X51 Cooling, Front Fan replacement?

[Thehillchild]

Hello,

I'm slowly upgrading my early base spec X51 that came with the GT 545 and the I5-2320.

So far I've only swapped the HDD for a Samsung 840 SSD, but have a NVGA 760 GPU and Dell 330 power brick on the way from Amazon.

Like many, my X51 suffers from excessive heat and FAN NOISE, even with just the 545 fitted. I would like to improve cooling without cutting up the case and was wondering if anyone has upgraded the front fan? the one below the Alien head.

Fitting a better fan would surely increase the airflow if only by a bit. Anyone know of a good quality fan fit for the job?

I've looked myself but i'm not sure of the size I need? if anyone has any advice or help with sizes it would be much appreciated. Thanks Guys,

Thehillchild

 

[ejohnson]

Find a nice good 60mm fan for the front. I ordered a noctua 60mm, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608032

Noctua fans may be the ugliest fans in the world, but they are also really nice.

Noiseblocker also makes a pretty nice fan, little cheaper than the noctua.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...Silent_Fan_-_2500_RPM.html?tl=g36c15s57#blank

I forget though if the front fan is 3 wire or 4 wire.

EDIT: its a 4 wire

 

[Thehillchild]

Thanks for the great advise Ejohnson!

Ive found this one on Amazon that I will be ordering, It looks the same as the one you suggested.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/noctua-NF-A...8&qid=1377473437&sr=8-1&keywords=NF-A6X25+FLX

Two things, This looks like a three wire fan. I'm guessing that there is a suitable adapter included?

Also, any tips for installation, Is it a straight swap?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[ejohnson]

No need for a adapter. The nice thing with these fans is that all the conectors are the same, some just lack a few of the extra wires.

Just plug it in like you would normally, there will be one pin not used.

As for installing it, you need to remove the front plate (cd slot cover)
To do so you need to take apart both sides. One of the sides has a kinda hidden screw, its next to the motherboard under some wires. The front plate is held on with some clips and just pops off.

About halfway down this thread is a step by step to remove that fan.
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19509133.aspx

 

[mike2o6]

I have the same fan but had to use the rpm control plug so the fan wasnt too noisy spinning on max the whole time

 

[Thehillchild]

Thanks for the info Mike206

I'm not sure what the max rpm control plug is? Is it included with the fan?

Im kind of worried about the Noctua having only three wires against the originals four.

Thanks

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Kind of off topic but ive also ordered this>

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharkoon-4044951008629-SE-Fan-80x80x20/dp/B001U0GLXO/ref=pd_rhf_sc_p_t_1_2KAH

To replace the CPU fan, same goes, original has four wires this one has three. is one wire not needed?

Thanks.

 

[mike2o6]

I use the lowest rpm setting since its a bit noisy if you have it up too high its whisper quiet I also switched out the fan that sits at top the power module with a Silentx 40mm

 

[Carson2006]

Sorry to bump an old topic, but this is one that I've been wondering about for a week.

Does replacing the 60mm intake fan with 4 pins with a 3 pin fan still allow software such as Speedfan to control the power to the fans?

The sales rep at a local store said that it wouldn't, but this thread kinda implies that it will.

 

[ejohnson]

4 pin to control speed.

 

[jayhernandez7]

I usually don't have a big problem with fan noise, especially if I know it's a tight little case. Then again, I do have a limit to how much jet turbine I can take lol

 

[Rhosoftherovers]

No need for a adapter. The nice thing with these fans is that all the conectors are the same, some just lack a few of the extra wires.

Just plug it in like you would normally, there will be one pin not used.

As for installing it, you need to remove the front plate (cd slot cover)
To do so you need to take apart both sides. One of the sides has a kinda hidden screw, its next to the motherboard under some wires. The front plate is held on with some clips and just pops off.

About halfway down this thread is a step by step to remove that fan.
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19509133.aspx

On this photograph, which fan is the System fan? I have run the ePSA Pre boot System Assessment and my CPU fans and Power fan are fine, but not my System fan. Many thanks in advance.

 

[MURRARI]

On this photograph, which fan is the System fan? I have run the ePSA Pre boot System Assessment and my CPU fans and Power fan are fine, but not my System fan. Many thanks in advance.

The X51 only has 3 fans stock, the cpu fan, the power supply fan, and the front exhaust fan.

 

[Rhosoftherovers]

So would it be fair to assume that the System fan from the System Assessment would likely be the front exhaust fan?