Airflow question

linkin

linkin

VIP Member
Okay, currently i am using the default fan setup in my CM Storm Scout. The fans work like this, with none on the side panel:

Airflow1.png


Note that the PSU doesn't give any air to anything else in the case. the air coming out the back of it is room temp, even at load.

So, my question is, would this configuration be any better:

Airflow2.png


I've heard that having more intake fans than outtake is better because it means that dust isn't getting sucked in through other gaps in the case. something to do with positive/negative air pressure(?)

The case gets pretty dusty pretty quick and I usually have to clean it out every month.
 
I'd think it depends on which direction your CPU fan blows. My last case had an identical layout. CPU fan exhausted toward the rear fan. I tried the top fan first as exhaust then as intake. It ran quite a bit cooler with the top fan as intake providing cool air just in front of the CPU cooler. If your CPU cooler exhausts toward the top then I'd bet you best layout would be as you propose. Rear fan intake and top fan exhaust.
 
Hmm... you'd think hot air rises wouldn't you? my cooler is a Zalma CNPS 7000AlCu - nothing special, the fan is pointing downwards onto the cpu.
 
I agree, first is better. You want the air flow to be moving in one direction, in your second scenario air from the back and front would be colliding.
 
Or just get a high CFM fan for the front. Most cases usually have more then one fan in the front though.
 
Don't have the rear fan blow in, it'll push air back into your heatsink. Exactly what are you trying to achieve with this new scheme? If anything, you should buy a new heatsink as yours is a rather old model made for much cooler CPUs.
 
Yeah. But I'm a poor high school student with no munnies :P

The heatsink i got originally with my E4400, so it was sufficient. It's winter here now, and prime95 temps only go up to 56c max after a good hour or two.
 
linkin said:
Yeah. But I'm a poor high school student with no munnies :P

The heatsink i got originally with my E4400, so it was sufficient. It's winter here now, and prime95 temps only go up to 56c max after a good hour or two.
Click to expand...

Then I would just keep it the way it was. With that heatsink you definitely want negative pressure around the CPU area.
 
What about having the top and top left fan intake and the front fan exhaust? The HDDs don't need all that much airflow on them, so a pull would be perfect near them. Your CPU would have fresh air from two directions, too. Obviously, heat has a tendency to rise, but this property would be almost ignored with the airflow going this way...
 
ScottALot said:
What about having the top and top left fan intake and the front fan exhaust? The HDDs don't need all that much airflow on them, so a pull would be perfect near them. Your CPU would have fresh air from two directions, too. Obviously, heat has a tendency to rise, but this property would be almost ignored with the airflow going this way...
Click to expand...

But that'll just push all the air being expelled from the CPU right back at it.
 
All of the fan placement theory in the world we can throw at you won't mean anything if you test the temps before and after and prove us wrong. I'd say do some before/after temp experiments. The lowest temp configuration is the goal, not the most logical sounding one in theory.

But then again, there is some logic in being logical about it.
 
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