Airflow

[Ryan0r]

Should I (or indeed anyone) be looking for:

- Airflow (in from front and out to rear or vice versa) over the CPU
- Suck all air out of the case from front, rear and wherever else you have fans
- Push as much air into the case as possible

Which is most efficient? Which should be avoided? Which will cause things to blow up? And how do i get these stains out of my y-fronts?

 

[cje]

Every new case you buy will probably have some sort of ariflow solution. How good it is, depends on the make and model.

Computer cases usually have an inlet fan (or more than one) at the front sucking cold air IN.

And they have one (or more) fans at the back sucking hot air OUT.

There is no point pushing as much air into the case, if you don't have the same balanced number of fans sucking air out.

This is a good pic, lifted from another website:

The most efficient are usually top-end cases which have top exhaust fans, and side window inlet fans. My Antec 1200 is a very good case.

As for your Y-fronts, put them on your head.

 

[!TIMMY!]

Great pic above. Just remember to get some good fans, e.g. Scythe/Noctua, or even Yate Loons if your on a budget. No point splashing out on a nice case and putting in rubbish LED fans in there.

 

[4T5]

In through the front & exhaust it out the back but bare in mind the natural flow of air & hot air. My exhaust fans are set high at the back of the case so that they draw out the hottest air & allow the lower cooler air to be circulated.
It is about balance though as you don't want to much air pulled in as it won't flow properly, Equally to much exhaust in the wrong place will just suck the cool air out & create small heat pockets on certain components.
It's all about Flow & balance

 

[Big.Wayne]

There is no point pushing as much air into the case, if you don't have the same balanced number of fans sucking air out

There is a point . . . it cuts down on the dust being sucked in from anywhere. Positive-Pressure is great if you have filtered intakes!

 

[SteveU]

Also, you don't want 2 fans right next to each other where one is an intake and one is an exhaust as this creates a 'Vortex' and you will actually get no air flow from either (just a whole load of unproductive noise).

 

[Gepetto]

Also, you don't want 2 fans right next to each other where one is an intake and one is an exhaust as this creates a 'Vortex' and you will actually get no air flow from either (just a whole load of unproductive noise).

Would two intake fans close to each other cause a "vortex" if they were shifting differing amounts of air (spinning at differing speeds)?

 

[cje]

There is a point . . . it cuts down on the dust being sucked in from anywhere. Positive-Pressure is great if you have filtered intakes!

True, true. Altohugh I am debating wether a side window fan should be exhaust or intake. Currently I've got it set to intake as it cools my X-Fi down nicely. But I haven't sen any benefit as using as an exhaust. temps are the same either way.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Altohugh I am debating wether a side window fan should be exhaust or intake.

Intake for hot GPU, NB, expansion cards etc I reckon!

Nice if its filtered!

 

[cje]

Yeah, Antec 1200. All intakes have filters. Just a great case for air cooling.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Antec 1200. All intakes have filters.

Nice, I guess Antec learnt there lesson from the 900 then! that was a serious dust trap!

So I'm looking at the Antec 1200 above and considering its airflow . .

Intakes
120mm - Front
120mm - Front
120mm - Front
120mm - Side Panel
480mm - Total

Exhausts
120mm - Rear
120mm - Rear
200mm - Top
120mm - PSU
560mm - Total

I know it's not just about Fan dimension but assuming all other things are equal (and the PSU has a 120mm not an 80mm or 2x 80mm) it seems the Antec 1200 leans towards Negative-Pressure if all fan spots are filled?

If I had that case I would be using the optional side panel as an intake for sure and I would also blank off one of the rear 120mm Exhausts to change back to Positive-Pressure

It's what I did with my Antec 300 so the only active exhausts are the PSU and the roof 140mm. The rear 120mm fanspot has been crudely gummed up with a lick of gaffer and the piece of foam from a Scythe Kama bay.

Heh I'm certainly getting a lot of use from this picture!

 

[cje]

Well, the exhaust fans are all on low. Whilst the 4 intake 120mm are on medium.
So, I've got 4x 120mm blowing in on medium speeds, with 1x Antec 120mm on low exhaust, 1 bigboy on low exhaust, and 1 Noctua 120mm on low.

EDIt - also the PSU fan on low.

 

[FaceplantSi]

Altohugh I am debating wether a side window fan should be exhaust or intake.

Yeah I tried mine as an exhaust looking to get negative pressure but once switched back to intake it hugely dropped the VRM temps on my 4870.

It's really a case (haha) of try it and see with the side fan!

 

[superflyguy]

There is a point . . . it cuts down on the dust being sucked in from anywhere. Positive-Pressure is great if you have filtered intakes!

True, most rack mounts have internal fans to create pressure and thus dust out.

 

[Clairvoyant]

sorry to but in. I have a 300 case all fans filtered. But am still getting dust inside the case.

Please tell me how I can stop this. (the filters do stop a lot of dust)

 

[Pred]

You can't stop all the dust just most of it if filtered.

 

[cje]

Filters don't "filter" all of the dust. Tiny particles still get in unfortunately. Just buy some compressed air and clean it periodically.