Best heatsink position?

[computernewb]

hi. Currently i have my heatsink positioned so that the fan blows upward (my reasoning is that since hot air rises, it might push the hot air out faster). However i get the feeling most people have it blowing towards the rear. Which position is optimal for good air flow?

p.s i have a cooler master haf 912 case.

thanks!

 

[e56imfg]

It depends on your preference. Tell us which heatsink you're using and we could help you out.

Most people exhaust out of the rear so that it doesn't screw up the air flow in their case.

 

[computernewb]

i use the cooler master hyper tx3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

is my heatsink position restricting good airflow intake from the front of my case?

 

[e56imfg]

Which GPU do you have? The CPU cooler's main job is to keep the CPU cool, not exhaust hot air. If you have a blower-style fan on your GPU, your CPU cooler is taking in that hot air from your GPU.

Have it pointing toward the rear so that it takes in fresh air from the front of the case.

Does the 912 have removable HDD cages? If so, remove a unused HDD cage so that the air flow can go directly to the GPU and CPU.

 

[computernewb]

i have this gpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103197

yea the 912 has removable cage. i positioned it so it doesnt block the air intake.

alright i think im going to reposition my heatsink

 

[e56imfg]

i have this gpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103197

yea the 912 has removable cage. i positioned it so it doesnt block the air intake.

alright i think im going to reposition my heatsink

Looks like a AMD reference design model. AMD fans are blower style...

Just experiment until you get the results you like.

 

[geofelt]

There is no real difference.

The idea of the orientation is to direct the heated air from the cooler out of the case directly.
In your case, that can be either up or out the rear to equal effect.

If you do not have a top exhaust vent, then the only good orientation is to the rear.

 

[jsc]

I have my cooler oriented vertically to take advantage on the large fan at the top of my Antec 900 cases. I plan on tearing down one of my systems and experimenting one of these days, but there is no hurry.

I have three highly overclocked Intel Core2 systems and they have all reached CPU core speed limits without exceeding Intel's recommended voltage or thermal limits.