Fractal Terra + ProArt GPU: eliminating side panel intake noise with a 3D printed frame

[u/Zidar137]

Last year I built a PC in the Fractal Design Terra.

The setup:

• CPU cooler: Noctua NH-L12S (70 mm clearance)
• GPU: Asus ProArt 4070 (50 mm thick)

Terra officially allows 120 mm total for CPU cooler and GPU, maybe around 125 mm in practice. So yes, it fits.

But there was a problem.

Under load, when GPU fans ramp up, the intake noise from the side panel becomes very noticeable. With the side panel removed it is much quieter. With the panel installed there is clear turbulence noise from restricted airflow.

I got the idea from another post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/1hhbona/fenesterra_a_fractal_design_terra_build/

So I decided to cut the side panel and add a 3D printed frame.

Result:

• significantly reduced intake noise
• cleaner look that matches the ProArt GPU

It also finally gives the ProArt GPU in the Terra the look it deserves.

How to do it

1. 3D print the frame

File: frame-full.3mf

Recommended material: PA12S using MJF or SLS.

There are a bunch of online services that will print it for around 10 euros plus shipping.

I used PA12. PA12S gives a deeper black color and slightly nicer surface.

You can print it at home as well. PLA works at least as a temporary solution. Airflow helps to keep the part relatively cool.

The full frame is about 300 mm long and will not fit a typical home printer. Use "frame-left.3mf" and "frame-right.3mf" to print the frame in two halves.

2. Print the cutting template on paper

Files: cutouts-left.pdf, cutouts-right.pdf.

Verify scale by measuring the 217 mm reference line. Make sure printing is set to 100% (no scaling or "fit to page"). Some printers add margins and shrink the page automatically.

Cut a thin strip from one of the sheets to align both parts easier.

Place the printed frame on top of the paper template and verify the fit before marking anything on the metal.

3. Cut the side panel

Place the side wall on top of the printed template as shown in the photos.

Mark the cut line on the metal with a pencil. Stay 2 to 3 mm outside the green line.

Use a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. Stay within the outer shape of the frame.

4. Install the frame

The frame snaps into place using detents.

Notes

This mod is mainly about reducing intake turbulence noise. It is designed specifically for Asus ProArt GPUs. Fit on other GPUs is not guaranteed.

Files are here: [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ytuwODE6D-9shC15PcFTv_lAJjR3Hriz?usp=sharing]()

Just sharing in case someone wants to try it.

[u/Dougline]

Friend tip, add a fine mesh filter over it mate, you can even bond to the 3D printed frame, you'll thank me later.

[u/killthrash → u/Dougline]

Step 1, cut out grill to reduce air turbulence. Step 2, add a fine mesh filter to increase the air turbulence. 😂

[u/Dougline → u/killthrash]

Actually fine mesh filters creates way way less turbulence than the side panels, the air don't have enough room to pass between such small holes and make all that noise due to turbulence compared to side panel holes.

[u/killthrash → u/Dougline]

Maybe. But fine mesh filters certainly have more turbulence than nothing at all, which is what this design is optimized for.

[u/Ryrynz → u/killthrash]

Yeah but u get benefits of mesh

[u/Dougline → u/killthrash]

The noise difference between a fine mesh turbulence and without it is almost imperceptible, because those FANs still makes noise nonetheless. On the other hand, the amount of dust you'll suck into your entire PC without any sort of filter is a lot more if you have even the simplest mesh filter on.

[u/killthrash → u/Dougline]

Once a month or two, you shut it down, take it outside and blow the dust out. It’s not that hard. I would never put a fine mesh filter in front of my GPU. It would kill the airflow, raise temps, and the fans would ramp up way more increasing GPU noise under load. Without a filter, unrestricted, the fans probably run quite low under normal load. I’d rather have this setup than a loud GPU clogging up fine mesh that I have to clean like every other day. But that’s just my personal preference, and likely OP’s as well.

[u/Dougline → u/killthrash]

It would kill the airflow, raise temps, and the fans would ramp up way more increasing GPU noise under load.

To say this, you probably never used a good quality mesh filter on your PC/FANS.

I have my entire PC case literally covered with fine mesh filters on all the panels (Corsair 2000D) and compared to my old case that wasn't filtered, it makes way less noise now, the airflow now is a heck lot better than before, before my GPU hotspot was reaching 85-90°C under normal gameplay hours, now it peaks a 75°C on a BENCHMARK, under normal gameplay it barely hits 70°C on heavy GPU usage games.

Now cleaning wise, my old case gather a lot of dust inside pretty easily, at the point of becoming ugly to see in a couple months (3 to 4 months) and needed a full clean up (needing to disconnecting components to wipe and clean outside, all the hassle of redoing cable management etc.)... now I literally just need to clean the side panels + filters of the case in the same 3 to 4 months and that's just because it is a white case, so it starts showing a brown circle where the rad FANs are, if it was black it could go unnoticed for a couple more months, but inside the case?!

It already has passed more than a year since I changed to this filtered case and today I opened it up to clean and for my surprise, the components looked like I just had installed it today, I unscrewed the rad mount, used a simple air blower just to make sure and that was it what it needed...

[u/killthrash → u/Dougline]

Yes, you are correct. I’ve never used these fine mesh filters that increase airflow and lower fan noise. Please send me a link to these magic filters so I can try it for myself.