1x120mm or 2x80mm?

[pacho108]

i've been wanting to get a new case, found it but it has two different models, they r practically the same except that one of them has place for 2x80mm fans and the other for 1x120m, exhaust. If i'm planning to use vantec's stealth fans which layout is better?
would appreciate any suggestion.
one more question, what's the regular lifespan for a hdd without cooling? lets say a maxtors
thx

 

[suszterpatt]

Depends on what you want more, airflow or silence. 2x80mm would probably provide better airflow, but a single 120mm fan is much more silent.

 

[Cheezeit]

if thats only one 120mm fan in exahaust, then thats not good. you almost always want to have both intake and exahaust, to take in cool air around the case, then put out the hot air.

your post is not very clear though, do you mean one 80mm intake and one exahaust, or both in exhaust? is that one 120mm in exahaust the only fan there?

 

[furballi]

I'd go with one quality 120 mm Panaflo medium speed fan and connect it to a Zalman Fanmate 2 to fine tune the rpm.

Depends on the temp of the HDD in your case. My 2.5 year old Maxtor is making noise during am boot. The better Seagates come with 5 yr warranty.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'd go for the single 120mm fan. Will push more cfm's than 2x80mm fans and at lower decibels.

 

[pacho108]

Originally posted by: Cheezeit
if thats only one 120mm fan in exahaust, then thats not good. you almost always want to have both intake and exahaust, to take in cool air around the case, then put out the hot air.

your post is not very clear though, do you mean one 80mm intake and one exahaust, or both in exhaust? is that one 120mm in exahaust the only fan there?

my mistake, tha case fits 1x80mm in the front and 1x120mm on the side, thats for both models, which i plan to use for intake.
their only difference is the 2x80 or 1x120 for exhaust on the back, i just wanted to know in terms of airflow and noise which is better.

thanks for the responses

 

[furballi]

Go with the single rear 120.

 

[mechBgon]

I have a custom Lian-Li with dual 80mm exhausts by the CPU, an Antec Plus880 with dual 80mm exhausts by the CPU, and an Antec SLK3000-B with a single 120mm exhaust by the CPU.

Small picture: having tried both, I'd use single 120mm exhaust.

Big picture: if you have a 120mm side intake, plus a 120mm exhaust, you might as well use the quietest 120's you can find and not worry about airflow. The 120mm side intake by itself could probably turn over all the air in your case in under 15 seconds without any further assistance.