computer case mod cooling fans

Like a lot of instructable folks I am cheap.
When I built this tower I used all the parts I had on hand ,it is my first build using a p4 so not much transferred over,I did not know that it would be so much hotter than a coppermine was.
Installing a fan in the front of tower,and a PCI slot fan did not help much

Step 1 Scrapping parts and buying stuff

Parts list
Radio shack
25-Ohm 3-Watt Rheostat
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062299&cp=2032058.2032230.2032275&parentPage=family

Metal Standoffs with Screws (4-Pack)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102848&cp=&sr=1&origkw=standoff&kw=standoff&parentPage=search

Control Knob
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3014503&cp=&sr=1&origkw=knob&kw=knob&parentPage=search

3x 80mm case fans
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102826&cp=&sr=1&origkw=fan&kw=fan&parentPage=search

Home Depot
Dewalt 1 1/4" bi-metal hole saw
Ryobi 3/16 drill bit
12 #6 x 1.25 machine screws
#6 locknuts were from old unit
so total of about 12$
all the rest was from bench.

Comments

[zack247]

p4's dont usually get too hot, bt yes, every p4 uild i have (and had, about 4 or 5) have hadcase fans. too bad i had to get rid of a lot of them. still got a couple though! :D

[djr6789]

cool idea for the cigarette lighter on the front, ill try and make 1 into a switch that would be awsome then

[Mario1]

Well... when i press the lighter to heat up the psu fan slows down haha :D P.S my psu is 350w

[carlg14]

has any 1 here tried hooking up a car stereo to the psu and maybe modding the front drive bay for it to fit?

[Mario1]

Yes, i did i had an old tape player that i found in my garage... I cut the molex connector and connected the yellow cable to the positive terminal (red) and black (ground) to the stereo's ground ... it works fine ;) But i didn't try modding it to fit in a drive bay

[bikerbob2005]

computer geeks sells a 5.25 bay stereo for tower, i have a nice car stereo not in use it has a flash player built in takes sd or a usb HD now ya got me thinking and that is dangerous. same thing we do every night work on plans to take over the world ( insert evil laugh )

[carlg14]

yeah but i say if your were going to add stereo to your computer either one that has a dvd player or just a old tape player one then you can play tapes ,dvds and cds!!!

[beavis2k]

Nice instructable, I used an old tv's brightness control for the speed setting knob. The cigarette lighter is interesting, does it run all car accessories? I don't smoke, but always wanted to run various car accessories using the pc 12 volt power supply. What is the biggest thing you have hooked up to the plug? You should do an instructable on it : )

[bikerbob2005]

yes i plug in all kinds of 12v auto stuff.Iits tapped into a single lead molex connector off my power supply ,biggest amp draw? a small auto air compressor to blow dust out of tower.my cell,bluetooth,MP3 player all charge on it ,it is not fused (fuses are for wimps) so draw too much and the power supply pops off

[beavis2k]

thanks, I am going to install the cig lighter connector. I have a car mp3 fm transmitter that I am going to hook up to my pc audio and stream to my stereo.

[bikerbob2005]

http://www.instructables.com/id/install_a_cigarette_lighter_on_computer/
just for you

[Notn4]

Intresting instuctable! :D a whole lot more useful than the other one (for me atleast since jumping car batteries is extremely simple)