Airflow Questions

[Terrapin]

I have the Cooler Master RC690 (the first one, not the new one with the black insides)

I keep getting a problem where my game freezes then like spills down, then my computer resets. I think that it was overheating because I noticed my rear fan was not spinning but my question now is for proper airflow how should I have the fans configured?

I have 2 on top, 1 in the back, 2 in the sides and 2 in the front with a empty fan spot for one at the bottom.

What is the best way to have these fans set up? 3 of them are variable speed fans but from what I can piece together is that I should have all fans be intake fans EXCEPT for the one rear and possibly the sidepanel ones.

Thanks for your help, long time Hard browser, first time poster.

 

[hiodie]

I would set the front and sides as intakes and the back and top as exhausts. Depends on your fans, but I also try to keep a positive pressure (i.e. more intake than exhaust) to help cut down on dust (using filters).

 

[silent-circuit]

Positive pressure generally gives you better dust avoidance. Negative pressure generally gives you better cooling but sucks dust in. I try for a balance.

With that config, I'd go 2 front intake, 2 side intake, 2 top exhaust, 1 rear exhaust, have the CPU fans exhausting toward the rear fan or top, doesn't really matter, just whichever way it is currently situated in line with. You could add a bottom fan as additional intake if you want (assuming it's filtered -- I wouldn't have an unfiltered intake on the bottom of the case, it'll suck up dust bad) to get a little bit of positive pressure and hopefully

This also has the benefit of having airflow move in a roughly front to back, bottom to top configuration which is in line with how heat moves / rises naturally, so that should help at least a little with cooling. Video cards generally exhaust hot air at least partially out of the PCI/PCIe slots, so you don't want to have any fans pulling in air from above them, since this is just pulling heat back in to the case.

EDIT: Pretty much what was said above (while I was writing ) but with a little more detail.

 

[ChocoFish]

Yep what they said, just try to balance it out and it'll reduce the heat greatly

 

[limitedaccess]

You should probably use some sort of temperature monitoring program (realtemp, coretemp, etc.) to pinpoint whether this is the problem for certain. Then check the heatsink of the component you are using to make sure it is mounted properly, the TIM does not need to be reapplied, and/or that its fan is working.

Overheating or instability when you still have 6 other 120mm fans going could indicate another issue.

 

[coconutboy]

You should probably use some sort of temperature monitoring program (realtemp, coretemp, etc.) to pinpoint whether this is the problem for certain. Then check the heatsink of the component you are using to make sure it is mounted properly, the TIM does not need to be reapplied, and/or that its fan is working.

Overheating or instability when you still have 6 other 120mm fans going could indicate another issue.

Aye. And do the above ASAP, because if it your problems aren't temp related, they might be PSU related and frying any/all of your computer ain't fun. I've been there.

 

[Terrapin]

I am about 90% sure its not overheating I think I have bad drivers for my 7600 GS because every time I reboot after a failure Windows says that Video Drivers are to blame but I've wiped drivers twice and reinstalled so I think my card is dying.

I really appreciate all the help though guys! Just one last question, if I do front and side intake and top and rear as exhaust which way should I have my fan on the heatsink positioned?

I have a Q6700 and CoreTemp is around 37C high with a 26C low at the same time under internet browsing and under gaming it hits around 40 so I don't think I have any overheating issues now.

Also one more, is putting bounce sheets like dust filters a bad idea? I figure my room would smell a bit more pleasant.