Case fan setup / air flow question

[Flogger23m]

I am looking to improve the cooling in my PC a bit. There is not a whole lot I can do with my current case, but I am wondering if I can improve my air flow at the front of the case. I am using a Corsair 550D:

In the front of the two HDD/SSD bays there are two included 120mm fans which I have installed. On the back of each bay I have two older Antec tri cool 120mm fans. They're set to a medium setting, which is roughly similar in terms of noise and air flow as far as I can tell.

Although the designs and CFM are obviously not exact. My question is, does a proper push/pull setup require both the front and rear fan to be of the same RPM and design for optimal results? I can always remove one Corsair fan from the front, one Antec from the back, and make the top bay be Corsair and bottom be Antec only for symmetrical front/rear fans.

I do pop off the side panel on the hotter days which does bring down the temps by a good bit. The rest of the year I keep it on and the PC stays very cool and quiet (I like quiet designs).

 

[Caring1]

Those hard drive bays are blocking most of that air flow, you would only need the two front fans if you removed the bays.

 

[Jetster]

Take one of the cages out. Use a 200mm side fan if you need more air. Do not double up fans

Fill out your specs properly. I use the 550D and unless you have SLI you should not have heat problems

 

[rtwjunkie]

If you want to keep the HDD bays pull out all 4 push pull fans there, and replace the two intakes with high static-presssure fans instead of high airflow fans.

I have found the HDD obstruction on the front intakes is alot like a radiator in obstructing air. The static pressure fans have overcome it by forcing air through all the small openings. It's been a great formula for me. It not only cools my HDD, but provides noticeable air inside the case.

 

[bonehead123]

Those hard drive bays are blocking most of that air flow, you would only need the two front fans if you removed the bays.

^^THIS^^^

Generally speaking, a fan is a fan is a fan. They all move air, some more than others, or quieter, but in the end, they all do the same thing.
With similar sizes and style of the common, everyday fans you have, I do not believe you should be worried about matching them up so much as you should be with providing a straight, clear and unobstructed path for whatever air they are pushing into your case.

If you removed those HDD cages, you WILL be doing just that, and allowing the remaining fans to do their job.

If you have no other place to install your HDD's, I would recommend that you keep them in the bottom rack, since any heat they would generate will rise upwards, and then be pushed to the back your case by the intake fan above it, where the rear fan can suck it out

 

[Flogger23m]

If you want to keep the HDD bays pull out all 4 push pull fans there, and replace the two intakes with high static-presssure fans instead of high airflow fans.

I have found the HDD obstruction on the front intakes is alot like a radiator in obstructing air. The static pressure fans have overcome it by forcing air through all the small openings. It's been a great formula for me. It not only cools my HDD, but provides noticeable air inside the case.

I'll have to look into higher static pressure fans. Looking for something with lower noise, but obviously need it to be somewhat effective. Cheaper is better. Any recommendations? Can't remove the HDD bays as I use 5 of them.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

i would look into moving a couple HDDs to the 5.25 bays if possible this would allow removal of one of the HDD cages, freeing up enough space for at least one fan to provide direct airflow into the chassis.
Below setup allows direct cool air to enter the chassis and cross over the GPU the space between the drives also allows for easier cable management as 2 cables can connect all HDD devices and can be routed easier then jamming everything into the small space behind the drives. For further airflow a fan can be added at the bottom of the chassis as well further adding cool air to the system and pushing it directly to the GPU as well.

 

[bonehead123]

^^what I said before^^ now illustrated better with full color

thanks reaper !

 

[Jetster]

 

[Flogger23m]

i would look into moving a couple HDDs to the 5.25 bays if possible this would allow removal of one of the HDD cages, freeing up enough space for at least one fan to provide direct airflow into the chassis.
Below setup allows direct cool air to enter the chassis and cross over the GPU the space between the drives also allows for easier cable management as 2 cables can connect all HDD devices and can be routed easier then jamming everything into the small space behind the drives. For further airflow a fan can be added at the bottom of the chassis as well further adding cool air to the system and pushing it directly to the GPU as well.

May give that a try. HDDs will be loose unless someone makes an adapter that seamlessly fits up there. My other problem is cable management. In short, it is a pain with my Antec Earthwatts 650. Some other people had noted that this case does need a modular PSU to get good cable management. I should be able to manage that though. Main problem is I need a lot of cables that reach through the two cutout areas on the top. Bottom one is essentially unused because the cables aren't long enough to route down there. And there is a lack of space on the other side. Although I would I wish there were simply less CD/DVD bays (who needs 4 these days?) and could move my HDD bays up there.

 

[Beastie]

May give that a try. HDDs will be loose unless someone makes an adapter that seamlessly fits up there.

You can buy a bracket for 5 1/4" to 3 1/2" pretty cheap. Or just put your drives in the lower bay and remove the middle bay like in Jetster's pic.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I cant tell if @Jetster has fans in the top fo the case. Its good to see he keeps his case clean.

