Fan placement question + fan controller

[jhammer569]

Here are the components:
CASE = CM590
MB = ASUS P5Q-E
CPU = Intel Q9550
CPU HSF = ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm
GPU = 2 Sapphire 100237L Radeon HD 3650's
Mem = 2x2GB DDR2-800 Mushkin
HD = 2 x WD 640gb hard drives
PSU = CORSAIR 550VX
OTHER = TEAC Floppy drive; Possibly 1 internal DVD-RW

Usage:
-No games or OC'ing
-Home video editing
-Trade for a living across 3 LCD's
-Basic web/email/etc.
=======================
I'm getting the CM590, comes w/ 1 front, 1 rear 120mm. Has 2 sides, 2 tops, and 1 more front if desired. I've read positive pressure is best.

Questions:
-Top fan(s) should be exhaust, right?
-Side fan(s), intake or exhaust?
-Overall, better to have more intake than exhaust to allow for positive pressure? If yes, should I cover the unused vent holes?
-Given my above components, any recommendations on how many/placement of fans for the CM590 I should have? I don't need overkill. Prefer quiet over super-cooling.

Fan Controller:
-Does the CPU fan (ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro) also hook up to the fan controller, or just the case fans?
-The number of dials on a controller should be equal to the number of fans I have, right?
-The fan controller just plugs into the motherboard, and then I can just speed/slow the fans by turning the dials?

Tnx.

 

[mpilchfamily]

The case only comes with 3 fans. The typical orientations apply.
Front and Side= intake
Rear and top= Exhaust

The fan controller just needs to have as many controls as you have fans that you want controlled. The unit takes a plug from the PSU then the fans all plug into the controller. Weather or not the CPU cooler is on the controller is up to you. There will be easy to follow instructions no matter what controller you get.

The whole positive vs negative pressure is a pointless argument. In the end it doesn't matter. Positive pressure doesn't improve cooling it just prevents air being drawn in from every available open space in the case. Thus eliminating dust buildup in those areas. Its not going to reduce the amount of dust that gets in the system. Its still going to get in there no matter if there is positive or negative pressure. Anyway now everyone will chime in with there opinions on the matter.

 

[Elcs]

To directly answer your questions and concerns:

1) Top holes should be exhaust
2) Side fans should be intake
3) Aim for slightly more intake than exhaust. I cant explain the science of it but thats the way that has worked best for me.
4) Id probably get your kit in, see what its like then decide whether you need better cooling or quieter operation. Once you have that established, we can really start to go into some juicy details.

Other questions:
1) I have not looked at the AC Freezer 7 Pro in a long time. It is possible that it can hook up to your fan controller but generally speaking, you would probably find it more beneficial to leave it attached to the motherboard.
2) In most cases, yes. I have 5 fans in my system and 4 dials on my fan controller however I only have 3 fans hooked up to it. The two others are controlled by my motherboard and my graphics card.
3) The Fan Controller plugs into your Power Supply.Your Fans plug into your Fan Controller and you can use the dials on the Fan Controller to Control your Fans.I have a CM590 and have 4 case fans fitted plus a CPU fan and PSU fan taking me to a total of 6 fans. My hard drive, a Samsung Spinpoint HD401LJ suspended in an elastic cradle is the noisiest thing in my PC. At idle, I am even hearing it spin, nevermind seek/read/write noises.

I also have a CM590 and below is how it is set up:

My intake fans are 1 Scythe Slipstream 1200rpm fan on the HDD cage and 1 Scythe Kama 1200rpm on the lower side panel fan spot. My exhaust fans are in the top two fan spots. These are both Scythe Slipstream 1200rpm fans. My Slipstreams are hooked up to my Sunbeam fan controller and are all running at just over the voltage required to start them up.

I never honestly trested the Coolermaster fans but they do get good reviews.

My GPU runs essentially fanless. My Radeon HD4870 has a Thermalright HR-03 GT heatsink on it and the Scythe Kama blows directly onto it.

I am unable to fit a fan on in the top slot on my side panel due to the height of my Thermalright Ultima90 heatsink and I do not use either the rear panel slot or the slim 80mm fan spot behind the CPU.

With lower powered fans, you can generally hook them up to your motherboard directly and use a well known and loved program called Speedfan to control them. My CPU fan is plugged directly into my motherboard and controlled by Speedfan, the Scythe S-Flex 1200rpm fan runs at 60% fan speed, around 750 rpm's.

 

[jhammer569]

Tnx, perfect, answers everything...except --> Should I cover the unused fan vent holes (probably wouldn't hurt, or probably a waste of time)?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: jhammer569
Tnx, perfect, answers everything...except --> Should I cover the unused fan vent holes (probably wouldn't hurt, or probably a waste of time)?

Never tried that.

Cant say it'll do much unless it affects the airflow path of a fan.

 

[jhammer569]

okie dokie, i just remember reading in some guy's post about the CM590 being too porous so it's too much effort to cover the unused vent holes to achieve positive pressure, but I'm sure that's just going a tad overboard. I'm going to order all my components now and will get it all setup, thanks for all the help.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: jhammer569
Tnx, perfect, answers everything...except --> Should I cover the unused fan vent holes (probably wouldn't hurt, or probably a waste of time)?

You'll need to experiment w/ this as every situation is different. The problem with open vent holes is that the can "short circuit" the airflow, Say you only have the one back fan exhaust in your system and an open side vent. Air is drawn in the vent out, the back, for a trip through your case cooling an area directly in it's path, what? 4- 5 inches in a straight line? Block the vent and the air is pulled from other inlets, maybe the front drawing air over the hard drives and your board? Every case and hardware setup is different so you need to play with it and monitor the temps to find the best balance.

 

[jhammer569]

Great, guess it'll be a good thing that I'm going to get the Scythe fan controller (4 dials) with the temperature readings so I'll be able to play around with it like you said and see what works best.