Case Air Flow

[next-apex]

I am almost ready to get my new build going.

Current Fan Layout->
1x 120mm Exhaust fan (REAR)
1x 140mm Exhaust fan (TOP)

1x 200mm Intake Fan (SIDE)
2x 120mm Intake fans (FRONT)

Case - Thermaltake element t

any ideas for improving this layout?

will this setup be negative or positive pressure > ?

thankyou

[David M]

I don't think it needs any improving. What graphics cards do you have? What is the power of your PSU?

What you have is plenty adequate for any setup. My computer in my signature has less ventilation and works fine.

[next-apex]

750w PSU

Gigabyte GTX560ti

i7 960 CPU

corsair A70 CPU cooler

Should i get a fan controller? Are they worth the hassle? (2/3 of my fans already have 3 speed switches.) but easy control would be nice...

((i am looking at slight OC but not water cooling.))

THANKS

[David M]

Fan controllers are nice for running case fans at slower speeds which can make your computer quieter.

I would try what you have first. You can always buy more later.

[next-apex]

i have been reading and researching, and some say a side fan will disturb the natural front to back/top airflow i already have.

is the side fan a good idea? exaust or intake?

any thoughts?

[Sourtop]

The side fan is mainly for blowing cool air on your motherboard (and any components attached to it) so it should be an intake fan.

[David M]

There is no laminar flow inside a computer case. It's all disturbed air. Don't worry about it. I think you are worrying too much about adequate cooling. You don't know this for sure until you take your case temperatures with your computer under a load.

Also, your case is only capable of getting as hot as the wattage of your PSU and you do not have a large PSU.

[glc]

I have NEVER needed 5 fans in ANY case.

[jdeb]

2-140's in the front and 1-120 in the rear is even overkill. This case has superb air flow for what it is worth. I can not say enough about this case.

Newegg.com - LIAN LI Lancool First Knight Series PC-K59W Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

[Orionbelt21]

Assuming that cable management is not a problem, and that keeping most components dust free in a regular basis is a practice, 5 fans is more than enough. I know because I had the same interrogant a few yrs ago, and did various configurations with 4 fans (1front, 2 rear, 1 side) I used a CFM meter, and thermocouples to mesure temps in severals areas of the mobo and case. My findings were not much different in terms of negative vs. positive presuress and average temperatures taken in 3 different configurations....were at best 3-5 degrees apart. not significant for a normal use of a PC, that is if you are a Video editor or overclock. just my .02cents

[ice_top]

Dust has been the biggest problem for me.
But I regularly blow out the dust. If you miss one of your regular cleanings,
lower performance and higher temps are setting in.

I have 3 120mm fans, not counting the PSU, GPU, and CPU. - Plenty enough
for my rig. Everything works great unless I slack on the dusting...
Due in a week or so.

[David M]

Get air filters over all your inlet fans and make it a positive pressure case so dust cannot come in through the cracks in the case. It is easier to change out filters than it is to blow out a case.