Currently I have two intake fans, one 140mm fan at the front and a 120mm fan on the side panel. I have three exhaust fans, which are all at the top. I was wondering if this is setup okay and what would be the best setup. I watched a video saying you shoudn't have a sidepanel fan blowing air right towards the GPU.
Sounds good to me. I prefer side and front intake and top and rear exhaust. My graphics cards have their own rear exhaust too, which works well.
I don't currently use side intake though, just having hex mesh on the side panel for air flow. I have 5 120mm PWM fans dynamically controlled by CPU temps, 2 low front intake, 1 rear exhaust near the CPU cooler, 2 on the CPU cooler blowing air toward the back, and 1 200 mm top exhaust fan, and the video card fans and PS blowing out the back.
Last edited by Wrend; 12 Aug 2013 at 09:16.
I generally stay away from side panel fans unless that is your only option for cooling and you REALLY need the extra cooling. Mostly, they disrupt the natural airflow inside a case and they look funky. You definitely have a negative pressure inside your case and most people seem to think a positive pressure is more beneficial for dust control. When you have more exhaust fans than intake, you have a negative pressure(provided they are similar size). The most efficient way is to have air coming in from the front, either straight on, or towards the bottom of the front panel, going across the drive cage and over any pci cards, up and either out the roof, or out the rear exhaust fan. What configuration you decide on is ultimately up to you though. You may even decide you don't need but a couple of fans in your case depending on design, which IS fine. Cases and hardware these days don't need a whole slew of fans to keep them cool. I have one 120mm fan that pulls air in and pushes it through a radiator, and a 200mm exhaust fan in the ceiling of the case and my temps are perfect.
Try all the options mentioned and see what works for you. Every case is different, with the variables of where you are.. ie ambient temps, humidity, and amount of dust will play in to the best set up for you.
I differ from some of the responses. I'm not familar with your case, but most cases have mesh fronts and grills in the rear and in the pcie expansion slots. Positive air pressure pushes hot air and dust out of those openings. Negative pressure pulls air and dust into the case. There have been many studies that show positive air flow reduces dust build up by 30%. Because of chemical warfare all US Navy ships are required to have positive air flow for that very reason.
A good example of this. SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd. What is positive air pressure?
Having positive air pressure will keep the dust from settling when it gets in as well. Most people don't need all the fans they have, but as long as they have more intake fans than exhaust, it shouldn't cause any problems.
I would have a fan or two up front, blowing in, and a fan in the back and maybe one at the top for exhaust if you have that many fans to begin with. That is the design of most conventional cases for airflow: In through the front, across the hard drives and PCI cards, and out through the rear/top.
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