Blowhole at top of case?

[OneOfTheseDays]

Ok, my case is a bit too hot and i think the airflow is real messed up. I have 1 80mm intake fan and 1 80 mm exhaust fan. I also have an 80mm fan on my cpu and a zalman gpu heatsink. Now there is a lot of hot air in the case and i dont think its getting expelled efficiently. I recently noticed that my case has a blowhole at the top. Should i put my exhaust fan there? Do you think that would help lower temps?

 

[beatle]

Add a fan to your blowhole, don't remove the existing exhaust from the rear. It will help.

 

[amcdonald]

Until you get another fan, experiment by moving your intake fan into an exhaust position in the blowhole. This could be beneficial.

 

[Buk]

Amcdonald has the right idea. I read in one of AMDs white papers (sorry, no link) that they didn't find any cooling benefit with an intake fan. After readng that, I disabled and removed my intake fans and have not been able to detect any difference in temps. Increasing exhaust fans WILL increase the amount of air exhausted from the case, and along with it, the heat.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: Buk
Amcdonald has the right idea. I read in one of AMDs white papers (sorry, no link) that they didn't find any cooling benefit with an intake fan. After readng that, I disabled and removed my intake fans and have not been able to detect any difference in temps. Increasing exhaust fans WILL increase the amount of air exhausted from the case, and along with it, the heat.

Cooling is not the only benefit from intake fans..

you don't find any decrease in temps maybe bcoz your intake fans are not in the right position..

also, intake fans increase positive pressure inside the case, so that dust wont get into the case via other holes (drives, other drivers holes etc)

 

[Metalloid]

Originally posted by: Buk
Amcdonald has the right idea. I read in one of AMDs white papers (sorry, no link) that they didn't find any cooling benefit with an intake fan. After readng that, I disabled and removed my intake fans and have not been able to detect any difference in temps. Increasing exhaust fans WILL increase the amount of air exhausted from the case, and along with it, the heat.

This would be true to a certain extent. If only exhaust fans are used, air will be sucked in through cracks/holes in the case. This is no different than having an intake fan, unless you have extremely powerful exhaust fans, or more than one exhuast fan. The air would not be able to come in fast enough, and your flow would be limited.

There is one other benefit to intake fans. If you have an intake fan blowing directly over a component, heat is removed easier. I have my intake blowing directly over my video card.

As for the exhaust fan, always put it at the top of the case. Heat rises....

 

[Metalloid]

Woohoo double post!!!

 

[cmdrdredd]

i'm thinking about putting my intake as exhaust, but I'll wait until my sunon fans arrive and test them with 2 intsla 2 exhaust and then try with all exhaust and observe difference

 

[0roo0roo]

fans suck at fighting back pressure. an exhaust fan might be able to do ok if your case is well venitilated, but it'll probably do better with some intakes. the more fans the better, its not just about position. if your case is crowded and messy that won't help airflow.

both my computers have 5 case fans alone, but all at low rpm for noise control using a rheostat. blow holes aren't bad either. if you don't have enough holes, cut em.

if your fan mount grills are tiny tiny holes, you should cut them out.

 

[Cerb]

I learned the hard way (my PC is warmer now than before )...you want an intake in the front (bottom preferably, since all it does is cool the HD--these new Caviars get pretty hot), an exhaust under the PSU, and the PSU fan. It will be worth the time taken to fold, tuck and cable tie cables.
I've expiremented with a few PCs I've built, and with cables well tucked away, the rear fan at 7v (the crappy fans most cases come with, mind you) is enough for even gaming PCs.