Side panel fan - intake or exhaust?

[merlion]

Corsair Carbide 400R case with Z68 mobo using onboard graphics, so no video card heat. CPU cooler is an Antec Kuhler 620 with Cougar PWM fans in push/pull. The case also has two Noctua PWM fans on the top panel for exhaust, and the stock rear Corsair 120 mm fan moved down to the bottom panel as an intake. The stock two 120 mm front panel fans are also intakes.

Would this side fan be better as an intake for cool air since there is no heat needing to be exhausted in that area from a video card?

 

[kbp]

Intake in my opinion

 

[Zardnok]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/02/10/the-big-cooling-investigation/1

According to the above test link, side fan should be an intake fan for overall lower system temps.

 

[lehtv]

Not really necessary to have that many case fans for a system that doesn't have dedicated GPU and in which the CPU cooler is not radiating heat into the case. I would use the front 120mm fans and install the original rear fan as a top exhaust. Then I'd buy a fan controller and downvolt every fan to <1000RPM for quietness

 

[allenk09]

Mine came as intake on my NZXT case, which blows right through my GTX295. I have yet to test temperatures on the GTX295...actually I'll do that now.

EDIT: Tested, now with intake from the side door blowing over my GTX295, I am down to 91C from 96C on the stock GTX295 fan profile running bitcoins. Same temperature room.

 

[lsv]

The side intake is meant for additional cooling of a dedicated graphic card which benefits from the extra fresh air. If you aren't using a dedicated card why not block it off entirely to silence your case a bit more?

 

[BFG10K]

The side fan is usually used as an intake unless you’ve got a lot of positive air pressure.