Reversing Fan Flow

[scsayler]

I have a PCI cooling fan that currently blows air out of my case. I have a CoolerMaster ATC210 case; its 2 case fans are 80 mm, and are pushing air out the back and top of my case. My PSU (obviously) also pushes air out. I have no intakes, which hurts the overall airflow, and I'm sure also limits the output of the case fans.

I was wondering if I could switch the black and red wires on my PCI fan and change it to an intake fan. Since I'm not the greatest with a soldering iron, I was thinking of cutting the two wires and splicing them back together, but switched. This would work out great as it would push cool air right into my Radeon 9700pro (also o/c). Will this work?

 

[amcdonald]

Like most fans, reversing the direction won't work, since the blades are designed to push air 1 way and not the reverse.
I'm not sure what reversing the wires would do.

 

[SWScorch]

Switching the wires won't work. I misread your post the first time and thought you were talking about one of the 80mms, but with the PCI fan, I dont think theres any way to change its direction.

 

[Confused]

Computer fans use DC power. Switching the wires will cause it to not work, or if it doesn't have the correct circuitry, could cause the fan to burn out! However almost all computer fans won't burn out if the polarity is reversed, they simply won't work.

Also, the fins on the fan are designed to spin one way, and will give the best air flow for that direction.

To get the fans to blow the other way, you will need to physically take the fan out and flip it over


Confused

 

[1sikbITCH]

I looked at a pic of your case, and if you want an intake fan, the only thing I can see for you to do is to cut a hole in the front of your case and mount a fan to it. Not in the very front, but maybe on the side panel in the front corner. I just did the same thing with tin snips and once I put a fan grill on it, it really doesn't look all that bad. You can also use a dremel and make it look much nicer. It's my opinion that proper cooling overrides having a nice pretty case anyhow.

You can also cut a hole in the front on the underside of the case (completely hidden), and then mount a fan up front there, but not necessarily screwed to the floor. You might have to get creative and also mount brackets to hold the fan, but that's all part of the fun of case modding

3rd option, you could go buy a case with better cooling. But what fun is that?