Endarkened
Senior member
Hello. I'm thinking buying the Fong Kai FK-320 case (for a 1.4 GHz Athlon system), but the way cooling is set up in it seems somewhat strange. Basically, the FK-320 has a 92mm rear fan with a duct over the cpu and a spot up front for either a 92mm or a 120mm fan. The "strange" part is that both fans are factory designed to blow inward. At first this seems like it won't work very well, but here's the company's explanation:
The FK-320 uses a different methodology. It uses positive-pressure cooling. By this, I mean that the front and rear fans both blow in. Why? Because it also has strategically placed vents for exhausting the air. Since we create a high-pressure zone inside the case, the air exits exactly where we want it to - over the drives and the card area. The power supply takes care of the rest of the air at the top of the case. Using this method, we create airflow over the hotspots without having to use active cooling. Sure, you may save a few degrees using active cooling, but the second method is much more efficient from a manufacturing and cost standpoint. It's a tradeoff, like many things in the computer industry. However, a good design will minimize the effects of such a tradeoff. The FK-320 utilizes a good design.
My major question is that since the direction of the rear fan can be reversed, would it be better to use it as an active vent and suck air off the cpu? If I decided to keep it blowing air on the cpu, I would buy a Taisol CGK760 heatsink that would also be blowing; but if I reversed it, I think it would be best to buy the Alpha PAL6035 that would suck hot air off the cpu in sync with the ducted rear fan. Another option would be to keep both fans blowing inward, but add an expansion slot blower that could add some active venting to the cases design (although I don't know if this would help very much or maybe even hinder the cases original cooling design). Here are a couple pictures so you can better visualize the FK-320's design:
Inside View
Back View
So, I guess what I need are opinions or advice on how cooling should be arranged in this case. Other options are removing the duct or even reversing the front fan.
Thanks in advance,
Endarkened
The FK-320 uses a different methodology. It uses positive-pressure cooling. By this, I mean that the front and rear fans both blow in. Why? Because it also has strategically placed vents for exhausting the air. Since we create a high-pressure zone inside the case, the air exits exactly where we want it to - over the drives and the card area. The power supply takes care of the rest of the air at the top of the case. Using this method, we create airflow over the hotspots without having to use active cooling. Sure, you may save a few degrees using active cooling, but the second method is much more efficient from a manufacturing and cost standpoint. It's a tradeoff, like many things in the computer industry. However, a good design will minimize the effects of such a tradeoff. The FK-320 utilizes a good design.
My major question is that since the direction of the rear fan can be reversed, would it be better to use it as an active vent and suck air off the cpu? If I decided to keep it blowing air on the cpu, I would buy a Taisol CGK760 heatsink that would also be blowing; but if I reversed it, I think it would be best to buy the Alpha PAL6035 that would suck hot air off the cpu in sync with the ducted rear fan. Another option would be to keep both fans blowing inward, but add an expansion slot blower that could add some active venting to the cases design (although I don't know if this would help very much or maybe even hinder the cases original cooling design). Here are a couple pictures so you can better visualize the FK-320's design:
Inside View
Back View
So, I guess what I need are opinions or advice on how cooling should be arranged in this case. Other options are removing the duct or even reversing the front fan.
Thanks in advance,
Endarkened
