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Side window vs Mesh Side panel?

P

PSUPef2k

Senior member
The case I am getting has an option for a side window, or a mesh side panel.

Mesh Panel

Side Window

My question is, which would be better for keeping the machine cool? The side window for tighter airflow, or the mesh panel since it will let air in the side. Keep in mind this will be for a system with A8R32-MVP with 1 x1900xtx right now and possibly another down the road for crossfire.
 
I personally go for the uniform front-to-rear airflow as long as it has decent front vents. Many cases have to rely on side vents because of a lack of front vents.

However, few people have complete side meshes, so if you want to look unique, that may be the way to go.
 
Originally posted by: Zap
I personally go for the uniform front-to-rear airflow as long as it has decent front vents. Many cases have to rely on side vents because of a lack of front vents.

However, few people have complete side meshes, so if you want to look unique, that may be the way to go.
Click to expand...

This one has a front vent w/ 120mm fan. I am not concerned about being unique, just the best possible overall airflow. I am not sure whether the mesh panel would help or hurt airflow in the case. That is what I am trying to figure out.
 
Originally posted by: HardWarrior
If airflow is the most important thing for you then the mesh. Plus it looks great.
Click to expand...

I would think the mesh panel letting air in the side would interfere with the front -> back movement of air within the case, making the side window better for airflow. I agree the mesh looks great, and have no problems with it, please correct me if I am wrong.
 
Originally posted by: PSUPef2k
Originally posted by: HardWarrior
If airflow is the most important thing for you then the mesh. Plus it looks great.
Click to expand...

I would think the mesh panel letting air in the side would interfere with the front -> back movement of air within the case, making the side window better for airflow. I agree the mesh looks great, and have no problems with it, please correct me if I am wrong.
Click to expand...

Perhaps you're right. There are at least a few intangibles, which makes being sure a difficult thing. I've got a side window with a 120mm hole, center-positioned on my video cards. Before I went water, and still had a fan there, it made an appreciable difference in temps. So no, I can't say you're wrong. 😉

 
I've never used a case with mesh, but I've got a theory about it.

To keep some semblance of airflow in a case with mesh, your fan setup should be highly unbalanced either on the positive or negative side. If it's balanced, you'd get unfocused spillage of both fresh and hot air around the mesh. Pretty sloppy but there will be air exchange.

I'd recommend negative pressure so that more fresh air comes in through the mesh, over the mobo, and out the exhaust. Positive pressure would keep dust from accumulating on the mesh, but you'll waste a lot of fresh air that won't be focused over your components.

I would think that in this situation an exhaust blowhole on the top of the case would come in handy.

It looks pretty hot, but I'd go for the window.

-z

EDIT: In a mesh setup like this, you'd really benefit from a downward CPU heatsink like the SP-120 or Big Typhoon than a front-back heatsink like the 9500 or Ninja. Otherwise most of the air coming in from the mesh is going to be sent directly out the rear exhaust.
 
Originally posted by: zagood
I've never used a case with mesh, but I've got a theory about it.

To keep some semblance of airflow in a case with mesh, your fan setup should be highly unbalanced either on the positive or negative side. If it's balanced, you'd get unfocused spillage of both fresh and hot air around the mesh. Pretty sloppy but there will be air exchange.

I'd recommend negative pressure so that more fresh air comes in through the mesh, over the mobo, and out the exhaust. Positive pressure would keep dust from accumulating on the mesh, but you'll waste a lot of fresh air that won't be focused over your components.

I would think that in this situation an exhaust blowhole on the top of the case would come in handy.

It looks pretty hot, but I'd go for the window.

-z

EDIT: In a mesh setup like this, you'd really benefit from a downward CPU heatsink like the SP-120 or Big Typhoon than a front-back heatsink like the 9500 or Ninja. Otherwise most of the air coming in from the mesh is going to be sent directly out the rear exhaust.
Click to expand...
Interesting. This setup actually would be negative pressure, because there are 2 rear exhaust and the PSU exhaust, and only 1 intake on the front. So the air would come in the front, across components, mix with outside air coming in through the mesh, and finally 2 rear 120mm exhaust fans and PSU exhaust would pull it all out the back. There is a definite imbalance, therefore making it beneficial to choose the mesh, or so I would think.

I was considering the Arctic Freezer 64, but this may seem better for a downward pointing HSF like you said. Agree?
 
I agree. But like I said, this is all based on assumptions...logical ones, but assumptions nonetheless. Not having tested a mesh case before I don't have any firsthand experience to fall back on.

PM Galvanized Yankee and get his thoughts on it. I know he plays around with Modders Mesh on some of his projects.

-z
 
*sigh* I knew -z had you PM me before I even read this thread. I've only modded three cases and looking forward to the 4th. HW should be considered for his hands on concerning WCing. I'd investigate what he offers. Zepper has reviewed many cases and his postings are not to be discounted. Zap has...I sign my PMs to Zap, GrassHopper 😉 He has built and helped more ppl with gaming boxes than he would care to count. I'm sure.
He posted in this thread and I agree with him re. front to rear air flow.

