How Much Clearence For A 200mm Case Fan

flyoffacliff · Jul 1, 2013

I am thinking about buying the Antec 900 case for my new build. But it has a 200mm exhaust fan on the top, and my cabinet has a shelf above the case. This will only leave 2 or 3 inches of space between the fan and the shelf. This is the fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209021

Is this enough clearance? If not, would you recommend:

1. A shorter case
2. A case without a fan on top
3. Raising the shelf (difficult and time consuming)

Thank you

ko888 · Jul 1, 2013

If you're buying an Antec 900 it should already include that 200mm fan already mounted at the top of the case.

flyoffacliff · Jul 1, 2013

ko888 :

Thank you, but I already knew that, I just provided a link to the fan so you could view the specs, such as CFM. Could you please answer my question?

Thank you

ko888 · Jul 1, 2013

No one's answering because they have no idea what you're asking for.

"Is this enough clearance?" doesn't mean anything. Enough clearance for what?

flyoffacliff · Jul 1, 2013

ko888 :

Oh, sorry. Let me re-word my question:

Is it okay to have a 200mm case fan blowing up toward the bottom of a shelf with 2 or 3 inches between the fan and the shelf? Will this significantly harm airflow?

ko888 · Jul 1, 2013

What you're saying is that you're placing the whole Antec 900 system unit inside of a wood/plastic/metal enclosed cabinet with the top of the cabinet only 2 to 3 inches of clearance above the vent holes on the top of the Antec 900? 2 to 3 inches of space is enough to allow air to exit the 200mm fan.

Is this wood/plastic/metal cabinet enclosed on all six sides? Is the front, back or sides of this cabinet open?

Hopefully the front and back of the cabinet is open to support the general air flow direction within the Antec 900 or you're going to get heat buildup that will cause you overheating problems.

flyoffacliff · Jul 1, 2013

ko888 :

The cabinet is wooden.

Here is information about all sides:

Left Side: Touching side of cabinet
Right Side: Open for about 2.5 feet so I can see in the side window, followed by the other side of the cabinet.
Front: Door open whenever computer is on
Rear: 2 to 3 inches of clearance followed by read wall of cabinet
Top: 2 to 3 inches of clearance followed by shelf.
Bottom: Enclosed (on desktop)

Will this be okay?

ko888 · Jul 1, 2013

Your description seems to indicate that the back of the wooden cabinet is completely closed. That's not a good thing since heated air isn't free to escape out of the top back of the cabinet where Antec 900's exhaust fans are blowing all of its warm air into.

flyoffacliff · Jul 2, 2013

ko888 :

What do you suggest I do? Will turning the computer sideways help? Should I cut a hole in the back of the cabinet to line up with the case fan?

Thank you

ko888 · Jul 2, 2013

flyoffacliff :

I would suggest removing the top 1/3 of the rear of that cabinet to allow the warm air to easily escape since there is also a rear exhaust fan on the Antec 900. This is assuming that the cabinet is not right up against a wall.

flyoffacliff · Jul 2, 2013

ko888 :

There are 3 or 4 inches between the cabinet and the wall.
Can't I just cut a 120mm hole in the cabinet to line up with the fan?
Do I even need to cut it at all if there is 2 or 3 inches of clearance?

Thank you

ko888 · Jul 2, 2013

flyoffacliff :

3 or 4 inches between the cabinet and the wall isn't a problem.

You're ignoring the 200mm fan on the top?

If you only cut out a 120mm hole for the rear 120mm exhaust fan that doesn't really solve the problem of warm air accumulation.

I would say more warm air will be exhausted by the 200mm fan than the 120mm fan because of the natural tendency of warm air to rise. The warm air needs to be removed from the cabinet.

flyoffacliff · Jul 2, 2013

ko888 :

I thought you said earlier that 2 or 3 inches between the 200mm fan and the shelf above it was enough. I think I can raise the shelf another inch or 2, but that is it, and I really don't want to cut a hole in the shelf.

