Antec Sonata

[rocketman14]

Both sides of the case has antec spelled out through a series of tiny holes. I was reading through the forum and saw someone recommended that the holes be covered up (using aluminum foil) and that would result in improved airflow and lower temps. Did anyone try this? Has it lowered temps? Does anyone know if the holes are there for cosmetic purposes or if they are there to allow cooler air from the room to enter the case? Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Mucker]

As a previous owner I can tell you that air is indeed pulled in through those holes to aid in ventilation, however, it won't hurt anything if you want to cover them up. For a test, take a sheet of paper and place it near the side holes. It should suck the paper toward the holes. If you have the rear fan hooked up to the "fan only" connector on the psu, it will speed up as temps rise inside the case so there really is no danger. Use a temp monitoring program and do a before and after test if unsure. You could also buy some colored foam material and make your own filters for those holes.......

Another thing you can do is take one of those spare 5.25 plastic bay covers and drill a neat set of patterned holes in it and place it in the top bay (move your optical(s)) down a notch if you can. Air will be pulled through that way even with the door shut......

m

 

[MDE]

I covered them up on mine with some thin pieces of foam (from a motherboard box), they act as dust filters and stop a lot of the airflow.

 

[akseli]

Personally my sonata's wholes are just filtered with some material from the intake part of an old AC system ... it works very well for dust fintering ... from personal experience blocking the wholes increases case temps which means the rear fan must spin faster which = more noise!

 

[dc5]

i did a test between covered and uncovered. at idle, the temperature rose 1 degree celsius.