Better to have 2 intake fans & 1 exhaust or 1 intake & 2 exhaust fans?

[Techie333]

Building computer......got 2 possible configurations.......is it better to have 2 intake fans and 1 exhaust or 1 intake fan and 2 exhaust fans??

 

[Eli]

You do NOT want to create a vacuum in your case. If you do, your cooling efficiency will go WAY down.

Optimally, you will have just as much air entering as leaving.

So the answer is that 2 intake and 1 exhaust would be better than 2 exhaust and 1 intake, but 2 of each would be best.

 

[Rahminator]

Yeah, a dinky fan will create a vacuum... riiiight.

 

[Techie333]

ok....thanx.....only temporary.......will get another fan soon.

 

[Sundog]

Don't forget to include your PSU fan when figuring out positve/neutral/negative air pressure/flow.

 

[DrumminBoy]

hmm...i have 3 exhaust fans and only 1 small intake fan...think this is a bad setup?

 

[brigden]

WRONG FORUM! WRONG FORUM! WRONG FORUM!

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rahminator
Yeah, a dinky fan will create a vacuum... riiiight.

Not necessarily vacuum, but lower air pressure.

Eli was absolutely right.

 

[Techie333]

PSU fan doesn't count, does it? Then I would have 2 exhaust and 2 intake.....

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
hmm...i have 3 exhaust fans and only 1 small intake fan...think this is a bad setup?

Yep, it definately isn't as good as it can be. With 3 fans exhausting air out of your case, the intake fan is most likely actually restricting airflow.

Try reversing the setup and observe your temps.

Originally posted by: Techie333
PSU fan doesn't count, does it? Then I would have 2 exhaust and 2 intake.....

Yes, of course it counts.. as long as it is removing air from the case, it counts.

Remember that you have to pay attention to CFM.. it may be difficult to determine the CFM of your PS fan... unless it's a well known brand or something.

I just avoid all these problems by leaving my case open.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: Rahminator
Yeah, a dinky fan will create a vacuum... riiiight.

Hehe

 

[Howard]

Tell you what: if you have more air coming in than out (calculate the airflow), you can accumulate less dust than if you had a partial vacuum inside. Just make sure you filter the intake, no need to filter the exhaust.