Do I NEED a side fan for my Athlon 1.5 Ghz?

[VBboy]

My 1.33 Ghz Athlon is doing 1.5 Ghz. Do I really need a case that has a hole on the side with a fan in it (ala "Tornado" or others)? Or can I get away with one intake fan on the front and two exhaust fans on the back?

It will really suck having to cut a hole in the 1-mm steel plate!

 

[mrCide]

you don't HAVE to.. given that you have good cooling already.. if you feel your temps are too high, and/or your system isn't stable, either get a better cooling solution/add more fans ore clock it back to default speed.

 

[VBboy]

Going back to the default speed is not an option
With my case closed on a very very hot day, the case temp was 31C and the CPU temp was 60C (torture tests running simultaneously). I had to open the case to drop it down to 55C.

How much would a side fan help, though? And would is suck the air from outside, or blow?

 

[heffe734]

Unless you have a real powerful fan...it just kinda blows but it does suck it in from the outside...but not a whole lot. I have a 92mm hole on my side panel of my sx830...it does the job. But case open is much better.

 

[heffe734]

BTW: Cutting a hole on the side is not very hard...just take the side panel...get a hole saw...availabe at home depot and drill away. Did it in a few minutes. Then drill holes to mount fan and grill.