Hole Saw Use on Completed Build?

[newoski]

Looking to add ventilation to my completed Bartop cabinet. Thinking about using a 3.5 inch hole Saw on the roof of the Marquee to add 2-3 92mm fans.

Any thoughts on using a hole Saw on a completed build? Feeling pretty nervous

[Mike A]

You don't need any fans at all.

Just some vent holes.

[newoski]

You don't need any fans at all.

Just some vent holes.

My nearly throttling i5-10600 CPU would strongly disagree... Unless you're saying that holes on top, since hot air rises, would be enough to dispel that much heat?

[leapinlew]

An exhaust isn't a bad idea. Might I suggest a single 120 mm fan blowing air in near the bottom of the cabinet and a few exhaust holes at the top? I've done it a few different ways:


I used a fan at the bottom of the cabinet blowing air in and the gap at the top of the door was where the exhaust was


This fan was exhausting air from the cabinet, and the bottom 3 holes were pulling air in

As long as there is some air flow you should be good. If you can get away with a passive cooling setup, definitely do that. Use some quality ball bearing fans too, something that won't be distracting or will fail quickly.

[Mike A]

Yes. Heat rises. Vent holes near the top will get rid of the heat. Like Lew said, if a fan makes you feel better go ahead and use one fan. Build without one and use an app to monitor PC temperature. It will tell you if one is necessary.

[bperkins01]

I put fans in my cabinet and never turned them on..Never got hot enough and they are too loud.
Even the quiet ones are louder than you think..
Its one step you can try without first and add later easily..

[Howard_Casto]

In a bar top you might have heat issues depending upon the processor and video card used, but after all these years I've never put a fan in a cabinet.  You need vent holes though. 

[Cynicaster]

My main cabinet has a large and quiet fan on the top/back.  Probably not necessary in retrospect, but whatever. 

I also have a small pedestal cabinet I built, and on that one I decided to forego the fans and just use vents.  It has been mostly fine for the 5-6 years I've had it, but there have been several times I've opened it up after it's been running for a while and damn, it gets alarmingly warm in there without fans.  That particular cabinet has had 2 PSU failures on 2 different PCs, and I can't help but wonder if the hot environment is expediting these failures.  I mean, it's hard to say since the PCs were old and crusty and arguably running on borrowed time to begin with, but it's interesting that I've only ever had 2 PSU failures in my life and both of them are on that cabinet. 

 

[Mike A]

Stick a thermometer in there. Or use a temperature measuring app.
This isn't witchcraft. It's science.

2 PSU failures in the same place? Check the outlet you are plugging them into.

[Cynicaster]

Stick a thermometer in there. Or use a temperature measuring app.
This isn't witchcraft. It's science.

2 PSU failures in the same place? Check the outlet you are plugging them into.

Unlikely it has anything to do with the outlet, as it happened at two different houses.  I don't need a thermometer or app to tell me it's too hot in there, which is why I bought some fans for it that will go in when I take it out of storage. 

 

[Mike A]

SO you went from unsure what the problem was to positive it is heat related in the space of 2 posts.

Problem solvers measure things.

This guy was going to install fans in his cab that he probably doesn't need.

Measuring temperatures will help him avoid the extra work of installing fans if they are not needed.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah and fans can sometimes cause issues.... they can be loud and they can cause electrical noise on a common ground.  When building anything K.I.S.S.

[javeryh]

OP do not use a hole saw unless you want to chip the crap out of your finish.  Use a forstner bit for a MUCH cleaner hole.  Or, better yet, use the hole saw on a piece of scrap and then use some double sided tape to hold it down to the cabinet and use your router and a flush bit to make it perfect.  Make sure you cover the entire area in painter's tape before hand to minimize chip out.

Also, I agree with everyone that you do not need a fan - only ventilation.

[bperkins01]

Here is a very low cost method that is better than a hole saw

Make a circle jig: 

If you will make lots of circular holes in the future -
https://www.amazon.com/Jasper-200J-Circle-Cutting-Plunge/dp/B00009K77A/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1FEQ16B7WJB0B&dchild=1&keywords=jasper+circle+jig&qid=1599759490&sprefix=jasper+%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-10

The commercial one makes sizing holes very simple and accurate..

If the holesaw skips just once - you ruin your work.  Much more stability with a jig and a router

[Cynicaster]

SO you went from unsure what the problem was to positive it is heat related in the space of 2 posts.

Problem solvers measure things.

This guy was going to install fans in his cab that he probably doesn't need.

Measuring temperatures will help him avoid the extra work of installing fans if they are not needed.

Why so grumpy? 

And your reading comprehension isn't very good; I never said I was "positive" about anything. 

We're not landing the space shuttle here, we're talking about building a box to safely house a computer to play video games.  I don't feel comfortable with the amount of heat build-up I'm getting, so I'm going to forego the science project and take 30  minutes to install my $8 fan to protect my $10 PC and be done with it.  The OP is under no obligation to do the same, I'm just sharing my experience for his consideration.

[Mike A]

I don't need a thermometer or app to tell me it's too hot in there, which is why I bought some fans for it that will go in when I take it out of storage.

I don't see any room for maybe in there.

I am grumpy because you are giving ---smurfy--- advice.

[Cynicaster]

I don't need a thermometer or app to tell me it's too hot in there, which is why I bought some fans for it that will go in when I take it out of storage.

I don't see any room for maybe in there.

*sigh*

I don't need a thermometer or app to tell me it's too hot in there FOR MY COMFORT LEVEL, which is why I bought some fans…

Happy now, your highness? 

I am grumpy because you are giving ---smurfy--- advice.

Again, your reading comprehension stinks.  Relating personal experience on a discussion forum is not the same as advising the OP to do anything in particular.  I'm confident the OP can see this distinction.  Heck, you probably do too, but for whatever reason you'd rather misrepresent what I said because being grumpy is more fun. 
 

[Mike A]

Yes. I am happy now.