PC cooling, the middle path.

[mr_y82]

I just built this computer:

HEC Case
OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W PSU
AMD ATH II X3 435 AM3 (2.9 ghz)
GIGABYTE MA770T-UD3P AMD770
Radeon AX5450 512MK3
Patriot RAM 2Gx2 DDR3 1333
1 terabyte HITACHI HD31000 SATA
24x DVD BURNER LITE-ON SATA

The case came with a 80mm case intake fan at the back. Based on what I read here: http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/silentpc_cooling.html I decided not to put my an extra, loud, 80mm fan I had in the front of the case and turn the other fan around (creating air flow from front to back). I am thinking about doing something a little different, but I need advice...

I also read this, which does suggest both intake and exhaust fans.. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1835899,00.asp and this http://www.xoxide.com/computer-cooling.html

It looks like I just need to make sure I have some decent exhaust out the back (as I was doing with my previous PC, but it was loud). I notice the above article suggests using a PSU with a large bottom mounted fan can achieve the wind-tunnel effect (the 135mm fan on the 1000w PSU is listed at almost 107cfms, but I don't feel that much air with this one...). Well I have just such a PSU... ordered because the 585w PSU that came with the case was junk.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341016

So, my first questions... I already have decent flow coming out the back (that is why I left the stock 80mm case fan alone, bringing in a little fresh air by the CPU etc..), so would it be a bad idea to have another, say 120mm fan, blowing out the back of my computer (instead of the 80mm fan currently blowing in) without having an intake fan somewhere? Would it be stupid to have a big exhaust fan right below the PSU, since it has an exhaust effect? What bearing type has the best lifespan and is quietest?

Here's the case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811121002

It has a spot for a 90mm fan above the processor (it had an adjustable "intel TAC tunnel" mounted there (no fan), but I removed it). It also has the obvious space for 80,90, or 120mm fan at the back. You can put a fan in the bottom front (not sure if it's got holes for up to only 90mm or 120, but I don't plan on using that spot anyway).

I also am wanted to cool my new 1TB HDD... I was going to reuse an old Vantec fan/heatsink combo, like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835888105 , but after installing it and running the PC I realized the bearings must be shot and it made a horrible whirling noise along with some grinds, etc... (didn't notice on my loud as heck old PC). Right now I have removed the fans, but left the heatsink in place... is this a horrible idea? I had to mod the case and didn't want to immediately remove the while fan/heatsink combo)

So I think I might get a new HDD cooler, but I want to keep it mild and quiet. I was thinking about something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835119093
or a more expensive option...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817996012
I know those don't move much air, but I'm just looking for a little (quiet) help cooling my new PC...
Maybe I should step up to something more like this to make it worthwhile?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835888114
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835119063

Any help and/or advice is much appreciated. Even condescension that this is a newb question and I should have searched!!!... It seems forum search features often prove inadequate.

 

[nitromullet]

Here's what I would do with that case and your components:

1) I'd remove the 80mm fan in the back, and replace it with a 120mm exhaust fan. A top mounted PSU will help exhaust air, but the fan in the PSU is really meant to cool the PSU and not the whole system. Besides, a 120mm rear fan will generally be quieter than an 80mm because it can run slower while pushing the same amount of air.

2) Mount the largest intake fan that will fit in front of the HD cage up front (the one you said you weren't planning on using), either 92 or 120mm. Again, the larger the fan the better.

That's it. Don't worry about cooling the HD. Unless you have a couple high RPM HDs stacked right next to each other they will be fine.

 

[mr_y82]

Hope you didn't mind my public brainstorm... here's what I decided for now since I am on a super tight budget...

I am going to move the fan that came with the case to the front (upon doing some research I found that the Hec D80SL-12 should push 25cfms. That will be my only intake fan for now.

I bought this 120mm Kingwin fan as an exhaust fan, and will place it just below the PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835124023
I went with the lower cfms (40) to avoid making too much negative pressure and because it should be nice and quiet (19dBA).

I would still love for someone to give me some idea of the cfms for the 135mm fan in my OCZ ModXStream 500w PSU... I could not find any info on that, but I figured having the 120mm fan below it would not be an issue.

I also decided to err on the side of a little noise pollution and bought this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835119063
It seems justified that it makes a little more noise than the cheapest one when it moves over 3 times the air and has the heatsink (since I already modded the case).

 

[mr_y82]

Here's what I would do with that case and your components:

1) I'd remove the 80mm fan in the back, and replace it with a 120mm exhaust fan. A top mounted PSU will help exhaust air, but the fan in the PSU is really meant to cool the PSU and not the whole system. Besides, a 120mm rear fan will generally be quieter than an 80mm because it can run slower while pushing the same amount of air.

2) Mount the largest intake fan that will fit in front of the HD cage up front (the one you said you weren't planning on using), either 92 or 120mm. Again, the larger the fan the better.

That's it. Don't worry about cooling the HD. Unless you have a couple high RPM HDs stacked right next to each other they will be fine.

Thanks for the help. I actually had already ordered (and even posted) before I noticed your post. I hope my solution will be acceptable for the moment (I don't do much to stress the system). In the future I'll do as you suggested and upgrade to a bigger fan in the front of the case.

Or, would another solution be to add a 92mm fan to the side intake?

 

[BadOmen]

Are you cooling the CPU with the stock hs? Cpu heatsink has a lot of say in where your airflow should be going.

 

[mr_y82]

Yeah, I'm using the stock AMD HS and fan... I've typically bought aftermarket stuff, but I figured I'd give this a try.

 

[mr_y82]

Okay... new question... look at "tmpin2" 80C!! ridiculous... what is that? It's gotta be bogus... it still hasn't budged...

I wonder why my video card is running so hot... I'm wasn't gaming or anything... I read one review that says under load it topped out a little above 50C... I hope fixing my airflow some helps this...

It does look like the HDD cooler was not needed 😛... I think I will pull one of the fans and put it on the front of the case with the 80mm fan to add about 15cfm of intake (to match the one exhaust fan)... the other fan I will leave in place to blow against the HDD I suppose... The "top" of the HDD actually gets hotter, correct?