Thread: '05 Nissan Altima- Intel D945GCLF2D Mini-ITX in Center Console (Storage Bin Mod)

It is time! I finally got my PSU and mini-ITX case in. So here are the pics displaying some scale. This gives an idea what I'm working with. I will have to do a little modifying of my installation but not much....so far.

Here is a pic of the M4-ATX PSU next to a CD to give perspective.



This is the top of the case next to a CD. In my installation I will not be using the case shell, only the base that the motherboard mounts to.






This is how the case will look without the shell.








Here are some perspectives on the size of the case vs. the storage bin console.








These are pics of the mounting brackets I purchased for the case. The brackets will secure the case on the wall of the console.







Tomorrow I may start toying with the position I am mounting the case. I need to optimize for cabling and fortunately the largest cable I'm dealing with is the VGA and I have an idea on how that may end up going. This weekend is when I will start the major hacking away at my console.

I forgot to mention that I am not using the USB PCB module that is attached to the case. I may use for another mod down the road but will not be necessary for this project and will also provide a little more space.

You can see the module in this pic. It's only attached with four screws so nothing dramatic about it. It also has a power switch and LED mobo header cables which I also will not need because I already have the switch and LED cable that I prefer.

So I have to revise my plan for fan locations. As you will see in the pic below there is no room for two at the original planned location.

Original location plans for two 60mm or fans for air intake:




From this pic, viewing from underneath the console you see that the case does not allow for two fans in that location. However, there are a few more options for fan mounts as displayed in the pic below. I would probably have to funnel the air with some tubing of some sort which force the air to the rear of the console, towards the system.

CLICK THE PIC TO ZOOM

So here is my latest and greatest idea for placement of my fans.

In the last post I displayed that the 2 intake fans could possibly be mounted on the front sides of the console. Well that is a no go because the handbrake is in the way. In addition it would create additional work because I would then need to port the incoming air to the rear towards the system.

This was the previous idea I posted:




This is my revised idea. To explain: Only one small fan will fit on the top of the console due to the case, so only one will be mounted there for pulling filtered air inside the console. On the rear of the console, back panel, I will relocate the 120mm exhaust fan to the bottom of the back panel. Near the top replacing the old position of the 120mm fan will be one or two 60mm, or two 40mm fans to intake. So to summarize, intake airflow will occur in the front and rear of the console and the exhaust airflow will be out the bottom rear of the console.


This is a photoshop'd representation but you get the idea:

If you have an intake on the top and an exhaust on the bottom, some of the hot air from the bottom will rise and be pulled into the top, which is not the best plan. It's much better if you pull air in the front and blow it out the back so hot air has a long path back to the intake.

You might consider skipping the front intake fan completely, unless you have it blowing directly on something you need to cool. As it is, you could just make a fanless intake port on the front, and pull air through with the fans on the back by making them both exhaust. You aren't going to generate much heat with that board and power supply. I suspect that one exhaust fan low and one exhaust fan high on the back will be all you need to pull plenty of air through a front opening. I'd think that, unless you're adding other heat sources in there, that they can be smaller -- say, 50mm -- fans. Bigger is fine, though. I've never heard of a PC running too cold.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

If you have an intake on the top and an exhaust on the bottom, some of the hot air from the bottom will rise and be pulled into the top, which is not the best plan. It's much better if you pull air in the front and blow it out the back so hot air has a long path back to the intake.

You might consider skipping the front intake fan completely, unless you have it blowing directly on something you need to cool. As it is, you could just make a fanless intake port on the front, and pull air through with the fans on the back by making them both exhaust. You aren't going to generate much heat with that board and power supply. I suspect that one exhaust fan low and one exhaust fan high on the back will be all you need to pull plenty of air through a front opening. I'd think that, unless you're adding other heat sources in there, that they can be smaller -- say, 50mm -- fans. Bigger is fine, though. I've never heard of a PC running too cold.

Good points. I was also considering just exhaust out the back only. I will have to adjust my plan but will still keep the front intake mainly because summers out where I live can reach 120F. So I really would like to optimize the airflow where I can...even though these systems pretty much can handle operation in reasonable heat.

Sooo...here is yet another revision to my airflow plan. As stated in the previous posts the intake is not completely necessary but desired only because of the climate I live. In any case I did modify the plan by removing the rear intake and replaced with one 120mm fan and one/two 40mm fans.

That's the idea! Only one thing I'd suggest: either skip the front fan, or move it down to the bottom to exhaust with the other 40mm fan. Having a lot of fan power pulling air out, but only one little fan blowing air in, is like having a big pipe going out of a bucket and only a little one going in; I suspect having the fan in the front is either a waste, or possibly even a detriment to airflow. You could probably just put a grille over that intake opening, and I'd bet you'll be delighted with the amount of air that travels through.

Having exhaust fans on both the top and bottom is a good idea, and having the larger one at the top is good, too, because heat rises, so the bulk of the hot air will go up; the bottom fan eliminates any chance of stagnant air. Good design.

That's going to be a very happy home for your carPC.

Actually that's true. No fan will be needed if I have the exhaust flowing. It will pull air in anyways. A filtered grill does sound good though. Maybe that's what I will put, a filtered grill instead of the intake fan.