Side case fan

[aussiestilgar]

I am using a 120mm tower CPU cooler, I have 1 front 120mm intake and 1 rear 120mm exhaust fan both @ 1500 rpm blowing 50cfm (as rated). The CPU tower is blowing to the exhaust at the rear. The power supply also uses a 120mm fan that exhausts upwards and out the rear. So this setup is pretty standard and logically blows air front to back.

But I also have one 80mm side case fan that is located directly above the CPU tower. Should it blow onto the tower, or should it suck air off the tower?

 

[imported_wired247]

generally the side fans work best as intake

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: wired247
generally the side fans work best as intake

yep, so that 1) the CPU fan has access to fresh air, and 2) the side fan doesn't fight with the CPU fan.

 

[aussiestilgar]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: wired247
generally the side fans work best as intake

yep, so that 1) the CPU fan has access to fresh air, and 2) the side fan doesn't fight with the CPU fan.

Ok. So even if the CPU fan is blowing front to rear, through a tower - a side intake blowing perpendicular would be preferable?

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: wired247
generally the side fans work best as intake

yep, so that 1) the CPU fan has access to fresh air, and 2) the side fan doesn't fight with the CPU fan.

Actually it's usually an intake for the GPU, not the CPU.

If there's a slot for a fan directly over the CPU, I'd just leave it alone.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Unless you have a pretty deep case or a pretty short tower heatsink I'd be fairly surprised if both fit. Side intakes are really only useful to vent cool air directly down onto a top-down heatsink and unless are offset to the front quite notably, will be essentially useless with a tower heatsink. I'd personally cover it so no air is being drawn in there to keep any misc air intake down lower or toward the front. Most cases that have an intake over the cpu are also going to have vents near the video card area and you'll be best having any passive intake coming in down there.

 

[aussiestilgar]

Both fit, barely. There are no other vents on the side, just the 80mm vent above the CPU. I guess the only way to be sure is measure the temps passive, covered and with a fan on it which is what I'll do when I get the time. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Zepper]

If you have to use it at all, it will be as an intake.

.bh.