Side casing fan useful?

[BespinReactorShaft]

Hi all,

Can anyone comment on the importance of the side case fan? Currently my rig has two case fans: on the front, rear; only the side panel fan slot is empty. The case is ATX tower, don't know the height standard but it's about 15 inches high.

My CPU and mobo fans (both stock) are generally screaming for mercy at full loads (4500+ RPM for CPU, almost 6000 RPM for NB). There's also a Radeon 9800pro inside (also stock fan). I own the infamous combination of Prescott 3.0GHz CPU and Abit IS7 mobo. Abit EQ records almost 50 deg.C Sys temp, 65 deg.C CPU temp, 58 deg.C PWM temp at full load (dual threading SETI). For a system that has zero overclocking.

Would installing the third fan on the case side reduce significantly the RPMs of the CPU and NB fans? I'm looking for a solution at or below USD50.

Thanks.

ming2020

p.s. my rig is the first one in my sig.

 

[gotensan01]

The side panel fan is meant to bring in fresh air directy to the mobo. It would feed the radeon 9800pro and would prolly feed the nb and cpu somewhat too if the side panel fan is in the middle. I'm not quite sure if it would help out significantly enough to decrease cpu hsf speed or nb fan speed. I would put in the side case fan. If you get a good one you will barely hear it...especially because it sounds like your cpu hsf is extremely loud.

 

[Blain]

I like self-cut fan options, but don't care much for factory side fans.
Reason you say? 😉
1. Factory fans are normally small and tend to be loud
2. Cutting & ducting your own, places fresh air exactly where you want it... blowing into your CPU fan.
3. Even without using a duct, you can install a good 120mm fan and drop the voltage to 7v for some quiet cooling love.

A well placed fresh air duct will run you far less than $50 and be a huge bang for your cooling buck! Slap a grill over it, if you want to keep small birds from flying into your CPU fan.

BTW, Work on taming that power plant hum you have going on with some quality fans (larger & quieter if you can make it happen)

 

[BespinReactorShaft]

Sounds like building a WWI war bird. 😛

My casing has a lack of front air intake sources (and I do have a front fan, ironically, that sucks air in from... apparently nowhere). So if I'm not so willing to rip my case a new one up front, the side intake fan seems like an attractive option.

Anyhow, I've received a rather interesting expose in http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=1055261&STARTPAGE=47&enterthread=y regarding the aerodynamics of cooling. Something there on fan sizes as well. Just to note I haven't gone thru it in detail, but soon will.

Cheers.

 

[Zepper]

A side fan can work as a 'stirring' fan to make sure there aren't any dead pockets of hot air in there - plus adding a little more cool, outside air into the mix can't hurt. I'm watching for someone to come up with a little oscillating fan or rotating grille to put inside a case/on case fans... 😉 .
.bh.

It's Sunday, have some :wine: !