fan placement - side panels

[velker]

Hi, I'm buying a window with a 120mm fan mount in it and was wondering whether to put the fan on intake or exhaust. I have a few other 80mm fans that can be placed anywhere in the case. I was also wondering if a window on the TOP panel with a fan would be worth it and what i would have that one set to? My problem is airflow with fans in the sides and top. Should I have the front bottom ones intake the side intake and the back exhaust?

[Alienware_Dude]

Personally, I would put the side fan as intake. If you got a fan in a top window, you'd put that to exhaust. Where is the 120mm fan mount situated? Blowing air on the CPU? PCI? AGP?

[Cricket]

Hi velker,

Unless you're overclocking really heavily, I would think twice about installing too many fans in your case.

A few carefully placed fans will probably do a better job of keeping the temps under control than installing lots of fans all over the case with little regard to airflows.

Plus more fans means more noise.

:) Cricket

[mattg2k4]

Usually side fans do best as intakes, but I would highly recomend testing it in both directions.

Start the computer, go into bios, check temps for roughly 1 hour to let them level out to idle temp. Switch direction, repeat.

[cuffs007]

I agree w/Cricket... too many fans can have the opposite affect of what you intend... Keeping a solid, positive airflow is all you need... and basic usage can stand an exhaust fan in the back with one intake fan in the front... a good heatsink/fan for the cpu is a must also... Save the money and get just a couple of fans with the neon lites... :)

Good luck