Here is a picture I found on Google images that shows a desk similar to mine: https://i21.geccdn.net/site/images/n-picgroup/65470.jpg . I will put the computer next to where the monitor is shown in the picture.

ko888 · Jul 2, 2013

flyoffacliff :

The shelf being 2 to 3 inches above the 200mm fan is enough to let warm air get out of the Antec 900. The shelf itself will still trap some of the warm air underneath it.

flyoffacliff :

You should have posted this picture right at the beginning.

How far does the bottom shelf (i.e. the one with the CPU and printer sitting on it in your picture) pull out? Using that pull-out shelf would move the Antec 900 away from the back of the cabinet most likely solving the problem. Is the height between that pull-out shelf and whatever is beneath the keyboard tray insufficient?

Blitzkrieg808 · Jul 2, 2013

In my opinion it really depends on what you are doing with your computer.
-If you plan on just casually using your computer for Microsoft Word to do your work that setup should be fine.

-If you plan on doing some hardcore gaming I'd recommend that you don't put your computer in that cabinet, especially if you're going to overclock your system. Those exhaust fans help move the hot air out of your case and suuuuuuuuuuuuper far away so that it won't overheat. You generally don't want that hot air lurking around and reheating up your case. I'd recommend leaving it on the floor in the open. If you're worried about dust collecting in your case you could just add on a dust filter on the intake fans. That's what I plan to do

flyoffacliff · Jul 3, 2013

ko888 :

Sorry, I did not think of it. The section where the printer is does not pull out at all on my cabinet. It is just an open space with some drawers on the side (not shown in picture). So I don't think putting the case down there would really help much.

I am kind of debating between:
1. Cutting hole in back to line up with rear 120mm fan on case.
2. Installing 200mm fan in cabinet slightly higher to help remove warm air coming from both exhaust fans.
3. Not preferred: Installing water-cooling and mounting and radiator outside the cabinet.
4. Not preferred: Keeping the computer upstairs and installing a window air conditioner (I have central air, but it gets too hot up their with a computer).
5. Not preferred: Move my other open air style cabinet downstairs and using it.

Those are my options. Which would you recommend between #1 and #2?

ko888 · Jul 3, 2013

flyoffacliff :

Sorry, I did not think of it. The section where the printer is does not pull out at all on my cabinet. It is just an open space with some drawers on the side (not shown in picture). So I don't think putting the case down there would really help much.

I am kind of debating between:
1. Cutting hole in back to line up with rear 120mm fan on case.
2. Installing 200mm fan in cabinet slightly higher to help remove warm air coming from both exhaust fans.
3. Not preferred: Installing water-cooling and mounting and radiator outside the cabinet.
4. Not preferred: Keeping the computer upstairs and installing a window air conditioner (I have central air, but it gets too hot up their with a computer).
5. Not preferred: Move my other open air style cabinet downstairs and using it.

Those are my options. Which would you recommend between #1 and #2?

Can that top shelf be pulled forward creating a gap that can allow the warm air to escape up behind the shelf?

flyoffacliff · Jul 3, 2013

ko888 :

flyoffacliff :

Can that top shelf be pulled forward creating a gap that can allow the warm air to escape up behind the shelf?

I might be able to slide it an inch or 2, but I am not sure. I don't want it to fall on me or my equipment. Assuming that is not an option, would you recommend number #1 or #2 from my list?

Thank you

ko888 · Jul 4, 2013

flyoffacliff :

ko888 :

I might be able to slide it an inch or 2, but I am not sure. I don't want it to fall on me or my equipment. Assuming that is not an option, would you recommend number #1 or #2 from my list?

Thank you

#2.

flyoffacliff · Jul 4, 2013

ko888 :

flyoffacliff :

ko888 :

I might be able to slide it an inch or 2, but I am not sure. I don't want it to fall on me or my equipment. Assuming that is not an option, would you recommend number #1 or #2 from my list?

Thank you

#2.

Thank you for all of your help with this issue. I really appreciate it.

How Much Clearence For A 200mm Case Fan

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