Fitting a case fan

Ron Prouse gets back to basics and blows us away

After some of the ‘advanced’ tutorials over the last few months, the request has been made to get back to basics for a while. The reason is quite simple: every issue a new batch of readers discover Atomic, and every month there are new people who have become inspired to modify their computer.

The conundrum they face is where to start. For many, the easiest route is to buy as many ‘bolt-on’ accessories as possible, stuff them into an already custom-look case, and consider that the job is done. This ‘instant mod’ approach requires minimal effort, very few tools and almost zero skill – and, in reality, there’s nothing wrong with that! At least the owner has created something that is more of a reflection of their individuality than the box that they started with. The only down side is the very strong possibility of encountering an identical creation at their very next LAN!

On the other side of the ledger is the realm of the uber-modder, designers and fabricators of the most amazing and breathtaking creations that one could ever imagine. These guys could show MacGyver a thing or two about resourcefulness, while displaying master skills and originality. They are also very few in number.

Somewhere in the middle is, arguably, the most interesting group of all – people who are prepared to invest some additional effort and skill to create an individually crafted PC, without having to spend two years sequestered in a workshop to get there. For want of a better term, consider them as ‘serious’ modders. For these people, and those who aspire to be, we are going to re-visit some of the basic guides that we did seven years ago, with the hope of inspiring a new generation of modders to build truly unique cases.

And it doesn’t get more basic than adding a fan to your case – or does it?



That really depends on the builder, the style and the construction of the case. We are going to look at a few different applications, and briefly walk through the process.

Firstly, an expansion on the usual disclaimer, mainly to cover our butts but also to protect yours. Whenever you cut metal there will be inevitably be metal filings generated, just like the crumbs and salt that invariably accompany empty chip packets. While foodstuffs will merely clog up your keyboard and mouse, metal filings have potential to cause electrical short circuits that can prove terminal to your PC hardware, and perhaps even you – think of an angry 240V power supply...

Our advice is that case modding should only be performed on an empty case, with all of the PC components safely tucked away until it is time to re-assemble. This will avoid tears later on.