CA> GE> workstations. Very short desktop cases, so the fans slide
CA> GE> into the full-length PS area diagonally. Standard 80mm
CA> GE> outside, only 15mm (19/32") thick.

CA> What you describe sounds about right. I didn't measure the fan
CA> when I had the ps removed. I suspect you mean the fan is
CA> installed horizontally and not vertically? ;-)

Nope. Definitely diagonal, as the case is only 3" high.

 -----------------------------------------------------------
|<---------  /\                                             |
|          //  \\                                           |
|<------ //      \\                                         |
|      //  fan  // <---                                     |
|<-- //       //          Electronic stuff                  |
|   \\      // <---                                         |
|     \\  //          ^^^   # {at} ^*^ * ^ {at}     !-! +       |
|       \/ <---       |||   | | ||| | | |     ||| | ||      |
 -----------------------------------------------------------

CA> I decided to do as Matt has since suggested

Okay, then. You had your chance.  :)

I'm going to build some brackets and funnels, and use them to
replace the mini-tornado CPU cooling fans inside my boxes.
Big+slow = quiet. Small+fast = LOUD.

CA> and use a muffin fan I have here with a power cord soldered
CA> onto it.

Yes, in-stock "standard-size" parts are rather convenient.

CA> I placed this external fan at the back of the vent for
CA> the ps just to see if this was the _only_ reason the machine
CA> was failing to remain running.

That's also the way I've seen mentioned to quiet down the fan,
as there's a lot of turbulence (noise) induced when the air is
compressed against the inside of the flat metal "safety" grill
by the fan blades. You can also cut out the entire PS grill area
to boost the flow, and find an old XT-era thin-wire grill, or make
one out of that "hardware cloth" stuff (1/4" square mesh) to keep
little fingers out of the external fan.

  * SLMR 2.1a *

--- Maximus 3.01