Best direction for cpu fan

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graydust153

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Apr 4, 2018
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I picked up a dell optiplex 7010 that had a i5 using the stock cooler it’s keeping it at a descant temp but the 1060 I installed will overheat if using more the 50% usage I was thinking of sticking in a t4 cpu cooler to drop cpu noise down but I was wondering if placement can help gpu temps say have it facing up where it’s pulling the heat from the bottom up to the psu and the psu is the export or have it facing sides and strate out the back
 
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luckymatt42

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May 23, 2018
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Unless you have a very odd case configuration, typically the best is for the cpu fan to be blowing towards the back of the case. You may also need to install/upgrade any front intake fans, and same for your exhaust fan. It may be that heat is building up inside the case, which would be helped by good front intake and rear exhaust.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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You absolutely don't want the CPU cooler to have to use the heat from the GPU card to try and cool. Front to rear, always, on CPU coolers. And then, out the back by way of the rear exhaust fan. If you have heat problems with the GPU card then you either need to add fans to your current case or get a case that will support the motherboard you have and allows you to add more case fans.

Two intake and two exhaust are pretty much standard these days if you want things to stay fairly cool.

If you have an old system with a top mounted power supply, you really need to to look at upgrade options as those haven't been used for MANY years and that design severely limits what kind of cooling you can add without doing some moderate to severe modifications to the case.
 
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william p

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Sep 22, 2010
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You don't want to get involved in a Dell MB swap if you can help it. I would try an Antec expansion slot blower to pull some cool air past the GPU air intake.
Or add an inatke fan to get some positive fressure in the case so the GPU can get some air. The way it is the GPU is in a dead zone for air flow.
 
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luckymatt42

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May 23, 2018
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Without seeing the case, there may already be places to attach fans...the case didn't come with any, but it may still have the necessary frame/holes where you'd attach a fan or two.

Any way you can take the front grill off and maybe take a pic? (But yes, if you can afford it probably best to upgrade)
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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Actually, taking a picture of the motherboard layout inside the case, the top of the case, the front of the case and the bottom inside of the case would be helpful. William is right, if that is a proprietary Dell motherboard, it's probably not going to fit a standard ATX or micro-ATX form factor case.

Of course, anything CAN be done, with enough modification, but adding cooling to the existing case it probably the easiest and cheapest recipe for solving your thermal issues. In fact, simply popping a hole in the side panel somewhere depending on the internal configuration, and mounting a fan there along with a cheap grill cover might be all it really needs.

I've done some pretty in depth modifications to those old style cases, and they CAN be made to flow a lot better than they do by design, but it's also going to require some time, patience and tools to do it. If you don't have, or have access to, either a dremel tool, 1.4" die grinder with a cutoff wheel, very large bi-metal holesaw or a really good jigsaw with a new blade, plus a drill and bits, and probably some sandpaper and spray paint, then it's going to be near impossible to do a good job. If you have any one of those tools though, it can be done.
 
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william p

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The usual complication with later ATX Dells is non standard wiring and pinouts for the front panel and power switch, plus proprietary diagnostic LEDs mixed in there. The Optiplexes were office computers and GPUs were an afterthought to a large extent. The older BTX ones used a single large intake fan that pressurized the whole system and all you had to do was provide vents for the air to go out where it needed to.
 
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