Every computer needs a good cooling system, and the bare minimum is a good air intake and exhaust system. Unfortunately, most cases and fans vary on the quality of airflow and the amount of noise they produce.
The design of the case may constrain effective airflow strategies. For example, some home theater cases use several smaller (and therefore noisier) fans because of the small dimensions of the box. Other cases intended for overclocking may not have enough airflow, and would benefit from additional fans in strategic places. Upgrading your system’s cooling beyond the case’s original design may require physical modification, such as drilling holes and cutting the case.
But what if you could add a fan virtually anywhere without reaching for the Dremel? Sharkoon has an innovative product that not allows you to stick a fan anywhere while making your case more silent at the same time. This product is the Sharkoon Anti-Vibration Magnetic Fan Gasket.
Features
This makes any tiresome installation obsolete and you can place the fans exactly where they are required – bye, bye screw mounting! Simultaneously the silicone sleeve decouples the fan and thus avoids fan vibration from being transferred to the case.
Magnets inside a PC case?!?!?!?!
Yes, no problem! As the power of these magnetic clamps decreases exponentially with growing distance there is no danger for any component! Anyway the fan sleeves may also be screwed in a more conventional way.
The Anti Vibe Magnetic is available with black color as version for 80 mm and 120 mm fans.
- Compatible with all 80 x 80 x 25 mm fans (80 mm version)
- Compatible with all 120 x 120 x 25 mm fans (120 mm version)
- Easy, screwless installation in PC cases at or on any magnetic surface via the eight integrated magnetic clamps
- Decoupling and protection for the fan
- Flexible and sturdy
- Fast and multi-purpose application
At first glance, this product looks like a square black rubber ring, but there are many great features once you take a close look.
The fan gasket is made from black silicone rubber. There are two sides to this gasket, each with four triangle corners similar to many case fans. One side has screw holes, which you can use to secure the fan to the case or attach a fan guard.
The other side does not have screw holes, but has strong magnets in each corner, which allows you to stick the fan to any steel case. There are also two rounded oblong holes on opposite sides of the edge which allow you to snake the fan’s wires.
You don’t have to use this gasket to create a new fan mount. You can choose to use this product in the fans original placement, but reap the silencing and aesthetic benefits it has to offer.
Installation
Installing a fan is rather easy, and much less complicated than traditional fan installation. To start, thread the fan’s power cable through the side holes, then wrap each of the gasket’s corners over the corresponding fan. If you have a particularly long fan cable, then you can conceal the extra length inside the fan gasket.
You must pay attention to which way the fan will blow air. Since only one side of the gasket has magnets, you must insert the fan into the housing with this in mind. If you want the fan to function as an exhaust, then orient the fan’s center support on the same side as the magnets. Insert the fan the opposite way if the fan is used to blow air into your computer (intake fan).
Once the fan is inside the rubber housing, all you have to do is stick it onto an existing fan hole. If you have an aluminum or acrylic case, then you’ll have to use traditional screws to secure the fan… but you’ll have the vibration-cancelling benefits of a rubber gasket. You can optionally add a finger guard, which usually aren’t magnetic, so you’ll have to attach it with screws. You could insert the finger guard under the gasket, so the screws are hidden underneath the black rubber.
If you have an LED fan, you may not want to see the light coming out of the sides of the fan. The black rubber easily conceals the LEDs, giving your fan a much more polished look. Also, you can conceal part of a really ugly fan, such as the fleshy-cream color of Noctua fan housings.
It must be noted that this product will be most useful in steel cases. You will have to make compromises if you install this product into an aluminum, acrylic, or even wood case. While you can still attach the fan with screws, the other side cannot be used for a fan guard (unless you want to use the magnets to attach a custom steel guard).
You have several different installation options when using this gasket, each of which adds a little extra polish to your PC rig.
We tested this gasket with both traditional and screwless installations. When using the magnetic mounting method (screwless), the vibration of the fan was virtually eliminated. Vibration was significantly reduced, although not completely eliminated, when using the traditional (screw) mounting method. It is possible that the fan’s vibration may move the gasket over time, but we did not notice any movement within our days of testing.
The value of this product greatly depends on its intended use. If you need an extra fan in a creative place in your home theater PC or server, then it can be a lifesaver. If you just need a gasket to control vibration, then you may not need the magnets.
The Sharkoon Anti-Vibration Magnetic fan gasket is highly recommended for home theater cases, or those who want an extra bit of polish for their windowed PC rig. Even if you don’t use the magnetic installation method, the gasket provides excellent vibration reduction and makes your LED fan look that much cooler.
Since this is a German product, it is harder to find in North America. It has a recommended retail price of 4.99 (80mm) and 5.99 (120mm) Euros, which puts this product at about $7.20 and $8.60 American.
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1 Comment
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not make untrue claims.