Case Cooling observation

[Thokor]

I just recently upgraded to a 2.8c with a new ATI 9800 pro video card and noticed my 3 year old case just wasn't cutting it for cooling. I went out and bought a generic 6 fan case with 400w power supply. I set out to figure out the best fan configuration with a balance between noise and circulation. here are some of my results using the BIOS and SOYO system monitor software.


2x 80 rear exhaust , 2 x 80 front intake , 1 x 80 blow hole (exhaust ), 1 x 80 side panel ( intake ) , PSU ( exhaust )= noisy as hell and 33c CHA temp / 42c CPU

2x 80 rear exhaust , 2 x 80 front intake , 1 x 80 blow hole (exhaust ), 1 x 80 side panel ( exhaust ) , PSU ( exhaust )= fairly noisy and 31c CHA temp / 44c CPU

1x 80 rear exhaust , 1 x 80 blow hole ( exhaust ), 1 x 80 side panel ( exhaust ), PSU ( exhaust ) = very quiet 27c CHA / 44c CPU


After I removed the second rear exhaust I taped up the fan slot with duct tape , I also put a filter between the mesh grill and the 2 front fans to clean the air coming into the case. It seems having all the fans blowing out of that case and a huge filtered intake hole in the front leaves the case considerably cooler than blowing air in from all over the place. I also dangled a piece of tissue in front of the intake noticed it being pulled towards the grill , there seems to be a huge amount of intake because of this vacuum affect I created in my case. I will have to check dust levels in a few weeks and see if the dryer sheet filter is doing its job.

Just some non scientific testing from a lurker


My Case

 

[Davegod]

edit: oops posted to wrong tab

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks for the findings. I currently have 2 outtakes in the back, 2 intakes in the side window, and 1 intake in the front. Add to that my generic AMD heatsink/fan and generic power supply, and it's one loud case.

I have thought about replacing all the fans, but am finding it more enticing to go with a whole 'nother case entirely, then rebuild from there with cables and UV lighting.

 

[0roo0roo]

negative pressure = dust yes. worse is if its a big neg pressure and worse with filter. u'll suck dust through your optical drives. blow hole should be avoided, those just really add noise and direct it right where it shouldn't go. you could get a fan speed controller and just lower the fans in the front.. or all of em.. keeps noise to a min, keeping airflow decent. also take into account how restricted the fan locations are. slice out grills, those do nothing but add noise.

 

[InlineFive]

1. Add another fan on the back of the case.
2. Upgrade the processor heatsink to accept 80mm fans which will provide better cooling.
3. If you really feel like it buy a new power supply with a fan on the bottom. Preferably 120mm.
4. Install filters on intakes to prevent speedy dust build up.

-Por

 

[UMCorona]

While you guys are mentioning filters, what do you recommend using for filters? Are there filters made specifically for PC fans, and if so, by whom? Or are you just using generic filters and fitting them for the PC fans, and if that's the case, what kinds of filters work well?

 

[zodder]

A lot of people here use used dryer sheets as fan filters.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: zodder
A lot of people here use used dryer sheets as fan filters.

Sounds good enough to me!

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: UMCorona
While you guys are mentioning filters, what do you recommend using for filters? Are there filters made specifically for PC fans, and if so, by whom? Or are you just using generic filters and fitting them for the PC fans, and if that's the case, what kinds of filters work well?

ussuallys ome kind of steel/plastic grid mesh like screen door material, that or some very porous foam. case fans don't have much ability to fight back pressure, so any filter cuts air flow pretty drastically. the better the filter, the worse air flow.


i tried it once, ended up using 1" thick washable furnace filter since it was more effective then some thin but very resistant material.
http://fox302.com/index.pl?s=vf&user=oroooroo&category=cases&file=oldcasewithfans.JPG
http://fox302.com/index.pl?s=vf&user=oroooroo&category=cases&file=GhettoFilteredcase.jpg
pretty damn ugly but it worked. at the price of having to run the fans at higher speed to maintain same airflow= more noise.

now i run without filters, its just not worth the trouble, just keep case with positive/neurtral pressure, low rpm/low noise and dust everyonce in a while.