I bought a full sheet of modder's mesh, 36"x42" and half is left. It was used for fan grills and intake air grills. Both Lian Li cases had the front panel cut open, 5.25"x7.25", modder's mesh bonded inplace, then home a/c filter material used to clean the air.

Given the above. When your selected case first came out, it was like WOAH a filter! But it was short lived. Bad mouthing someones case selection is like laughing at thier shoes. I won't do it.

Given your PSU/case selection, this is what I would consider.
Use the side window case. Use just the lower of the two 120 exhaust fans. Block the upper 120 fan port for the time being. Mod the window for a 120 that will blow on the PCI slots but still cover the graphics cards, a tad below the graphics cards. Cross-Fire will offer up some for real waste heat 😉

The mesh side cover will offer dust in and noise out. The side panel fan could be filtered. This is just my opinion because many love thier meshed Lian Li and Stacker cases.

With the windowed case in stock trim, this is what I see happening. The user needs more air because SLI/Cross-Fire is to dang hot. So he adds uber-flow 120s all around. The filter stiffels the intake and the twin exhaust end up stalling air flow through the PSU. jonnyGURU has seen PSUs in a back flow condition from strong case negative pressure..YIKES!!
Ppl forget to count the PSU as an exhaust fan. The PSU's fan is the second most important fan inside the case. CPU fan is first. Graphics will just shut down when hot. Generally.

The S12 has a silent fan and won't win a fight against two 120 exhaust fans. Your Raptor is known to run very warm and side-saddel mounted HDDs don't get the best of air flow. It's not bad mind you, it would be better with the cage turned 90 degrees.

ATM, my next case will be the Akasa Eclipe 62 @ $146. I don't want an insulated case and this case offers 2-120 fan ports plus a slide-out tray. The intake would be modded as the LLs were. A little more noise but much better clean air flow.

...Galvanized
 
They over did it with 2-120 exhausts. Marketing does that. Give'em as many 120s as we can fit and guys buy into it. With 2x120 intake, then one case exhaust plus the 120 in the PSU would give balanced air flow with a slight positive pressure.

With a mesh side panel, why even have a filtered intake?? Makes no sense!

If your enviroment is clean and ACed, the mesh would do fine. The front fan would do the HDDs good and 2x120s would have lots of air flooding the case. My long post is just my opinion. My office/fort is in the rear of a deep 4 car garage. Temps range from 30F~100F. I vacuum every two weeks and it's cleaner than some folks homes 😉 but that's why I like filtered air. Slight positive pressure keeps the opticals, FDD & USB ports from being a source of intake air. All our needs are as different as the approch we take to meet them.

...Galvanized
 
If I go with the mesh side I don't think I would have to worry about negative pressure as much as with the side window, with just the stock cooling.
 
If you really wanted to use the mesh side panel I would think it might be a good idea to make your own filter on the outside of the meshed panel.
So something like velcro to hold on a washable filter.
I set our computers at work up with that sort of a set up.
We have a serious problem with flour and dust getting inside the computers via the fan.
I think something like that would also work with the mesh and that way keep the dust and stuff out of your computer!!

Good luck!!
 
Originally posted by: Cruise51
Mesh:thumbsup:
Usually a mesh would disrupt airflow but with this case it will help airflow.
Click to expand...

Actually thats not true!! I seriously doubt that the mesh would help airflow!

What the mesh might do is to mimick a case that has the side panel off thus supposedly lowering temperatures!!

🙂
 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Originally posted by: Cruise51
Mesh:thumbsup:
Usually a mesh would disrupt airflow but with this case it will help airflow.
Click to expand...

Actually thats not true!! I seriously doubt that the mesh would help airflow!

What the mesh might do is to mimick a case that has the side panel off thus supposedly lowering temperatures!!

🙂
Click to expand...
Actually, it might help airflow. With 2x120mm exhaust fans on the back + PSU fan and only 1 intake on the front, the mesh side will allow air to be sucked in the side and across hot components due to negative pressure in the case (more exhaust than intake). This may work out after all. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: PSUPef2k
Actually, it might help airflow. With 2x120mm exhaust fans on the back + PSU fan and only 1 intake on the front, the mesh side will allow air to be sucked in the side and across hot components due to negative pressure in the case (more exhaust than intake). This may work out after all. 🙂
Click to expand...

Here's the thing though...as I recommended (but was kind of lost in the whole "theory" thing), overall it would be better to go with the window instead. It's just easier to control the airflow and you won't have to worry as much about dust.

Best scenario overall for the grille is water cooling. Looking at the two shrouded holes in the back it looks like that's what it was made for, use with an external radiator.

Not that it won't be a cool system, it will be. You just have to decide for yourself if it's worth the dust. Seriously, it's going to get pretty bad unless you keep your room extremely clean.

-z
 
If it ends up being bad, I will just order the side panel from Gigabyte. I doubt they wouldn't sell it individually, just to make the extra buck.
 
wow. 2 nice cases there. I personally thingk the mesh will put more dust bunnies in there vs the window setup.
 
One of my LLs has a vented 120mm on the top to expel air. Works nicely, so I installed another one atop a older LL.
Got out my trusty RotoZip, and Akasa way we go.

The side window is surely nice. Maybe somebody will get me one for Christmas.
 
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