Case Placement / Fan Testing

java33 · 28 Aug 2012 at 18:18

Hello,

Ive 2 newbie questions if anyone would be kind enough to help with.

1. Case Placement - Ive always had my pc on top of my desk. Ive got a new desk now with a tower cupboard. I would like to know if there will be enough airflow if I keep the case in the cupboard.
There are 4 fans, 2 intake at front and bottom, 2 exhaust at top and rear. The cupboard door will be open during usage so front intake wont be effected. There will be at least 10 inches space above the case and top fan. There will be 5 inches space between back of case and back of cupboard. The back of cupboard will have its panel taken out. There will be a space of 5 inches between the back of cupboard and the wall. Finally, there will be about half an inch space between the side of case and side of cupboard.
Is this ok for airflow?

2. Fan Testing - Can I put the 4 fans, and fan controller (for 2 fans) and psu in the case, connect 1 fan to psu, connect 2 fans to controller, connect controller to psu, and power up to see if the fans work? (4th fan cant be connected as no motherboard yet).

Thanks for reading

Fire_fly · 28 Aug 2012 at 18:37

1. As long as cool air can freely enter at the front of the case and hot air escape out of the back there should not be any problems with problems with where it is placed.

2. There is no reason why it should not work. People test PSUs by attaching a fan and jump starting them.

Unicorn · 28 Aug 2012 at 18:41

Ur airflow sounds fine and yeah u can test ur fans doing that by jumping the psu

Abereda · 28 Aug 2012 at 18:46

java33 said:
Case Placement

Hi I wont pretend to be an expert or anything but Im 100% certain that youd be better leaving it on top of the Desk. I had a similar space as you mentioned (Mine was about 4 inches off the ground & I had removed both the back panel of the desk & the front cupboard door (To help airflow) but it still killed the PC being in there (I used my PC all day everyday, which wouldnt have helped) but decpite being the only one in this upstairs room (& being a clean person) I still had to open up the case to give it a clean once every 2 weeks (its amazing how much mess builds up from tiny things getting dragged by your feet & sucked in by the fan)

Many friends warned me that I shouldnt have it in small space close to the floor but i didnt listen (wish i Had) Ive actualy re-arranged my entire room (including wall mounting a TV) just to get some space up high for my new PC to sit.

java33 · 28 Aug 2012 at 19:22

Abereda said:
Hi I wont pretend to be an expert or anything but Im 100% certain that youd be better leaving it on top of the Desk. I had a similar space as you mentioned (Mine was about 4 inches off the ground & I had removed both the back panel of the desk & the front cupboard door (To help airflow) but it still killed the PC being in there (I used my PC all day everyday, which wouldnt have helped) but decpite being the only one in this upstairs room (& being a clean person) I still had to open up the case to give it a clean once every 2 weeks (its amazing how much mess builds up from tiny things getting dragged by your feet & sucked in by the fan)

Many friends warned me that I shouldnt have it in small space close to the floor but i didnt listen (wish i Had) Ive actualy re-arranged my entire room (including wall mounting a TV) just to get some space up high for my new PC to sit.

I agree about the dust and dirt thing, had read that floor is worst place to put it, and best higher up. I have dust filters and so on. I would have thought though that being slightly elevated with a "roof" would have been better than directly on the floor. I suppose the best thing to do is do prime95 while on top of desk, then repeat in the cupboard

I am wary that an enclosed space would not be the same as a wide open space.

To other posters, thank you for reading and reply and advice, such as jumping. (just quoted last poster)