Case Fan Direction

[Gummy]

So I have the antec three hundred two, and its a good case. I also have all the case fan slots filled except for the one behind the motherboard. I'm just wondering if I have all the fans in the best possible spots for cooling, and if I have them blowing the most effective direction.The 140mm on  the top blows out, the 120mm on the back/top blows out. The two 120mm's on the front bottom blow in. The 120 on the left near the bottom also blows in (towards the motherboard) and the final slot behind the motherboard is empty. Are these all optimal directions for the fans to be going in? Would it be more effective if for example I took one of my fans off the front and stuck it as an exhaust behind the motherboard? By looking at Antec's website I have them all blowing in the suggested direction but I'm wondering if maybe switching them around a bit would improve cooling or get rid of dust build up etc.

Pics of the case for anyone interested: http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosure-gear_for_gamers/THREE-HUNDRED-TWO/0-761345-15320-1.aspx

[OneGun]

So I have the antec three hundred two, and its a good case. I also have all the case fan slots filled except for the one behind the motherboard. I'm just wondering if I have all the fans in the best possible spots for cooling, and if I have them blowing the most effective direction.The 140mm on  the top blows out, the 120mm on the back/top blows out. The two 120mm's on the front bottom blow in. The 120 on the left near the bottom also blows in (towards the motherboard) and the final slot behind the motherboard is empty. Are these all optimal directions for the fans to be going in? Would it be more effective if for example I took one of my fans off the front and stuck it as an exhaust behind the motherboard? By looking at Antec's website I have them all blowing in the suggested direction but I'm wondering if maybe switching them around a bit would improve cooling or get rid of dust build up etc.

Pics of the case for anyone interested: http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosure-gear_for_gamers/THREE-HUNDRED-TWO/0-761345-15320-1.aspx

Read this bud it will help you out...

http://www.overclock.net/t/1394467/daves-el-cheapo-heatsinks-air-cooling-guide

[threadysparrow]

I would not burn half a calorie doing anything.

 

at that point unless you are doing overclocking then I don't think you really need another fan. I have 2 intake and 2 exhaust fans in my case and my temps are fine. My CPU is overclocked to 4.2 and my GPU is factory overclocked 10%. I have the CM Hyper heatsink on my CPU and the GPU has the stock heatsink and fans.

[rhyseyness]

I would personally also have the top fan blowing in.

This would create more positive air pressure in your case and slow dust buildup.

With respect to cooling, I don't think the direction of your fans will make much difference at all.

In my case I have 4 intake fans (2 top 1 front 1 bottom) and 1 exhaust fan (rear), and I'm yet to have any issues with dust or temperatures

 

EDIT: Threadysparrow is correct though, it will not really make any noticable difference, and may not be worth the effort

[KamiKatze]

The way you arranged them is the best way to do it. You can argue about if the one on the side is necessary, but you have (most likeley) positive air pressure, which is good to provent dust build up.

How did you put in your PSU? Fan up? down? 

[KamiKatze]

I would personally also have the top fan blowing in.

This would create more positive air pressure in your case and slow dust buildup.

With respect to cooling, I don't think the direction of your fans will make much difference at all.

In my case I have 4 intake fans (2 top 1 front 1 bottom) and 1 exhaust fan (rear), and I'm yet to have any issues with dust or temperatures

 

I wouldn't recommend to have the top fan as intake. It's probably not dust filtered and the top is where most of the dust lands on. Also natural convection goes up and out of your case.

[rhyseyness]

@

Good point. In that case, keep the intake as exhaust

[Gummy]

Read this bud it will help you out...

http://www.overclock.net/t/1394467/daves-el-cheapo-heatsinks-air-cooling-guide

Hey that was some really good info, thanks a ton. And it actually makes sense too

 

I would not burn half a calorie doing anything.

 

at that point unless you are doing overclocking then I don't think you really need another fan. I have 2 intake and 2 exhaust fans in my case and my temps are fine. My CPU is overclocked to 4.2 and my GPU is factory overclocked 10%. I have the CM Hyper heatsink on my CPU and the GPU has the stock heatsink and fans.

I now understand why you say that, I found I had all my fans blowing in except for my side case fan which was blowing out (dunno what I was thinking there with this setup). Rearranged them and yeah it made no difference in my temperatures. Oh well it gave me something to do. I have my CPU OC'd to 4ghz and my GPU is also just at the stock factory OC.

 

I would personally also have the top fan blowing in.

This would create more positive air pressure in your case and slow dust buildup.

With respect to cooling, I don't think the direction of your fans will make much difference at all.

In my case I have 4 intake fans (2 top 1 front 1 bottom) and 1 exhaust fan (rear), and I'm yet to have any issues with dust or temperatures

 

EDIT: Threadysparrow is correct though, it will not really make any noticable difference, and may not be worth the effort

I ended up going with all fans blowing in, except for the two on the front blowing out. Keeps me warm in the winter now .

 

The way you arranged them is the best way to do it. You can argue about if the one on the side is necessary, but you have (most likeley) positive air pressure, which is good to provent dust build up.

How did you put in your PSU? Fan up? down? 

PSU fan is down, its the way it was meant to go I have a filter on the bottom of my case so its not eating up tons of dust.

 

I wouldn't recommend to have the top fan as intake. It's probably not dust filtered and the top is where most of the dust lands on. Also natural convection goes up and out of your case.

Huh, never thought of this. Oh well I have a dusty house and it seems no matter what direction the fans are going it gets dusty. Front of the case looked terribad with two fans sucking in, was always coated in a layer of dust. Just cleaned it out so hopefully it'll last a while.