Case fans / Air flow
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Cases
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- air flow
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Last response: in Components
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 8:24:34 AM
Hello, I recently asked which GPU I should get, either the GTX 770 or the HD 7970. I ended up choosing the GTX770, but now I have another question about the case fans and the airflow.
This is my case: BitFenix Shenobi.
This is how it looks from the inside:
![]()
This are the available places for fans:
Cooling Front 2 x 120mm (optional)
Cooling Rear 1 x 120mm (included) or 1 x 92mm (optional)
Cooling Side Panel N/A
Cooling Top 2 x 140mm or 2 x 120mm (optional)
Cooling Bottom 1 x 120mm (optional)
My question is, which fans should I buy (and how do I know if it is a good fan), and in which position I should put them, for the best cooling. I'm trying to avoid to put fans on the bottom since the computer is on the ground.
Thank you
This is my case: BitFenix Shenobi.
This is how it looks from the inside:

This are the available places for fans:
Cooling Front 2 x 120mm (optional)
Cooling Rear 1 x 120mm (included) or 1 x 92mm (optional)
Cooling Side Panel N/A
Cooling Top 2 x 140mm or 2 x 120mm (optional)
Cooling Bottom 1 x 120mm (optional)
My question is, which fans should I buy (and how do I know if it is a good fan), and in which position I should put them, for the best cooling. I'm trying to avoid to put fans on the bottom since the computer is on the ground.
Thank you
More about : case fans air flow
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 8:36:32 AM
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 8:41:22 AM
USAFRet said:
In the front, out the back.You already have one exhaust in the back. Add one (or two) intake in the front.
I was thinking of putting 2x140mm on the top (since the hot hair goes up), adding 1x92mm on the back and I don't really know on the front side, since there is space for two but it is covered with plastic.
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Myntekt said:
USAFRet said:
In the front, out the back.You already have one exhaust in the back. Add one (or two) intake in the front.
I was thinking of putting 2x140mm on the top (since the hot hair goes up), adding 1x92mm on the back and I don't really know on the front side, since there is space for two but it is covered with plastic.
It comes with a 120mm on the back. An extra 92mm probably isn't needed.
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 9:44:13 AM
USAFRet said:
Myntekt said:
USAFRet said:
In the front, out the back.You already have one exhaust in the back. Add one (or two) intake in the front.
I was thinking of putting 2x140mm on the top (since the hot hair goes up), adding 1x92mm on the back and I don't really know on the front side, since there is space for two but it is covered with plastic.
It comes with a 120mm on the back. An extra 92mm probably isn't needed.
So you are saying I should add 2x140mm on the top, sucking air, and 2x120mm on the front blowing air right?
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Best solution
Myntekt said:
USAFRet said:
Myntekt said:
USAFRet said:
In the front, out the back.You already have one exhaust in the back. Add one (or two) intake in the front.
I was thinking of putting 2x140mm on the top (since the hot hair goes up), adding 1x92mm on the back and I don't really know on the front side, since there is space for two but it is covered with plastic.
It comes with a 120mm on the back. An extra 92mm probably isn't needed.
So you are saying I should add 2x140mm on the top, sucking air, and 2x120mm on the front blowing air right?
I'd start with just 1 or 2 in the front. Add the top ones later, if and only if you see the need for it.
More fans is not always better.
Share
Anonymous
August 9, 2013 9:54:02 AM
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 9:58:19 AM
Anonymous said:
If you just add fans to the top you are just pulling air out( like sucking on a straw ). Put a fan or 2 in the front and the top and you will get a better air flow thru the case.arrpee
In which directions? I've been told that it is better to have a good air direction (some out and other in) rather than all blowing air inside..
By the way, I was saying that I was going to add 4 fans, in total 5.
Two fans in the front of the case blowing air in, and 2 fans at the top sucking air out.
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Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:01:57 AM
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
If you just add fans to the top you are just pulling air out( like sucking on a straw ). Put a fan or 2 in the front and the top and you will get a better air flow thru the case.arrpee
In which directions? I've been told that it is better to have a good air direction (some out and other in) rather than all blowing air inside..
Pull air in the front and push air out the top/back. Hot air rises.
arrpee
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Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:05:12 AM
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
If you just add fans to the top you are just pulling air out( like sucking on a straw ). Put a fan or 2 in the front and the top and you will get a better air flow thru the case.arrpee
In which directions? I've been told that it is better to have a good air direction (some out and other in) rather than all blowing air inside..
By the way, I was saying that I was going to add 4 fans, in total 5.
Two fans in the front of the case blowing air in, and 2 fans at the top sucking air out.
That's your best bet. You can never have to much cooling.
arrpee
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 10:14:28 AM
Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:18:36 AM
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 10:20:11 AM
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
I didn't want to buy two fans now and the other 2 then, because the shipping costs, and I buy my gear from a german webstore, and I live in Portugal.Just to confirm:
+ 2x 120mm front - in
+ 2x 140mm (or 120mm?) top - out
= 1x 120mm (already there) back - out
yes
arrpee
On the top, 2x140mm or 2x120mm?
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 10:23:09 AM
USAFRet said:
Myntekt said:
I didn't want to buy two fans now and the other 2 then, because the shipping costs, and I buy my gear from a german webstore, and I live in Portugal.Just to confirm:
+ 2x 120mm front - in
+ 2x 140mm (or 120mm?) top - out
= 1x 120mm (already there) back - out
Yes, that will work.
Should I place 2x140mm or 2x120mm on the top?
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Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:24:55 AM
USAFRet said:
Anonymous said:
That's your best bet. You can never have to much cooling.
arrpee
Yes you can.
When the temperature change approaches zero, and the noise level increases...you have too much.
Meaning - if I add 2 more fans, but it only reduces the temp by 1C, and adds noise....that is too much.
I have roughly the same setup
1 - 200mm intake front
2 - 120mm top exhaust
H80 push/pull intake
8350
7870XT blowing hot air into case
and with this my cpu idles at 28 degrees my gpu idles at 32 degrees during gaming my cpu goes to 40-42 degrees and my gpu to low 50s
arrpee
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Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:27:11 AM
Myntekt said:
USAFRet said:
Myntekt said:
I didn't want to buy two fans now and the other 2 then, because the shipping costs, and I buy my gear from a german webstore, and I live in Portugal.Just to confirm:
+ 2x 120mm front - in
+ 2x 140mm (or 120mm?) top - out
= 1x 120mm (already there) back - out
Yes, that will work.
Should I place 2x140mm or 2x120mm on the top?
either will do
arrpee
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 10:28:24 AM
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 10:35:22 AM
Anonymous
August 9, 2013 10:57:22 AM
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 12:18:35 PM
Anonymous
August 9, 2013 2:09:19 PM
Myntekt said:
So none of them? How much airflow should it have?http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These would do or anything similar.
arrpee
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 3:43:57 PM
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
So none of them? How much airflow should it have?http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These would do or anything similar.
arrpee
First that one is too expensive (And I don't know where they are from and if they ship to Europe). Second, shouldn't the air flow thing be higher? That one is only 39.88 CFM, and I found one, for a much cheaper price, with 3000rpm instead of 1100 and 130cfm instead of the 39.88CFM.
That's why I asked before, what do I need to consider for a good fan?
Rotation Speed? Air flow? Sound Emission?
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 4:04:00 PM
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
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Anonymous
August 9, 2013 4:40:05 PM
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These are better but louder. These are examples, I don't know what is available in Portugal. Also they are 2 packs (2-fans)
arrpee
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Myntekt
August 9, 2013 4:53:14 PM
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These are better but louder. These are examples, I don't know what is available in Portugal. Also they are 2 packs (2-fans)
arrpee
I usually buy them on a german store, but I'm going to buy the fans in a Portuguese one.
I've found a few ones that I think are great, can you check them?
120mm:
1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
140mm:
1 or 2?
0.5 sone = 24.4dba
Choose on of the 120mm and one of the 140mm please
m
0
l
Anonymous
August 9, 2013 6:07:16 PM
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These are better but louder. These are examples, I don't know what is available in Portugal. Also they are 2 packs (2-fans)
arrpee
I usually buy them on a german store, but I'm going to buy the fans in a Portuguese one.
I've found a few ones that I think are great, can you check them?
120mm:
1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
140mm:
1 or 2?
0.5 sone = 24.4dba
Choose on of the 120mm and one of the 140mm please
Any of the fans will work. I personally would use the corsair fans(and i do).
120mm -1
140mm -2
arrpee
m
0
l
Myntekt
August 9, 2013 8:49:14 PM
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These are better but louder. These are examples, I don't know what is available in Portugal. Also they are 2 packs (2-fans)
arrpee
I usually buy them on a german store, but I'm going to buy the fans in a Portuguese one.
I've found a few ones that I think are great, can you check them?
120mm:
1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
140mm:
1 or 2?
0.5 sone = 24.4dba
Choose on of the 120mm and one of the 140mm please
Any of the fans will work. I personally would use the corsair fans(and i do).
120mm -1
140mm -2
arrpee
But both of them have lower CFM and higher dba.. Why should I choose those ones over the others?
m
0
l
Anonymous
August 10, 2013 2:06:02 AM
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
Anonymous said:
Myntekt said:
My second question is, which fans?How do I know it's a good fan?
What should I consider?
I'm thinking of buying fans from the same company as the case, BitFenix.
BitFenix usually as the same model, one with LEDs and other without. I'd like to have the ones with LEDs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
All you need are high airflow fans, not high air pressure fans(these are used for water cooled rads/cpu coolers)
arrpee
By the way, did you actually see all the links?
There are more than one with lesser than 1mmH2O (0.62 to be exact, being the ones that you said 0,5 or something like that).
This two don't say anything about water or cpu cooling:
1
2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
These are better but louder. These are examples, I don't know what is available in Portugal. Also they are 2 packs (2-fans)
arrpee
I usually buy them on a german store, but I'm going to buy the fans in a Portuguese one.
I've found a few ones that I think are great, can you check them?
120mm:
1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
140mm:
1 or 2?
0.5 sone = 24.4dba
Choose on of the 120mm and one of the 140mm please
Any of the fans will work. I personally would use the corsair fans(and i do).
120mm -1
140mm -2
arrpee
But both of them have lower CFM and higher dba.. Why should I choose those ones over the others?
Quality
arrpee
m
0
l
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