Advice on fan placement with different RPMs.

[Tommygunn]

I've just bought an Enermax Staray case and I also have four 12cm fans spare which I would like to add to the case as extra cooling.
They are, in RPM order @ 12Volts

1x LC Power: 1494rpm (non sensored)
2x Thermaltake: 1753rpm each
1x Enermax PSU: 2320rpm

So, in addition to the 12cm fan that is included with the case, which is mounted at the lower front, I'm trying to figure out the best arrangement.

I was thinking of putting the Thermaltake fans front and rear of the CPU fan i.e. one in the top rear of the case and affixing the other fan above the front fan in the 5.25" bays.
The Enermax PSU fan could then be bolted to the side panel.

Your thoughts.

Tom.

 

[xBruce88x]

RPM doesn't really tell everything as far as how much air they can move. do you know the airflow ratings of the fans?

 

[Tommygunn]

Unfortuantely, I cannot find the same models for any of the fans, in current lineups.

What I will do is borrow an anemometer from my brother in law and see if I can get some measurments from it.

Tom.

 

[xBruce88x]

what are their model numbers?

 

[Tommygunn]

They are as follows.

LC Power: DF1202512SELN
Thermaltake: F121225SL
Enermax PSU: B1202512M-3M

Tom.

 

[xBruce88x]

well you don't want to move the PSU fan, it needs its own. i couldn't really find a lot of info about the fans but usually the higher the rpm the more airflow, but some fans not so much. assuming higher rpm = more air then i'd put the 2 thermaltakes as pulling air in, one in front like you mentioned and the other on the side, and the lc power in the rear.

as for your other 4 fans, if they can all fit in the case, i'd set them up so that 2 are pulling in and 2 pulling out. this should make fairly balanced and should do well as far as cooling. If you can, arrange it so that the intake fans pull air from the front/bottom/lower side while the exhaust pull out the back/top since hot air rises. also, if you have a "tower" type cpu cooler, set it so that it pushes air to the back/top of the case.

edit: is this the right case, err the one you have?
Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, L...

if so, put the 2 thermaltake fans on the sides, leave the stock fan where its at, (i think its mostly for show honestly) and your best spare fan at the back. you power supply fan should hopefully even out the airflow

 

[Tommygunn]

Yes, that is the case.

The Enermax PSU fan is actually spare from my scrap Liberty PSU which I've replaced.

I'm just wondering the reason for mounting fans in the side of the case as it seems strange to divert air through 90 degrees and then out the case again.

I've just thought that, with my G/Card in the upper slot, why not mount a fan at the bottom rear, on the slots, in or outside the case, so that I have a fan at each of the four corners? This would then allow air to pass straight across the upper portion of the case and the lower, independently, to allow for more efficient cooling of the CPU/RAM and the GPU.
I'll try and match fan rpm/air in the top and bottom portions, otherwise I'll go with higher rpm/air fans at the rear.

Thoughts?

Tom.