Case fans front and rear(direction of flow)

[WetSprocket]

Has anyone done any tests to see what the most efficient way to position case fans. I just ordered two 80mm fans for my case and was wandering if I should have the one in back blowing out and the one in front blowing in? Or any other configuration. My PS blows out at the rear(yeah I know Duh!! ) but what effect is there with another fan blowing out the back right below the PS? My system is described in sig.

 

[The_Duck]

The way I have it is
one 80mm fan blowing in : front bottom
hd cooler kit blowing on HD and into case : front mid
one 80mm fan blowing out: rear under PS
one 80mm fan in PS blowing out.
I have a 550e fcpga on a sloket with stock fan OC'ed to 733.
System temp is 23C - 26C
CPU temp is 25C to 34C

 

[jinsonxu]

I was thinking, is it better to have overall airflow input GREATER than the exhaust rate?

 

[Davegod75]

front suck in air
rear blow out air.

 

[jjm]

The air in and out should be as balanced as you can make it.

Since heat rises, common convention is to have the front (lower) fan blow in and the back (higher) fan blow out.

 

[Davegod75]

an exhaust fan at the top is a pretty common thing to do to cool down the pc. It require's some modding though

--Dave

 

[toph99]

i have a dell microtower, so the only place to put fans was in the removeable side, so i have 1 80mm blowing in, and one 80mm sucking out

 

[Brig]

jinsonxu,

It is, arguably, better to have a little higher cfm for air in than air out, for two reasons.

(1) helps push the hot air to top of the case towards the exhaust fans.
(2) provided input air is filtered, and openings in lower case are closed off, helps keep dust out of the case and off components.

Whether it really matters in the long run...who knows. The logic of it makes sense, though.

 

[jinsonxu]

I see. Then any suggestions on how to make a filter for my front intake fan?

 

[Brig]

This doesn't answer your question directly, but the filters cost $2-$3 depending on size. Probably cost more to buy materials and make one than it would to just buy the filter. All you have to do is fasten it onto the case using your fan screws.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

You can always use used Dryer(i use bounce) sheets and cut them to shape and find a way to attach them as filters. They work great, and you probably have them around anyways.


Mike

 

[jebus]

and your computer case will also smell nice!

 

[tonyou]

I would recommend that if you can't balance the airflow, go with having more air blowing out of the case. Preferably close to where your power supply is located (where most hot air are). This situation was discussed in a thread a short time ago.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=236403

Tony

 

[jinsonxu]

What's Dryer? Could you give specific materials that i can use to make a filter?