Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > [Solved] Which bay to put hard drive in for best cooling/circulation?

[Solved] Which bay to put hard drive in for best cooling/circulation?

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Which bay to put hard drive in for best cooling/circulation?

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Best answer from psycho sykes.

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I'm working on my new build and have an air flow / cooling question. The hard drive bays at the front of the PC are behind an optional fan. I'm putting in a 120mm fan for intake. There are 6 internal 3.5" bays behind the fan. I'm putting in one WD Black 640GB drive. Is there an optimal bay to put the drive in for best air flow and cooling? What if I add a second HDD? If I do it will likely be 6-12 months.

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It took me 7 edits!
Somewhere between the bottom and the middle of the fan. Not by counting the bays.
So just leave the bigger share of the "untouched" air at the top.
Sorry for English..

Depending on the fan position it might be like this:

``````````````````````'`````|''''''|``<--
```````````````````````'````|``|``<--
`'``````````````````````````|``|``<--
|'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''|``````'|``|``<--
|```````````````````'''|``````|``|``<--
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''``````'|__|``<--
````^ HDD```````````````````^ Fan
Sorry for the bad post way :lol:

Medo

Message edited by psycho sykes on 09-27-2009 at 02:06:09 AM

------------------------------ -Medo Egyptian
"Simplicity is a mix of complexity."
Reply to psycho sykes

It depends a bit on your case configuration. I try to place my HD where it will have the least impact on the intake airflow. Usually that's the highest HD bay.

Reply to dirtmountain

The front intake fan is supposed to cool the HDD a bit while "taking the cool air" into the case. That's why i suggested the above.

------------------------------ -Medo Egyptian
"Simplicity is a mix of complexity."
Reply to psycho sykes

Medo, I like the picture. But I can't tell exactly what you're recommending. Are you suggesting put it in the lowest bay? Or somewhere between the bottom and the middle?

Reply to ekoostik

Best answer

It took me 7 edits!
Somewhere between the bottom and the middle of the fan. Not by counting the bays.
So just leave the bigger share of the "untouched" air at the top.
Sorry for English..

------------------------------ -Medo Egyptian
"Simplicity is a mix of complexity."
Reply to psycho sykes

The pic looks great. That was what I thought you meant. Just wanted to be sure.

Thanks to both of you for the response. I'll test a couple setups.

Reply to ekoostik

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[Solved] Which bay to put hard drive in for best cooling/circulation?

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Which bay to put hard drive in for best cooling/circulation?