Case Cooling ideas & suggestions?

[Samurai]

Q1: Which is better, Front to back or bottom to top? I am just wondering which one of these you guys think works better. Atm i've got 2x80 inlet and 1x80 outlet, so it doesn't really support the whole negative pressure theory.

I would like to go 120mm fans but only i can't fit any at the back as a exhaust, only 1 as a inlet. So i'm thinking of cutting a blow hole putting in a Vantec 120 Stealth (53cfm, 28db) and then cutting a inlet at the bottom and putting the same fan in. Then i was thinking to get more cfm out than in i'll leave a 80mm pushing out the back.

What you think?

Q2: What about my psu as a exhuast? I'm still using some generic 300Watt psu in my case, but i've been looking at aftermarket ones which have multiple fans in them to move more air.

If i were to put a high CFM fan in my PSU back end instead of the generic fan now, would it be able to act as a exhaust fan? And if i were to add a second fan to the psu, would it be better to put it at the base of the psu just above the hsf or on the front side of the psu 90 degrees to where a blow hole would be?

Q3: What about other holes and openings? Some people claim that having extra openings in a case will interrupt the airflow or change the desired path. So would it be better if i seal my case totally and only leave the openings where i have my inlet and exhaust fans, or just leave all the little holes and stuff open?

Q4: As far as i understand it if i have 2 fans one on top the the other i will get more air pressure but the same cfm right? But if i have 2 fans side by side will i get more cfm but the same air pressure?

Q5: Fresh air ducts. I'm going to put in a fresh air duct (either 80mm or 92mm) so i can get that extra bit of cooling. The question is should i attach the end of the duct onto the actually cpu fan or end it just before. And also what materials have you guys built a fresh air duct out of before and if you do join it to the cpu fan how did you do it?

I know this post is fairly long with tons of questions, but i've just been thinking about air flow recently and these are all the questions i've got. So please any of you who have tried these types of mods or just have a opinion just let me know.

 

[Talonz]

1) Doesn't really matter, as long as you are getting fresh air to your parts. If you have a hot hard drive, running a fan up front is useful. A side blowhole placed over the video card is good to keep it cool. A blowhole up top is good to feed the CPU fresh air. Two fans in the back is generally best for exhaust. Are you talking about a fan on the bottom of your case? I think it would be better placed just about anywhere else. But try it and see what works best for you. Fans are reversable after all.

2) Yes, the PSU fan will act as an exhaust fan. If you put it on the front, then you will just be cycling the air from the top blowhole. You really don't need more then one fan on the PSU though. Another fan will make the job easier for the one on the back though. Remember that the fan on the back is generally soldered on, and you should be very careful when popping the PSU open. Short the caps in the PSU with a screwdriver so you don't kill yourself. I would be wary of adding more fans, this is a mod you don't want to do. I'd get a new PSU anyway, it'll be a good upgrade for cooling and power.

3) Extra vents can change your cooling path. If the holes are already there, then it's better to have more air moving out then in. Whether or not you want the holes depends on your setup.

4) Don't stack fans, it's far better to have side by side fans. There's no case where you absolutely need more pressure. Balance your case right and don't worry about it.

5) A seal will be best. However, realize that if you have your PC in a corner or next to a wall, you just might be cycling that hot air the PSU has already pushed out into your computer. Try whatever works for you, be creative.

Good luck.

Edit: Welcome to the [H]