Lancool Dragonlord: Optional Fans

[Banana333]

Hey everyone . Just a quick question or two regarding this great case I just bought. I'll start by saying that I'm new to the whole cooling scene, which means I'm basically clueless when it comes to which fans should be intake, which should be exhaust, and just about everything else . I'm looking for a bit of a mix between instruction and personal opinion.

I'm considering a few upgrade options sometime in the future, just for the sake of feeling better about my case, and possibly getting those few extra degrees of cooling. I'm looking at one of three possible side panel replacements with 2x140mm fan mounts, as well as two 140mm fans to go with it. Lancool also offers some neat little fan protectors, but I'm not entirely sure what they do. They also sell air filters which I will also buy if I end up using the fans for intake, and assuming it is possible to use them, since I honestly have no idea if or if not they will fit.

Here is a link to the case:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239&Tpk=pc-k62


On to the first question. Lancool sells 3 optional side panels with two mounts for 140mm fans. They are all slightly different in terms of whether or not there's a window. Here they all are:

http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=26&cl_index=2&sc_index=29&ss_index=88
http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=30&cl_index=2&sc_index=29&ss_index=91
http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=31&cl_index=2&sc_index=29&ss_index=91

First, I'm wondering which you all think will look the best, basically.

Also, here are the links to those fan covers and dust filters I mentioned:

http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=29&cl_index=2&sc_index=39&ss_index=90
http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=39&cl_index=2&sc_index=39&ss_index=90

Finally, I'll provide a link to the 140mm fans I'm currently considering, but I will glady accept any recommendations in that area because I'm by no means knowledgeable in the fan department. I think these look pretty nice and offer good, fairly silent airflow (to be honest, unlike most people, I don't really care about noise). Link:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129058


Now for the big picture. I've ended up with a lot of scattered questions throughout this and I still have one or two things to ask, so I'll just put all my questions here now, nice and organized, just to make things a little easier.

1) Which side panel should I buy?
2) Are the fan covers/dust filters necessary and/or compatible? I will buy the covers on looks alone if they're nice and cheap.
3) Should I get the fans I've linked, and if not, what fans do you suggest?
4) Should I use the fans as intake or exhaust? (Note: Current case fans include one front 140mm intake, one rear 120mm exhaust, and two top 140mm exhaust)
5) Just out of curiosity: Would these accessories be something I would have to purchase straight from lancool? If not, where would I find them for actual purchase?


I know this has turned out to be a long post, so I really appreciate anyone taking the time to help me out. If you have anything else to add, I will greatly appreciate any input about the whole thing. Thanks a lot!

 

[drexeus]

I actually own the case myself. Cooling wise its doing a pretty good job so far. I only added a 120mm fan in front. I really dont like the looks of those side panels. I like the one with the dragon sticker on. But cooling wise you'll be okay with stock. I changed all my fans to red leds. If you want quiet, then I'd say stick with the stock.

 

[Banana333]

Thanks for the reply drexeus. Just out of curiosity, where exactly and how did you add the 120mm fan? You must have had to use some sort of homemade method to attach it, unless there's a fan mount that I'm not aware of.

Also I'm not *too* concerned with looks, but I still do like the way the side panels look, especially with the LEDs and everything lit up inside.

I did find them on one website and the price of the side panel plus the fans and filters and shipping turned out to be more than I paid for my case.. so unless you can order it cheaper directly from lancool or there's a cheaper place that I can get them, I might have to abandon the idea.

I saw a thread somewhere where a guy used a hole saw or something and a few other inexpensive things to modify his current side panel and add a mount for one 140mm fan, but I think that may be outside of my handyman capabilities .

So if anybody has any other ideas or if someone could tell me whether my next fans, however I install them, should be exhaust or intake, I would appreciate the help. I'm thinking intake if I put one or two on the side panel somehow because they would be right over my GPU. Thanks again!

 

[drexeus]

the fan?well you could buy the scythe kama bay thingy (link below),
http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/008/sckb1000_detail.html

me i just ziptied the fan to the remaining 5" bay slots. Well if you haven't checked it out yet and you live in the States you could buy from here:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=130_158_714

hope that helps.

~drex

 

[Banana333]

Ah thanks for the recommendation on that scythe thing. I had no idea it existed.


As for the side panel and whatnot, I live in Canada and that's the exact website I found it on, and they do ship to Canada, but the total cost for everything I wanted including shipping was way too high.


Thanks again for your help drexeus, I might look into buying one of those in the future.

 

[drexeus]

hahaha...I live in Japan and ordered my red led fans from the same site...you just have to live with it if you want it...hahaha...hope all goes well...