Case Air Flow

[justasomeone]

Hi [H], just got done installing some fans in my case and was wondering which method would be best to provide the best airflow?

a) http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/33583483.png/

or

b) http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/78809710.png/

I know a) is the most common, but wouldn't b) also work?

 

[bigdogchris]

The first one would be the proper method. Fans on the rear and top are for exhaust. The rear because your PSU/GPU exhaust the rear and you don't want a rear bringing in that warm air. The top is because heat rises so it's natural to exhaust it from there.

I'm always afraid to buy cases with top exhaust because I think I'm going to one day spill something inside it

 

[Dangman]

I highly recommend reading this article on air cooling:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/02/10/the-big-cooling-investigation/1