Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:23 am Post subject: drilling the "grey end" on hdd side.
Just bought a 360 and i'm doing a few cooling mods to it before i send it into action. I finished making heatsinks for the ram, the northbridge, and the southbridge.
I was trying to figure out how to get some airflow over the southbridge with the dvd drive hogin the space. Well as ya know the chassis has small vent holes completly covering both sides, yet the "grey end" on the hdd side has a 2.5x2.5 inch section that is solid and happens to be right next to the southbridge.
If this section were drilled out to match the chassis, it would allow for a slim fan to be recessed and blow accross the southbridge and flow more fresh air through the 360.
I know that for people with hdd's this woldn't work the same, but it *should* still pull air away from the hdd and at least blow through the fins of a southbridge heatsink giving at least *some* cooling of the hdd and southbridge.
I don't know if any hdd's are having heat issues (haven't seen any) but imho the cooler the better as i like my equipment to last as long as possible. Even my xbox has 3 120mm fans, although i have removed the other internal fans, except for the litte stock fan over the gpu.
Not sure how big a differance this would make but it would have to help some, especially for those that don't have a hdd.
Once i get my atx psu in the mail and hook everything up i'll try to take some before and after temps with/without the holes drilled. Have to try an borrow a temp gauge.
endless 360-HQ Genius
Joined: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 1013 Location: Out in the Boonies XP: 450
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:42 am Post subject:
This will be interesting, I would defiantly love to see some before and after shots. I imagine it will come out nice.
Keep us posted. Perhaps if all goes well you could even write up a tutorial on it.
chuey_316 360-HQ Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 22, 2007 Posts: 47 Location: MI XP: 0
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject:
Sorry there's no pics, but this should be understandable. If there are any questions post them here and I'll reply when i can.
Drilling the grey end cap on the hdd side for more airflow.
Items needed:
A 3/32 drill bit
A drill
4 bolts that will fit through the pre-drilled holes and nuts to fasten them.
Some time and patience.
Start of by removing both end pieces from the sides of the console.
Now lay the hdd end on a flat surface with the outside facing up, and place the other end upside down on top of it so that the pieces lay together flat.
Grab your bolts/nuts. (7/64 seem to fit, but are a bit snug) What you want to do is put one bolt through each corner just outside of
where the solid square is and snug it down so that the pieces are held together and the holes are alligned.
Now flip it over and start drilling through the pre-drilled holes and though the solid plastic. When your done you'll have a stock looking end cap but with extra airflow.
If the 7/64 bolts are too snug, you can use a smaller bolt. Just be sure that the holes are alligned before you start drilling, or everything won't be symetrical. It probley still wouldn't look bad though. Be sure not to drill outside of where the small lip is around the solid square(again see the symetrical issue)
I also removed the metal casing on both sides to improve the air intake. The holes in the metal on the hdd side are very small limiting the flow of fresh air into the console.
That's it, your done. You now have a little more air intake, and it should help a little to keep the dvd drive some what cooler, and as a plus some air will now move over the southbridge as well since it's right next to the holes you've just added. You could also add a small slim fan on the inside where you drilled to force air over the southbridge and under the dvd drive.
This is of the most use to those without a hdd, or who run their hdd internally. I would imagine that it would still work somewhat with a hdd attached if the fan were added.
If you have anything to add to this, or maybe a link to a good slim fan that would fit, let me know and i'll add it to the tut. With credits of course. All i ask is that i don't find this over at xs. Anywhere else is fine, as long as credit is given.
Last edited by chuey_316 on Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:21 pm; edited 2 times in total
endless 360-HQ Genius
Joined: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 1013 Location: Out in the Boonies XP: 450
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject:
Also if you didn't want to use bolts, I'm pretty sure zip ties would work also. They can hold the plastic in place as tightly as the bolts.
The square piece in the picture is what is being referred to.
Once you get a camera, I'd recommend taking pictures and submitting a tutorial to the tutorial section. This is a quick easy mod that is effective. I'll look for some slim fans here in a bit.
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