Fan configuration? Not sure.

[Blane101]

Hey guys,
I am about to do some work on the noise of my case - but before I start ripping bits out and cutting holes etc. I am interested in any points of view you have on the configuration / best placement of case fans.

Is it best to try and keep positive pressure inside the case, ie more blowing in than blowing out? If this is the case then what does it achieve?

Is it recommended to put filters on the intakes? does that increase the noise factor?

I am trying to achieve the best of both worlds - good air flow but a quiet system.

Any thoughts would be most helpfull.

Specs:-

E8400 dual core at 3.00
Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB SATA-II 16MB Cache
2 x black noise 80mm case fans (the source of most noise)
8800GT

 

[domthecondom]

Do you want to keep the Fans? Or can you buy some new once?

 

[Pneumonic]

General Rules Are:

More Air In Than Out

Front / Bottom = Intake
Rear / Top = Exaust

You want to look at getting 120mm or 140mm fans (if you can fit 140mm) you will get more airflow and less noise.. as far as sound goes the general rule is that anything under 1000RPM you are going to be hard pressed to hear.. your HD will be louder.. Fans generally only really start to get loud at 1500RPM+

I would reommend you look at buying the 120mm sharkoon silent eagle 2000 and run them off your motherboard.. you can use speedfan to control there speed and only run them at over 1000RPM when you need that extra cooling

 

[Blane101]

Not bothered about keeping the fans I have but I may struggle to fit 120 fans in as the grills and fittings are for 80mm only.

Not sure of the case type but it was a good one about 2 years ago.

As above I am trying to get my head around speed fan to keep the rpm's under control.

 

[EsaT]

I may struggle to fit 120 fans in as the grills and fittings are for 80mm only.

Not sure of the case type but it was a good one about 2 years ago.

Probably not much hope for getting quiet result...
You could put 120fan to exhaust by using adapter bet general design of case might be noisy.

Try to find model of case or then take some pictures.

 

[Poweredge]

Hey guys,
I am about to do some work on the noise of my case - but before I start ripping bits out and cutting holes etc. I am interested in any points of view you have on the configuration / best placement of case fans.

Is it best to try and keep positive pressure inside the case, ie more blowing in than blowing out? If this is the case then what does it achieve?

The first thing positive air pressure will do is stop air from being drawn into the system through any gaps in the case (around/thru floppy, CD player, bottom/back vent, gaps between joints, etc)... in other words, non-filtered air.

Also, negaitve air effectively means non-directional air in the case. This means you have less control over where the air is moving. Put a fan on your desk and place your hand 1 foot in front of it, and you'll feel a steady blast. Put your hand 1 foot behind and you'll feel nothing.

Is it recommended to put filters on the intakes? does that increase the noise factor?

The cleaner the blade of your fans are, the less noise they will generate from the air resistance over the blades. Although the same can be said of filters that are too close to the fan - the air sometimes causes the filter to "whistle", so I'd use filters with a reasonable gap.

I am trying to achieve the best of both worlds - good air flow but a quiet system.

Any thoughts would be most helpfull.

Specs:-

E8400 dual core at 3.00
Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB SATA-II 16MB Cache
2 x black noise 80mm case fans (the source of most noise)
8800GT

If you're not interested in OC'ing it, and your case has an extractor directly behind the CPU cooler, then you could look at getting a KamaBay and going non-stock/passive with your cooling. As for the 80mm's, a pair of Noctua's wired to a controller may help keep the noise/cooling at an optimum.

Beyond that, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm talking complete arse.