push-pull?

[tornadog]

I am replacing my thermalright venomous-x with a Megahalem since the VX was keeping my cpu at 50 degrees at idle. I have tried reseating a bunch of times, applied different TIM but no go.

I have a Noctua NF-P12 1300rpm fan, but most reviews of the megahalem says using a push-pull configuration. Is it really that useful. Whats the theory behind this? Do you use identical fans on both ends? which directions?

if i use just 1 fan should it be on the RAM side pushing air into the HS or on the case side, drawing air out?

 

[Anubis]

its exactly what it sounds like, 2 fans, 1 on each side, the blow in the same direction
1 is PUSHing air into the HS and the other is PULLING air out of it

see pic stolen from google

i use 2 of the same ones on my VX, Gentle Typhoons work really well for this, my CPU sits at ~34C idle (920 @ 4GHz)

 

[Mistwalker]

If you read a lot of CPU-cooler reviews, some do feature single fan vs. push-pull numbers. How effective the second fan is depends on the fans themselves and the heatsink design--generally you'll see a small but non-negligible lowering of temps.

Optimally, use two fans rated identically in push-pull, and simply make sure both are facing/blowing towards the back of the case.

If you use only a single fan, you absolutely should use it in a "push" configuration mounted on the RAM side, thus blowing hot air through the HS and--again--towards/out of the rear of the case.

 

[tornadog]

thanks guys, that explains it nicely.