Case air flow, am i doing it wrong?

rainisthename · 08-09-2009, 09:31 PM

Okay I have a raidmax smilidon.

it has 1 120mm intake on the front
1 120mm intake on the back
1 80mm intake on the side
1 80mm exhaust on the side
1 80mm intake on the other side

the case came like this so what is the best setting for optimal air flow?

Phædrus2401 · 08-10-2009, 01:03 AM

Generally the rule is air comes in the front/bottom and leaves through the back/top. With side fans, if they're low down, around where your GPU is, they should be intake, if they're up by your CPU they should be outtake. Exception is fans behind your motherboard tray, those should probably blow in.

So I think your case setup should probably be good, assuming the top side fan is outtake and bottom side fan is intake.

rainisthename · 08-10-2009, 02:09 AM

Haha yeah, that is how my fan's are setup. I guess I AM doing it right!
Thanks alot

Phædrus2401 · 08-10-2009, 08:11 AM

No problem, hope it works for ya'.

**Tyree** · 08-10-2009, 09:08 AM

1 80mm intake on the side
1 80mm exhaust on the side
That would seem to cause a negative flow of air.
My rule of thumb: Front blowing in--Rear and Top blowing out.
I've never noticed any benefits of side case fans in a well designed case.

**pat mcgroin** · 08-10-2009, 09:21 AM

I usually try to make sure that the exhaust moves more air than the intake if and when possible.
There is usually enough openings in the case where extra air can enter from.

mrErick · 08-10-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pat mcgroin

I usually try to make sure that the exhaust moves more air than the intake if and when possible.
There is usually enough openings in the case where extra air can enter from.

But doesn't that create a small vacuum inside the case, and suck in dusty/dirty air through any available crack in the case housing? I would think if anything you would want to have more air being pushed in than pulled out, so that there is a slight level of pressure in the case, repelling the dust...

I'm a complete rookie to modding though, as seen by my post count. Just a factoid I picked up from another forum/thread somewhere along the way.

Either way best of luck!

**pat mcgroin** · 08-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Its going to pick up dust no matter what you do.
I have always been of the mind that if there is more airflow out then yes it will suck in air from other places but that it was more important to remove the heat by having good circulation than it is to cram the case full of hot air that has no where to go.

Phædrus2401 · 08-10-2009, 02:23 PM

To have positive pressure you must have intake fans, so you're still sucking in dust.

**Tyree** · 08-11-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phædrus2401

To have positive pressure you must have intake fans, so you're still sucking in dust.

Heat and electricity draw dust .....no way around it.

chowder_pants · 08-11-2009, 01:14 PM

You mentioned that there is only 1 exhaust fan. I would turn that rear mounted 120 into an exhaust personaly.

08-09-2009, 09:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
rainisthename Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Coast Posts: 31 OS: Window 7 RC x64	Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? Okay I have a raidmax smilidon. it has 1 120mm intake on the front 1 120mm intake on the back 1 80mm intake on the side 1 80mm exhaust on the side 1 80mm intake on the other side the case came like this so what is the best setting for optimal air flow? __________________ Mobo: EP45-UD3P CPU: E8400 RAM: 2x2gig ddr2 1066 G skill GPU: visiontek HD 4850

08-10-2009, 01:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,820 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? Generally the rule is air comes in the front/bottom and leaves through the back/top. With side fans, if they're low down, around where your GPU is, they should be intake, if they're up by your CPU they should be outtake. Exception is fans behind your motherboard tray, those should probably blow in. So I think your case setup should probably be good, assuming the top side fan is outtake and bottom side fan is intake. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-10-2009, 02:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
rainisthename Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Coast Posts: 31 OS: Window 7 RC x64	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? Haha yeah, that is how my fan's are setup. I guess I AM doing it right! Thanks alot __________________ Mobo: EP45-UD3P CPU: E8400 RAM: 2x2gig ddr2 1066 G skill GPU: visiontek HD 4850

08-10-2009, 08:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,820 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? No problem, hope it works for ya'. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-10-2009, 09:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,629 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? 1 80mm intake on the side 1 80mm exhaust on the side That would seem to cause a negative flow of air. My rule of thumb: Front blowing in--Rear and Top blowing out. I've never noticed any benefits of side case fans in a well designed case. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

08-10-2009, 09:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 603 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? I usually try to make sure that the exhaust moves more air than the intake if and when possible. There is usually enough openings in the case where extra air can enter from.

08-10-2009, 01:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 603 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? Its going to pick up dust no matter what you do. I have always been of the mind that if there is more airflow out then yes it will suck in air from other places but that it was more important to remove the heat by having good circulation than it is to cram the case full of hot air that has no where to go.

08-10-2009, 02:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,820 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? To have positive pressure you must have intake fans, so you're still sucking in dust. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-11-2009, 01:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
chowder_pants Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 171 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Case air flow, am i doing it wrong? You mentioned that there is only 1 exhaust fan. I would turn that rear mounted 120 into an exhaust personaly.