Case fan placement

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scorde

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Mar 22, 2013
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Hi all. I need a definitive answer from the people in the know as I getting conflicting advice.

I am putting together a build with a 2600k a gtx 570 and 32gb ram. Its mainly going to be an editing rig. The cpu will be cooled with a thermalright silver arrow. I need some advice on case fan placement. At the moment I have a 120mm intake at the bottom front of the the case and an 80mm exhaust at the back with a 120mm exhaust at the top. I have space for another 120 exhaust at the top and a 120 intake on the bottom of the case (psu wires permitting). Should i make use of both of those options or just an additional intake or exhaust.

Oh there are also two 80mm side fans cooling the 2 hard drives and ssd (Its a zalman z11) but im unsure whether to use them.

Thanks
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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i'd add the fan as an intake.

generally speaking a positive pressure case (more intake then exhaust) will keep your system cleaner and more dust free. The temp differences from positive to negative pressure are generally negligible, so i prefer to build to keep the case clean.

I've mixed opinions on the side fans... generally they break up a clean case airflow, so aren't usually worth it. But if you're overclocking, they tend to be positioned ideally for cooling the mosfets or northbridge (on an amd) so the result is they can be useful for getting good air onto hot motherboard parts.

if your cpu cooler is oriented right, it can then get the airflow broken up by the side fan going toward one of the exit fans (if you use the side panel fan, i'd suggest you orientate the cpu fan to point up at the top fan, to restore airflow. if you don't use the side pannel fan, have it pointed back toward the back exhaust)

I agree with the above poster, generally you only add fans as you need them... which is why i only suggested 1 more, for cleanliness purposes (since as is, it's a negative pressure case).

as you play with your system and get a better idea for temps you can add fans as needed.
 
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scorde

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Mar 22, 2013
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Thanks both. The two side fans won't be blowing on the mb. There is one each side at the front bottom. where the hard drive bays sit.

What's the best way to check ambient temperature? Will the mb tell me or do i have to buy a thermometer? I will be over clocking at some point hopefully to 4.2-4.4ghz
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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well... ambient temps should be easy to read on the thermostat in your house.

generally ambient temps will be anywhere from 20C to 30C
 
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