Solved Case Cooling

[Bertison]

Hello
I could not find the "right" place for this, mods please feel free to redirect.
I am about to build another system. Details: -

Case CoolerMaster Centurion 5 II (new)
PSU OCZ StealthXStream 500Watt (Current PC)
Mobo Giga EG41MFT-US2H (Current)
CPU Core 2 Quad 6600 (Bought pre-owned, with Scythe Ninja HS&Fan)
RAM (2x2 GB) Crucial PC-3 8500: CT25664BA1067 (New)
Hdd 1 Seagate Barracuda LP 1 TB. (New)
Hdd 2 WD 5000AAKS (Current)
DVDRW Samsung DVDRAM
Graphics Asus ATI RadeonHD 6670 Silent Edition (New)
Already have Monitor, Logitech KB & Mouse, Ext. Hdd, 16 Gb USB stick.

My question concerns cooling. The CM case comes with F & R 120mm fans, I have 2 more new ones never used. The case will allow me to put the PSU at the bottom. There are mountings for 2x more fans, one side and one at top. I bought this case with future upgrades in mind, plenty of room for airflow and the cable-stowage possible. I cannot find any airflow information, although I remember seeing an image some time ago I can no longer find it again. My idea is to fit all 4 fans (with temp/sensing). How should I fit them? Front in, side in, top and bottom out? Or should the bottom (filtered) fan blow in? I have succeeded in completely confusing myself!

BTW, noise is not an issue. My ears are almost 67 years old and do not work as well as they used to. The OTH rarely enters the spare room/computer room when I am here (apart from bringing beverages!) and has the lappy to keep her company. I am not a gamer but I have music and photo collections/usage. Any advice please? Thank you, each.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Most people will choose the front for intake and the top/rear fans for exhaust. This way, you get cool air coming in low and blowing across the hard drives. Hot air will rise and be vented out at the rear and top of the case. Considering you plan to use 4 fans, I'd make 2 intakes and two exhaust. So, maybe the front and side as instakes, and the top and rear as exhaust.

 

[Dwarf]

The general consensus for the positioning of case cooling fans is so that the air flow assists the natural flow of air in the case. Since hot air rises, this is taken to mean the following: Front bottom and side fans are designated as Inlet, rear and top Exhaust. In addition to this, the HDD cage (where the drives are mounted) is usually at the front bottom of the case, so that the fan at the front bottom will, by virtue of its location, ensure that a supply of cool air is constantly passing over it/them. The fan (or fans) in a PSU are designed to draw air through the unit and exhaust it out of the rear (adjacent to the power lead) regardless of whether it is mounted at the top or bottom of the case.

In an ideal world, the amount (volume) of air exhausted by the exhaust fans should be equal (or slightly greater, in which case any inbalance is taken in to account by air flowing in to the case via its vents) to that which is fed into the case by the inlet ones.

 

[Bertison]

Thanks very much, Deacon.
OK to copy/paste your advice?
Very much obliged!

Thanks also to Dwarf, even though you are on t'wrong side o'tumber!

Cheers!

 

[Dwarf]

You're welcome.

Do you use the Humber Bridge or take a 40-50 mile detour?

 

[Bertison]

You're welcome.

Do you use the Humber Bridge or take a 40-50 mile detour?

No-use the Bridge.
But I check me passport when driving to Robin Hood airport!
Don't venture over the bridge much, though I used to sail from Alex Dock in Hull many years ago.
They are going to make Wind Farm turbines there now, might bring in some much-needed employment.
Progress. But, if they had not shut all the pits, we would be energy self-reliant.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Thanks very much, Deacon.
OK to copy/paste your advice?
Very much obliged!

Absolutely! Cooler Master makes some nice cases and they live up to their name. I have 2 CM HAF912s and I am about to buy my third.

 

[Bertison]

I second the Coolermaster opinion. I have built many systems with various models over the years. I chose the Centurion 5 II because I used one for my grandson's last build and was impressed with the quality of the case for the price. I actually bought it as a refurbished item, from CoolerMaster's Refurbished online shop. Only difference I could see, was the box, which had obviously been opened and resealed. All parts were present, down to the last tool-free mounting and the SSD/2.5 converter. Any spare, however small, is available for any CM case.
I finally found the Image I was looking for: it was the original CM site picture of the Centurion 5 II case. Check this out, scroll down to "Fans"; -

Centurion 5 II - Cooler Master

Just the image I wanted; I had forgotten it. CM have a great site.
Cheers!