Air Flow On Modern Video Cards


  1. Manigue
    Posts : 189
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bits SP1
       New #1

    Air Flow On Modern Video Cards


    Just installed an XFX HD5770 Video card. Because this card takes up "Dual" space, I noticed that any card on the next adjacent available slot will block the fan. If I install the HD5779 video card on the last PCI slot, it will be just 1/4" away from the bottom of the chassis and on top of power & data cables. This of course is due to the way the TBGM01 MoBo that came with the machine was designed. May not happen with other brand MoBos. Nevertheless it brought up some questions.

    Does the fan blow hot air out away or suck cool air into the Video board components?

    Also, can this (or other video cards) have the fan close to another board (i.e. Sound, TV Tuner, FAX, etc.)??

    If I use install a Creative Audigy SE sound card on adjacent slot, I block the fan by 100%. If I install an ATI HD4550 card on the adjacent slot, I block the fan by 60%. Should the slot next to a "Dual" slot video board be always free so air flows in or out?

    Just curious on how everyone out there with similar situations is handling the issue.
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  3. Wishmaster
    Posts : 4,517
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       New #2

    Generally speaking the fan is intake, and the exahust is out the back of the case.

    However, it does depend on the card itself, and the cooling design it implements.

    Some will exaust out back, and partially in side the case as well.

    I/E A Vapor-X type cooling solution it wouldnt effect as much.
    Try it and watch the temps best way to know. It really does depend how well they implemented the cooling solution on the card.

    Another thought, if your case has the option of a fan on the side, that may help as well to get cool air between everything, if need be.
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  4. Manigue
    Posts : 189
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bits SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks Wishmaster. Forgot I can monitor temperature on card. Worth a try until I find out the correct air flow direction of this beast.
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  6. thefabe
    Posts : 4,280
    Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit / XP Home sp3
       New #4

    Like said above most all dual slot cards intake case air and exhaust it out the rear. Air flow in your case is important so blocking the intake fan of a video card with another addon card will reduce the amount of air that fan can intake pending on the distance between the 2 cards. It as mentioned depends a lot on the card. most can run at fairly high heat say 75c but i would always recommend running any hardware as cool as possible for performance and life span of that hardware. having enough intake and exhausting fans is important, which you didn't mention how many case fans your running. I would not place that card in the bottom slot though if it were mine for several; reasons. one is close proximately to your wiring and the bottom of the case. the upper slot would be my choice. IMO. Fabe
    Last edited by thefabe; 10 Feb 2010 at 01:14. Reason: spellig of course
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  7. Manigue
    Posts : 189
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bits SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    I agree with your suggestions Fabe. Just took a temp reading. According to GPU-Z it is running at 40.0*C.

    I am using 2 case fans. One 80mm in the front bringing cool air in, and a 120mm fan in the back extracting hot air. (And Power Supply's fan).

    Will look for other alternatives for sound. I want to provide the intake fan on the card as much cool air as possible.

    Thanks.
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