how much difference do case fans make?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 12:26

well i have my new cpu cooler on order and have fitted 2 80mm fans to the rear of my case as thats all that would fit. they are mounted inline with the cpu socket so when the arctic freezer 7 blows air back im guessing they will help disperse it out the rear. now my question is, i can probable make a way of fitting a spare 120mm fan to the front of the case, but there are 2 things that concern me, 1st is, it would be right down the bottom of the case so would this really pass any airflow over anything usefull? and 2nd, there are no vents on the front of the case, so would any air actually make its way into the case?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:34

anyone

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:43

n3llyboy said:
Hi paradisiac. In my case (antec 900), I took out 2 fans from the front and the fan in the door whilst rebuilding with a q9550. So I have the arctic cooler freezer pro, the rear case fan and the psu fan.

Temps are generally low 30's so I will leave it at that. All depends on the temp of the board and chip surely. I do not know the safe temp for the motherboard, it reports mid 20's.

so there is an argument you can have too many fans?
im just concerned that although a 120mm fan will fit in the front, if there is no vents will it just be shifting around the warm air in the case rather than pulling cold air through. and also being mounted at the bottom of the case, will it not just blow the air across the bottom of the case and not benifiting anything at all.

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 15:41

JonJ678 said:
Good airflow makes a small difference over average airflow and a massive difference over poor airflow. In my subjective opinion. However more fans does not mean more airflow.

Since none of us know what case you're using, and have no idea what the component/cable arrangement inside it is, we cannot advise. At the bare minimum you need to post a clear photo of the internal layout of the case. Otherwise you're going to have to buy the fan, fit it, and look at your temperatures.

i already have a 120mm fan laying around at home. will take some pics when i get in from work.

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:00

ah right, well that would be how the setup would be, my only concern is there are no vents in the front, so what would the front fan be doing?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:27

Parsley said:
It won't be if it has no access to cool air outside the case. It will just have its airflow severely impaired and will be pushing already warm air around the case.

that is what i thought. hmm.......will wait for my arctic freezer to turn up and see if i still need more air to get temps down. noise and having a 'tornado' dont bother me too much so i just want to get the coolest i can without spending a fortune as my i7 build wasnt cheap

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:35

twist3d0n3 said:
time to get the dremmel out

haha. there are vents on the metal part of the case, but not the plastic front panel, but from what i can remember, there is a big hole under it (between the plastic front panel and the metal case) where you put your hand in to pull the front off, so in theory if thats correct, if i raised the front of the case up a little bit that would allow air to flow in through the hand hole?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:36

LeeKeery said:
What temps are you getting?

I have the same board n chip with antec 902.

Idle temps 37-43
max temps 71-78

Thats only clocked at 3.4

i get about 45-47 idle, and now im getting 71-74 under load by lowering the vcore to 1.00

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:39

LeeKeery said:
Those temps seem fine I wouldn't worry too much unless you want high overclocks down the line.

will want to oc it to 3.6-3.8GHz if i can get the temps down.
i thought most people were running at 60-65 max temp?

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:46

LeeKeery said:
Yea ur prob right.

Im happy with 70's atm tho as I was gettin high 80's to start off with. Re-applied TIM and reseated heatsink helped take 10+ deg off max temps.

Your new cooler should drop you into the 60's.

i hope so. i know people say they will run fine at 90, but i would rather keep it sub 70 if pos.

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:54

LeeKeery said:
Yes I know how you feel.

Although I have read a few times that clocking the i7 over 3.6-3.8+ really brings up the temps, so you may need to rethink your case and get one with good airflow. Intakes at the front, exhausts out the back and top?

yeah, i like the one that keeps popping up on the ocuk links at the top of the page for £43, just cant justify anymore money at the moment.