Advice on fan direction

[HiJon89]

I'm putting together a new build and I'm trying to figure out what direction all the fans should face. I have a rear 140mm fan (this Corsair one, 1,200RPM, 66CFM listed), a front 230mm fan (this Bitfenix one, 900RPM, 156CFM listed), and a top mounted radiator with two 120mm fans (medium Yates, 1,650RPM, 70CFM listed).

The options that come to mind are:

1. 230mm front intake, other 3 fans exhaust
2. 230mm front intake, 140mm rear intake, top two fans exhaust
3. top two fans intake, 230mm front exhaust, 140mm rear exhaust
4. top two fans instake, 140mm rear intake, 230mm front exhaust

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Dumo]

How are you?

[Daveburt714]

I had this same question with a 3x120 rad in the top of a Corsair 800D...
The best solution for me was to use the RAD fans as intakes (with filters OFC), and to use the case fans as exhausts.
Pulling cool (outside) air across the rad was the better option in my case...

Here's a pic:


Using an AMD 9370, the end result netted me ~50mhz more clock, and lowered temps ~5c across the board.
This included PWM,NB,mobo and video card temps...

YMMV, but I've found this to be the best setup in my case!

I used these filters, they're fairly easy to clean without tearing a bunch of stuff apart. Four screws from the top and your good to go...
http://www.microcenter.com/product/3...num_Fan_Filter

Good luck with you mods bro, but this worked well for me!

[WiSK]

1. 230mm front intake, other 3 fans exhaust
2. 230mm front intake, 140mm rear intake, top two fans exhaust
3. top two fans intake, 230mm front exhaust, 140mm rear exhaust
4. top two fans instake, 140mm rear intake, 230mm front exhaust

Anyone have any suggestions?

Other people have different rig than you, and can offer only anecdotal results. So you know, the best thing is to try all combinations yourself. Then you know for sure

[[XC] Lead Head]

If you can help it, try to have slightly more intake air flow, then exhaust air flow. If your case has more exhaust than intake, it will suck dust into each and every gap in your case, and make it look awful. Ask me how I know.

[HiJon89]

Thanks for the tips, I think I'll go with option 4 as it pulls cold air through the radiator and maintains a positive case pressure to prevent dust buildup

[csimon]

Thanks for the tips, I think I'll go with option 4 as it pulls cold air through the radiator and maintains a positive case pressure to prevent dust buildup

Not knowing the pfm or static pressure of the fans I would guess that arrangement #2 would be best all around. I see that as keeping the system as a whole cooler. Maybe even dedicate another fan to the VRM area. You could try each and document temps to share.