Newbie Question - Case Fans, where intake, where exhaust

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justinf10000

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Feb 25, 2016
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I did do some research but I have a couple of questions if you guys don't mind :)

So my case is Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01 RED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139041

It has
1 back 120mm spot
2 front 120mm/140mm spots
2 top 120mm spots

Now my questions:

1. Why does it say 120/140mm for the front? Does this mean it fits both sizes? And if that is true, wouldn't the 140 be the obvious choice? Or does it mean 1 can be 120 and 1 can be 140 or both can be 120 but both cant be 140?

2. How do I setup my Intake/Exhaust? Do i make both the front and back fans intake, and make the top exhaust? I've looked this up and some sites recommend the side and top as exhaust, but I don't have any 'side' spots?

3. I have a CPU cooler already installed that points to the top of the case (exhausts out the top spots), so would that mean I would automatically want both top fans to be exhaust as well?

4. If i add another fan to the CPU cooler radiator (it has 1 so far), how should that be set up? Should both be exhaust or should 1 be pulling air in and the other exhaust?

5. My temps seem pretty fine without any fans installed so far (excluding the CPU cooler), so are these fans just mainly to keep dust/etc out?


Thanks guys :)
 
Solution
Mr Kagouris
1) It can fit either two 140mm fans, two 120mm fans, or one 140mm and one 120mm. And yes 140mm is the better choice as they move more air, it just supports both sizes as people might want to mount AIO coolers in the front and those are mostly 120/240mm.

2) Both front fans intake, one rear exhaust is all you need.

3) Yes, keep both fans as exhaust.

4) Assuming you mean that you have a dual-rad AIO (240mm) then yes 2 fans set to exhaust is the best you can do.

5) Case fans are mostly useful to circulate air. When you have stuff like 2-4 GPUs installed the air in the case can heat up rather quickly without good airflow, which can negatively affect cooling. With only 1 GPU though you have nothing to worry about.
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Mr Kagouris

Mr Kagouris

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Sep 7, 2015
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1) It can fit either two 140mm fans, two 120mm fans, or one 140mm and one 120mm. And yes 140mm is the better choice as they move more air, it just supports both sizes as people might want to mount AIO coolers in the front and those are mostly 120/240mm.

2) Both front fans intake, one rear exhaust is all you need.

3) Yes, keep both fans as exhaust.

4) Assuming you mean that you have a dual-rad AIO (240mm) then yes 2 fans set to exhaust is the best you can do.

5) Case fans are mostly useful to circulate air. When you have stuff like 2-4 GPUs installed the air in the case can heat up rather quickly without good airflow, which can negatively affect cooling. With only 1 GPU though you have nothing to worry about.
 
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Solution
Ryan_78

Ryan_78

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Jan 17, 2016
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1. yes it does support both fan sizes. yes a 140mm would be a better choice, but you would have to buy them. you have to buy fans for that case. look at the price difference between 120mm vs 140mm though.
2. from intake and back/top exhaust is traditional. front intake is usually more powerful, more cfm than back to create positive air pressure that reduces dust. only some have side spots and are usually used for intake actually, for SLI or CF GPUs. http://s10.postimg.org/c65rhob49/cpu_project_new.jpg good airflow case.
3. yes you would want that. it would help you exhust air, but wouldn't it pull form the GPU area? consider having it horizontal airflow instead.
4. if you have 2 on the cooler, do a push/pull config. mind you the fans have to be equal CFm and static pressure. the one inside is pushing through and the one outside the rad is pull.
5. no they are used for creating more airflow when the components are under stress. it brings in cold air and properly exhausts warm air
 
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J

justinf10000

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Thanks for answering all my questions, i appreciate it!!

One more question if you don't mind. Can you recommend any fans in particular? I don't want to spend a ton of money on these. I was looking at these http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-SickleFlow-120-Radiators/dp/B0046U6DTC?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_4&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

but i've read some really bad reviews about them. Ideally i'd like red LED case fans (120mm) for the top and the back, and just whatever 140mm for the front (doesn't have to be LED).

But again if LED = performance is way worse, i don't really care if its LED or not that much.
 
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J

justinf10000

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Ryan thanks for your response also! Wish i could pick 2 best answers!

Also, you both said opposite things for the cooler on the CPU. should it be 2x exhaust or 1x exhaust and 1x intake? Now i am confused :D
 
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J

justinf10000

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Feb 25, 2016
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Thank you. So I should only add 1 top fan instead of 2? The CPU cooler fan points to the top but there is enough room to add a fan above it as well.
 
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J

justinf10000

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Feb 25, 2016
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Thanks, i will grab these then
 
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