Installing additional fans in Fractal design define R4

HomeGrownHeroz

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So today I am finally building my machine with these following components.

Corsair CML16GX3M2A1600C10 Vengeance Low Profile 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 Mhz
Asus Z97-PRO MoBo
Intel Core i7 4790K
CMASTER HYPER 212 EVO Cooler
Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache
Gigabyte GTX 770 OC 2GB GDDR5 7000MHz Dual-DVI HDMI Displayport PCI-E Graphics Card
Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

My question is, from an old build I have 3 x Corsair AF120 LED Blue Quiet Edition High Airflow 120mm Fan Twin Pack. Is it worth installing these into the new build and if so, where are they best placed and what fans should be intake and exhaust fans.

Thanks

Sam :)
 
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20salmon

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What case do you have? There are three principles to keep in mind when it comes to setting up your fans:

1. Heat rises, so you don't want an intake fan placed so it sucks in hot exhaust from elswhere.
2. You want more intake than exhaust.
3. Use dust filters over all intake fans.

The corsair fans are pretty good, probably better than whatever came with your new case.
 

HomeGrownHeroz

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Its the Fractal design define R4 case. As stock the case has a fan at the back and one at the front. Would it be worthwhile adding another fan to the front as an intake and then possibly another fan for exhaust to the top of the case.

My psu fan is facing downwards btw in the case. Where would an ideal to have a third intake fan if necessary. Although I dont have any additional dust filters so may have to just have 2 exhaust and 2 intake or would it better just to have the one exhaust on the back for now?
 

20salmon

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I would replace the stock fans with your corsair fans. Face the 212 EVO so it blows the air towards the rear. Put one exhaust in the rear, one intake in the front and one intake in the top (use the top fan slot that is closest to the front so you don't suck in hot exhaust). You can get fan filters pretty cheap on the internet. It's not a "must have" but it makes getting rid of dust easier during your anual dust clean-up.

Another alternative, if you want to utilize more fans, would be to have two intake fans in the front, exhaust in the back and one exhaust in the top.
 
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HomeGrownHeroz

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I'll probably go with the alternative suggestion to use more fans. Now this may well be a silly question but I'm over cautious as this is my first build myself without help, which direction should the fan face to depend on whether it is used as in intake or exhaust?
 

20salmon

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The side on which you can see the wire going into the center of the fan is the exhaust side. There is usually a sticker on there too, or an arrow somewhere on the frame which points in the direction the fan blows.

An easy way to test is to hook up the fan, turn on the computer and hold a piece of paper in front of the fan.