need opinion on intake fan placement

[mentalcrisis00]

I have a rather large case, there's a big space in front underneath the HDD rack. I have a 120mm fan in front but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I'm setting up a little box as an air channel in that space at the bottom. A theory that my friend tossed me was that the flow of air is being dissipated seeming it doesn't blow a large amount. He put a soda bottle on his intake fan and claims his video card temps went down as a result so he made a similar device that i'm thinking of.

What I'm wondering is should I leave the fan attached to the case (farther from the video card) or attach it to the front of the box (closer to the video card) to get some better cooling going.

My main goal is to keep my video card from ramping it's fan to 7000rpm which is loud. It's a 4870 and the temps are nice, 45c Idle and 61c Load. I tried manually setting the fan to 45% but temps went up to 71c. So I'd like to keep the automatic fan and just cut down on the heat and in turn the noise. I'm also bored so I'm just giving myself something to do. :laugh:

Now that I think of it I should probably just get a better 120mm fan, this one I have is a Rosewill stock case fan lol.

 

[Billb2]

1st:
Balance the intake and exhaust CFM.

2nd:
It doesn't matter where in the "box" you put the fan.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

great thanks for the tip

 

[aigomorla]

i dont think it really matters because ur box isnt a perfect vacuum.

Instead i would make sure you got air flowing on the parts you wanted cooler.

However u would need a good exhaust for all the hot air to escape.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

ya as i said the case is old and has no active air placement for the hard drive rack, only a 92mm exhaust mount and 120mm intake. I have all the fans working on PWN so they ramp up as the CPU temp increases and they stay quiet during idle operation. Only thing that doesn't is the video card, it's not very noticeable during idle unless it's hot in my room. I could always leave the 120mm at 100% and maybe it will equalize the air flow or blow more air on the video card.

 

[zagood]

What case? Is it possible to a) drill out that rear fan mount to fit 120mm, b) cut another hole in the front or side for additional intake, and/or c) as you suggested, get better fans?

 

[zagood]

argh first double post EVER.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

I'm not sure what type of case it is, I got it from my old roomate and he thinks it's an old Lian-Li. However I have tried to fit a 120mm in the back before and it's to tight to fit between the side panel and the IO port. I'd either have to shave the side of the fan down or build some kind of riser to bring it above the IO port. I have a side window so I have considered putting a side fan in above the chipset and cpu coolers. I'll have to try a few different things and get back. Right now seeming it's been so cold lately I haven't heard a peep from my fans.