Fan position on top rad, push or pull...

Sanjiyan · 5 Sep 2014 at 09:42

Hi guys,

Just finished building my first water cooling PC (pics to follow at somepoint), and I was wondering.

Currently I have 3x 120mm fans on the top 360mm rad, configured in a pull systen,m so they pull the air through the rad and then the fans themselfs and out the top of the case.

I did this so it is easier to clean the dust out, simply by brushing gently or blowing the dust and junk from the raid fins directly, rather then having to constently remove the fans to get directly to the rad.

Is this a prefered option, or should I swap the fans to a PUSH setup?

The fans are 120mm Corsair SP120 quiet PWM connected to a Lamptron FC5v3 fan controller.

Thanks in advance

V4NT0M · 5 Sep 2014 at 13:24

As far as I have read there is not much difference performance wise between push and pull. I have definitely seen good results with pull though and most people run pull for the very reason you are.

Sanjiyan · 5 Sep 2014 at 15:51

Thanks, I'm only asking because I'm using the SP120 quiet fans and to me it feels like they are not doing anything. I was expecting to feel air being pushed (or rather pulled) through the raidiator fins.

GiraffePencils · 5 Sep 2014 at 15:52

What're your temps like?

Ploppy2k3 · 5 Sep 2014 at 15:53

what case? is there dust filter mesh in the way?

Sanjiyan · 5 Sep 2014 at 16:05

there is for the bottom one yes, as I have that in a push config as well, but it sucks air in from the bottom of the case, didnt want it to suck up dust and the like.

The top one has the metal mesh from the 750d case.

Should I remove?

As for temps, I've just made a thread about those: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18622164

Ploppy2k3 · 5 Sep 2014 at 16:23

the mesh on the 900D is really dense stuff. I dont know if its the same on the 750.

i removed the mesh from my 900D and the airflow difference is astounding!

djkav · 5 Sep 2014 at 18:53

Just follow the rules of thermal dynamics.

Heat rises, so it will always be best to pull out of the top and intake from the rear and front.

Zarniwoop · 13 Sep 2014 at 12:27

I have read that with slower fans like the corsairs, pull works best as there is no central dead spot as the airflow is diffused through the radiator. With higher capacity fans push seems to work better. I have a 900D with 2 480 and 1 240 rads all pulling and it is seems to work fine. As a matter of interest, i have the bottoms rads as intake and the top as exhaust.