Should I add an extra front fan?

Superbia · 19 Aug 2023 at 20:45

Just putting my parts in a new case, I have 2 front fans and wondered if I should put a third in the front at the bottom, I was just a bit worried the bottom psu panel would interfere and cause noise as it would cut across the middle of the fan, the fans I installed are new but I have the same fan which is about a year old I could use.

Is it worth adding the third fan?

MissChief · 19 Aug 2023 at 20:53

Do you have any top or rear fans exhausting? Is the case a good one for airflow? What case is it?

drakulton · 19 Aug 2023 at 20:54

What case is it, you could always try a third fan to get temperature and noise data and go from there.

rumple9 · 19 Aug 2023 at 20:55

Put a top fan in mine last week and temps dropped 15 degees (previously had 2 front 1 rear)

Superbia · 19 Aug 2023 at 20:59

It’s the bequiet 802, I’m going to use the mesh front rather than the solid front, with 1 exhaust fan, I didn’t think about a top fan, I do have a few spare, I think my main concern was the fan blowing on the psu shroud and if it would make a noise.

Edit: just seen I can take that part of the psu cover off so that eliminates the noise thinking.

Matty8787 · 20 Aug 2023 at 01:19

Superbia said:
It’s the bequiet 802, I’m going to use the mesh front rather than the solid front, with 1 exhaust fan, I didn’t think about a top fan, I do have a few spare, I think my main concern was the fan blowing on the psu shroud and if it would make a noise.

Edit: just seen I can take that part of the psu cover off so that eliminates the noise thinking.

Watched a HC video on the BeQuiet 500dx and the best configuration they got was intake front of case and intake top with exhaust out the back

doyll · 20 Aug 2023 at 13:19

Superbia said:
Just putting my parts in a new case, I have 2 front fans and wondered if I should put a third in the front at the bottom, I was just a bit worried the bottom psu panel would interfere and cause noise as it would cut across the middle of the fan, the fans I installed are new but I have the same fan which is about a year old I could use.

Is it worth adding the third fan?

Without knowing what case is, fan models, CPU, CPU cooler, GPU, etc. we can't give you educated suggestions.

Wing-Man · 20 Aug 2023 at 17:16

Superbia said:
Should I add an extra front fan?
Is it worth adding the third fan?

yes always.

Superbia · 20 Aug 2023 at 21:01

Info was a bit lacking in my first post, think I was trying to finish the transfer of cases before my wife got home (failed).
Third fan installed and all working great, thanks again for everyone’s help.

Tinfoil-G305 · 11 Sep 2023 at 12:46

I have 3 intake and 1 exhaust. (All 120mm)
None at the top.

Im not bothered about noise so was thinking of putting in 2 more 140mm.

How best to configure. Number in/out and where should the 140mm-s go, please?

doyll · 12 Sep 2023 at 15:01

Tinfoil-G305 said:
I have 3 intake and 1 exhaust. (All 120mm)
None at the top.

Im not bothered about noise so was thinking of putting in 2 more 140mm.

How best to configure. Number in/out and where should the 140mm-s go, please?

Really need to know what case and components you have to give educated guess of where additional fans might help.

Parsley · 13 Sep 2023 at 13:31

As a rule of thumb, I generally work to having more fans pulling in than pushing air out to maintain positive pressure, or at least the inlet fans spinning faster than the outlet. The more fans you have the slower you can run them as well, which is important to me, though you say noise doesn't bother you so I guess that isn't particularly relevant.

I'd do 3 front, 1 back and 1 top with the back and top being exhaust. Or 3 front, 1 back and 2 up top but with the back and top fans spinning quite slowly in comparison.

Depending on your hardware though, that is possibly a lot of fans and an unnecessary expense.