Blow or Pull Air from Video Cards

[davidst99]

Hi,

I have 2 AMD 290X video cards. Of course they run really hot. I also have two 140mm fans on the side of my case next to the video cards. Does it make sense to blow air to the cards or pull air away from the video cards? Thanks.

David

 

[3DVagabond]

Blow air on the cards. Use fans on the top or upper rear to draw the heat out of the case.

 

[davidst99]

Blow air on the cards. Use fans on the top or upper rear to draw the heat out of the case.

Hi 3DVagabond,

Thanks!

 

[Abwx]

Do not use a fan to extract air as it s counter productive, best is to push air inside the case such that there s a slight over pressure inside the case.

With an Nvidia card it s the reverse, an extractor is better.

 

[frowertr]

The 290X reference cards are blower fans by designs. They pull in cool air from the same end that the video ports are on and then blow that air out the opposite end. So you get cool air dragging across the entire surface of the card/heatsink.

So, ideally, you want to force cool air into the end of the card where its intake is. Blowing air at the top/side won't have much of an effect.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

I thought they took air from inside the case and blew it out the back? Your idea sounds better but I don't think that is how they do it, thus crossfire/SLI overheats.
But yeah, always give the card air if it is open air or pulls air from the case.

 

[frowertr]

I thought they took air from inside the case and blew it out the back? Your idea sounds better but I don't think that is how they do it, thus crossfire/SLI overheats.
But yeah, always give the card air if it is open air or pulls air from the case.

Doh! You are right. I have the ends mixed up. That draw in air from the ends OPPOSITE the display ports.

 

[KingFatty]

Also try to do what's best to eliminate "dead" spots, where the air is not moving. Those can get pretty hot. I think blowing air at the cards could help there, because sucking air could still leave a dead spot because you aren't sure from what direction that air will come, or if you are sucking it away from the intakes on the video cards.

 

[tweakboy]

Or do a sandwich and take off door.