Modding a Praetorian

[punkrunning]

Well, now that I've got a high-paying job (for high school) I've been planning out the build I am going to make probably around April-May. The case I've seen that I really like more than anything else currently on the market is the black Cooler Master Praetorian. My question is this?

What modifications could I make to this case that would be functional/interesting? I'm thinking maybe ducting a sidepanel fan to the HSF and maybe adding a second rear exhaust fan (although I'm not sure this is feasible as the rear exhaust is dead center in the mobo tray. Maybe I would carve a custom window around the side panel fan. So does anyone have any great ideas for modding this case?

[thrawn86]

ducted side intake, top panel exhaust. can't think of anything else I'd want/need.

[punkrunning]

Do you mean an additional top panel exhaust? There is already one.

[serotone9]

Originally posted by thrawn86
ducted side intake, top panel exhaust. can't think of anything else I'd want/need.

what thrawn said, except the praetorian already has a top blowhole, so that just leaves the side duct. :D

other things you might want to consider are mods for quiet, like suspended hard drives instead of hard mounted, seasonic or fortron psu, panaflo fans, etc. the praetorian can be a little loud without components specifically made for quiet computing.

[punkrunning]

Does anyone know how loud the stock fans are? I noticed that svc.com has the Panaflo L1A's for 3.99 each...

[serotone9]

Originally posted by punkrunning
Does anyone know how loud the stock fans are? I noticed that svc.com has the Panaflo L1A's for 3.99 each...

they're a little on the loud side, compared to quieter alternatives. not sure of the actual dbs -- maybe somewhere around 28-32?

$3.99 is a great price for the L1A, especially if they are already tailed. supposedly the "japanflos" are even better (the guaranteed japanese version), but i haven't tried them yet. they're a little more than the svc panaflos:
http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/product.php?productid=2344&cat=79&page=1

and for ultra quiet (but lower cfm), the coolermaster 13db fans are looking good:
http://svc.com/saf-s84-e1-19.html

:cool:

[ImaNihilist]

I have 80mm SilenX fans and even though they are rated at 14dba, they sound exactly the same as a Panaflo L1A.

You can NOT go wrong with a Panaflo. It's unpossible.

[GrimFrostCasey]

I'd actually cut out that top blowhole, as it is right now it's really constricting on airflow. I'd also do away with the front grill and add 2 80mm fans in it (with guards, and lighting if that's your fancy). The duct is a good idea, as well.

[punkrunning]

Why would you do away with the front grill? It is probably somewhat restrictive, but not enormously so, and it serves as a good air filter supposedly. Also, wouldn't that ruin the look?

[GrimFrostCasey]

Meh, you can buy filters that are less restictive than the grill it has is. I actually saw one where they had taken off the front grill and just put 2 led fans in it, looked pretty nifty, I think it was on this board actually.

[serotone9]

i don't find the front grill that restrictive, and it catches a lot of dust, too. i did take out the bottom of the two fans to increase airflow, which really seemed to help. :cool:

two rear 80mm fans is possible, a guy on the silentpc forum did it:

http://www.eltonmaizemaze.co.uk/Jessica/205Rear.jpg

[CookIEZ]

Man that guy should have cut that himself instead of letting his three yr old do it.:eek:

[GrimFrostCasey]

Yeah, that looks pretty horrible, functional, but horrible.

[punkrunning]

I just saw in the anand forums that someone modded a 120mm side intake into their window which looked pretty sweet. Anyway, I have another question for someone with the case. Is there room where the top blowhole is to enlarge it into either a 92mm or a 120mm? Thanks.

[punkrunning]

bumpity bumpity bump

[serotone9]

Originally posted by punkrunning
I just saw in the anand forums that someone modded a 120mm side intake into their window which looked pretty sweet. Anyway, I have another question for someone with the case. Is there room where the top blowhole is to enlarge it into either a 92mm or a 120mm? Thanks.

definitely. the case width is about 7 1/2", and a 120mm is approx. 5 1/2".

[thebove]

Originally posted by serotone9
definitely. the case width is about 7 1/2", and a 120mm is approx. 5 1/2". i think he's worried about space behind the current hole to be able to fit a 92mm or 120mm in there without it hiting the PSU.

it looks pretty tight to me, not sure if you'll be able to do much more with it aside from removing the stock grille in the metal
http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/11-119-029-04.JPG

[serotone9]

Originally posted by thebove
i think he's worried about space behind the current hole to be able to fit a 92mm or 120mm in there without it hiting the PSU.

it looks pretty tight to me, not sure if you'll be able to do much more with it aside from removing the stock grille in the metal


hmm, i see what you mean. but couldn't you just mod it forward? any case is going to have the psu there. i don't see a problem with going forward as long as you maybe don't put an optical drive in the top bay (for a 120mm, a 92 might still fit even then). then just get some sort of mesh or something to finish it off, b/c you wouldn't be able to make it perfectly round in back. i.e., do it square like the original, only bigger. :cool:

[GigEmAggies]

I cut my own window out of the side with a 120mm fan in it. I also bought a window for the top with 3 90mm fans cut outside in it..but the problem is, i cant put it anywhere on my case without it hitting the PSU...any ideas?

[BlueOval]

Remove the fan from the top window that goes above the PSU and replace the PSU with one that has a top fan.