themselves in order to get the back fan mounted.
3. Use an awl or a tiny file to slightly widen the holes in my case where the screws go, and possibly do the same to the fan.
4. Learn some amazing secret from the Natural Selection forums that lets me get my freaking case fan in to my freaking case with the freaking screws provided by the freaking company that made both freaking parts and ought to be able to get them to work together without me making a freaking forum post about the easiest freaking thing ever.
Aaaaaargh. It's not super time sensitive or anything since it's just a front intake fan, but uh, I want it in there. Bad. 'cuz I'm <i>mad</i>.
The offending fan:
<img src="http://geizhals.at/img/pix/222928.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
The offending case:
<img src="http://www.aicmicro.com/images/sonataIII_Q.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
I think I can rig something up with 8 little bars/toothpicks and four rubber bands. It'll be awesome. But seriously screws are still my first choice.
Comments
Alternate alternate answer: Take 2 of the 4 screws out of the other fan, and use them for the new one. That way each has 2 screws! 50% isn't too bad, right?
tl;dr: Needs more elbow grease.
Or do my other option, use screws from the other fan. <- I'd do this one.
Neener-neener-neer-neer.
--Scythe--
Fan screws are also larger than normal screws, I'm sure you have noticed that by now, and usually they are provided with the purchase of a new fan. Use these provided screws.
An alternative way of attaching fans is by using rubber mounts such as <a href="http://www.pc-look.com/boutik/Prod_pc-look-Fixations-Ventilo-Anti-Vibrations-Pack-de-4-Noir__272_fr.html" target="_blank">these</a> , which are awfully expensive but will probably fit. For this, all you have to do is to first install it in the fan's holes (pull hard until it's locked in place) then put it facing the holes and do the same on the other side. Don't forget to check the direction of airflow before mounting, setting a fan backwards can wreck the flow and have negative effects.
Note: don't try using "regular" rubber in a case (such as rubber bands), the heat usually weakens them and makes them break. I don't know what they did to those expensive mount peg things, but I'm sure you can find a cheaper alternative. Whatever you do, make sure that vibrations are kept to a minimum.
What's that? You're not old enough to have accumulated much of a collection?
Do what I do when such a situation arises: drive over to the neighborhood computer store, and they'll probably give you a bag of assorted screw for computers... works for me.
No car? To young to have a license? Ride your bike silly. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<img src="http://www.active-robots.com/products/motorsandwheels/servo-motors/asb-02-750.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
for serious!
Hmmmm, let's call it a "plastic rivet". <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Reverse Pop Rivet! (instead of pulling the head out you push it in)
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Ya forced me to Google it.... ... .. .
Entry: reverse pop rivet, Results: insignificnt
Entry: plastic rivet, Results: <img src="http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50171628/Plastic_Rivets.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /> <img src="http://www.nifco.com/share/pdt/PUSHTURNRIVET.gif" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Same as Confused', with a slightly smaller head. These just turn instead of push.
Just that they ARE the reverse of a pop rivet <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
just read the thread <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />