PC Case Fan Placement Help.....Too Many Fans? Too Little? Chaser A-31 Case

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RunDougRun

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Jul 2, 2013
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I’ve posted another thread in the overclocking forum but wanted to ask a specific question about my case and the fan set up……I’m currently trying to achieve a better overclock and might need to switch out the cooler….Anyways, there is so much debate about “Positive and Negative” airflow and I’ve looked at the guides on this site as well as looked up other information…..I just keep going back and forth and I’m not an experienced builder…..Can you give me some feedback? Do I have TOO many fans?

Chaser A-31
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/store/Product.aspx?C=1014&ID=2084
Cooler Master 120mm Sickle Flow (Front of Case) (Intake) x2
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-SickleFlow-120-Radiators/dp/B0026ZPFCK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409615828&sr=1-1&keywords=cooler+master+sickleflow
Noctua NF-S12A 120mm (Top of Case) (Exhaust) x2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEZKX8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
ThermalTake 120mm (Bottom) (Intake) and (Rear) (Exhaust)
http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Dual-Bearing-Cooling-AF0060/dp/B005ISB6DO/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409616014&sr=1-11&keywords=thermaltake+fan
 
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chris_shadez
Upgrading to get an Evo 212? i suspect you have stock cooler still =(
As I said, ultimately the individual component coolers will make the biggest difference, The evo would make a significant difference in temps especially if it really is stock cooler at the moment,
The case fans will aid the temps of the component coolers but only a few degrees if anything but seems your case is sorted, just need the cpu cooler changed.
As above, will be pretty easy to install an evo212, even for a first timer and if you don't have the case fans linked to a PWM hub, then they will all be running at full RPM. You may want to consider the PWM controller option to reduce speeds, as they're not helpful much right now, so to reduce unnecessary fan noise...
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chris_shadez

chris_shadez

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When trying to push overclocks, no that is not too much, though the best temps/oc would be achieved from the cpu/gpu coolers themselves.

As you mentioned, negative/positive/equal pressure airflow is highly debated and in terms of cooling performance, pretty much the same, would expect 1-2C at most.
Positive is generally preferred when dust is a bigger issue, but a dust filtering is a better solution for that etc....

Assuming the bottom intake is for your psu?
+1 on the noctua fan =) Would rather have the dual noctua's as intakes, swap them with the CoolerMasters. Reason being that they are the best performance fans, as well as just performance-silence.
Better intake fans would help more than better exhaust fans (if you would agree noctua perform better than the CM)

Top fans can be either exhaust or intake, try monitoring temps making them intake instead and compare temps to the current configuration of exhaust. Maybe cooler component temps can be achieved if the tops were intake, so blowing more air onto the cpu cooler and rest of the components.
 
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chris_shadez

chris_shadez

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Best not to suggest which pressure type is better... In a Poll thread here, out of 679 votes, it's near equal, with negative winning by 1% of votes lol, which is my preferred too fyi =) but lets not debate that here
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/238184-31-case-airflow-positive-negative-pressure

Ultimately, it will be your individual component coolers which will make the most difference, or any difference worthy of a notable OC. Better invest in a better CPU/GPU cooler than load +20 case fans, more cooling performance for money too, compared to any more case fans than you currently have.
Assuming it is the CPU regarding the overclock, which cooler are you using?
 
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RunDougRun

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The bottom is completely screened/meshed with a removable filter...Enough space for the PSU Fan and 1 Intake fan.....I will try your suggestion of switching the fans around......
What if I move ALL the fans to exhaust except for 1 intake??? or vice versa.....ALL intake and 1 exhaust? I'm not too concerned about dust as I usually open the case at least once a month to remove all of the dust filters and make sure everything is nice looking.

 
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chris_shadez

chris_shadez

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Out of those options, Definitely all intake, 1 exhaust which is almost always rear, reason being it's aligned with cpu which pumps the most heat output

Personally, In a Phanteks Enthoo Pro, i saw better cooling with top changed to intake rather than as exhaust they were originally at, maybe because more air was getting to the D15 faster/in more quantity(cfm)

In the same principle, It's good to have a mid/lower front intake fan because it blows directly over your GPU which will gain more cooling and receive air faster etc

You may see a likeable difference or may not, doesn't cost anything so should just try it and find out
 
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RunDougRun

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I've tried every which way....Intake....Exhaust......Different models in different areas....The Temps are about the same.....I'm starting to think I got either a BAD CPU, or I need to redo thermal paste.....I'm doing that here in a few hours......

If the thermal paste doesn't help, I'm going to get another cooler (Evo 212)....However, I hear these things are a pain to install.....I've never really broken down a PC. Most I've done so far is install case fans lol.



 
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kira70591

kira70591

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What kind of cooler are you using currently? The Hyper 212 Evo is no more hard to install than many other aftermarket coolers. As long as you have a motherboard cutout for the CPU it is very easy to install. I am currently using one and it works great.

As for fan placement, people generally have front intakes, bottom intake, side intake or exhaust depending on your GPU configuration, top exhaust, and back exhaust. If you are worried about it you can always just fill out your case and call it a day. I use all Corsair SP120 Quiet Edition fans with Silverstone PWM fan splitters so that my motherboard can control all of them. Another advantage or having more fans is that you can run all of them at a lower RPM which will allow them to be even more quiet while still attaining a suitable amount of air flow.
 
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chris_shadez

chris_shadez

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Upgrading to get an Evo 212? i suspect you have stock cooler still =(
As I said, ultimately the individual component coolers will make the biggest difference, The evo would make a significant difference in temps especially if it really is stock cooler at the moment,
The case fans will aid the temps of the component coolers but only a few degrees if anything but seems your case is sorted, just need the cpu cooler changed.
As above, will be pretty easy to install an evo212, even for a first timer and if you don't have the case fans linked to a PWM hub, then they will all be running at full RPM. You may want to consider the PWM controller option to reduce speeds, as they're not helpful much right now, so to reduce unnecessary fan noise which you may be experiencing.
 
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