I'd like to see more pics of the OP's case, specifically of the fan placement.

So there is 4 fans blowing in? and just the 1 fan out the rear?

I wouldnt remove fans, relocate and maybe add one or two.

So the max fans this case might have:
Front = 2 fans in, static pressure if possible.
Top = 2 fans out.
Rear = 1 fan out.
Side = optional, 2 fans in.
Bottom = is there room enough for a fan here? if yes, 1 static pressure fan in.

They dont have to all the same speed, CFM is what matters more than speed, when choosing which fans go where, low speed, high cfm fans can be less noisy. Fan dust covers can reduce fan effectiveness, so ya might want to have an exta input fan to make up for them.

If you can remover both drive cages that would also do wonders without having to add more fans. Then you just have to work out where to place them that works best for you.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

to keep a system cleaner longer have more intakes than exhausts

2 in from front and 1 in from bottom with 1 exhaust at the back will create a positive pressure environment that will keep dust out for a bit longer.

 

[Flogger23m]

Quick question here. How do I remove the middle bay? Is it just those two screws (present on your bottom bay) and it slides out?

As for my setup, I can't really add any more fans. I can do one on the side (which I did in the past, but that brought in a lot more dust in my setup) but that is about it. My CPU cooler will prevent the second side panel one, and my PC sits on carpet so the bottom intake location would be rather useless. On the top at least one fan is blocked by the CPU cooler, possibly the other. And I do rest my headset atop my case, so I wouldn't get much more airflow. Don't have room for the headset on my desk which is limited in space.

As mentioned previously, my wiring is messy. Shorter PSU cables and not a lot of room in the back makes re-routing the cables a pain. Can't do much unless I get a new modular PSU and I don't have the money for that at the moment.

 

[Jetster]

Quick question here. How do I remove the middle bay? Is it just those two screws (present on your bottom bay) and it slides out?

As for my setup, I can't really add any more fans. I can do one on the side (which I did in the past, but that brought in a lot more dust in my setup) but that is about it. My CPU cooler will prevent the second side panel one, and my PC sits on carpet so the bottom intake location would be rather useless. On the top at least one fan is blocked by the CPU cooler, possibly the other. And I do rest my headset atop my case, so I wouldn't get much more airflow. Don't have room for the headset on my desk which is limited in space.

As mentioned previously, my wiring is messy. Shorter PSU cables and not a lot of room in the back makes re-routing the cables a pain. Can't do much unless I get a new modular PSU and I don't have the money for that at the moment.

It would be really helpful if you listed your parts in the specs >>>http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/account/specs

As far as carpet. Put a board under it
Use filters with the side fan, and the front for that matter. The case came with them


To remove the middle cage. There is a thumb screw on the back and two on the open side it slides out

 

[Flogger23m]

Thanks. Slides out towards the GPU correct? Looks like one of the Antec fans, the one on top HDD cage, is no longer working. Will have to shut down and disassemble the PC tomorrow. Suppose either a cable came loose or it simply died.

As for 3.25" to 5.25" adapters I assume anything should work for the tool-less install on the top? I'd need to get some adapters as I do have five drives in total, two SSDs and three HDDs.

 

[Jetster]

Even though that case is tool-less. You can use screws if the latches don't secure it. There is holes

 

[trog100]

to keep a system cleaner longer have more intakes than exhausts

2 in from front and 1 in from bottom with 1 exhaust at the back will create a positive pressure environment that will keep dust out for a bit longer.

i think your theory aint exactly right.. positive or negative its all about moving air through the case.. the more air you move though the case the more dust goes with it.. anything that counters that theory like your positive pressure theory will have an adverse effect on the cooling.. this includes filters..

my thoughts are to blow the cool air where its needed.. side fans blowing in directly on the hot bits do this the best.. the only thing front fans cool effectively are hard drives.. being all ssd solves this one with no need for front fans at all.. ..

and what i would really like is all case fans to be off when browsing or idling.. that way there is next to no dusty air is blowing in the case most of the time.. nothing will get hot when the system is idling..

trog

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

You can do whatever you like trog, however ive played with Positive / Negative / equal pressure setups, Positive tends to have less dust accumulation.

Never was that more evident than with my Fractal Design Define XL,

Having swapped the top 140 with a Silverstone AP181 and the rear 140, my exhaust airflow was higher than intake, at which point dust settling inside the case became a serious issue.

System needed to be cleaned monthly, simply reverting to the original fans and replacing the front fans with more powerful options created positive pressure. At which point the dust accumulation was reduced and cleaning wasnt needed till around the 1.5 - 2 month mark.

Different cases and filter combinations will of course change that. But i myself have had far better luck with Positive pressure setups.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

There is nothing wrong with adding some sort of filter for your fans, check any pc mod store websites, not just newegg. So if a side fan is added, make you use something for air filtering too.

@trog100 check out GRID+ to control your fans, I found it worth every penny for the level of control it provides.

 

[trog100]

There is nothing wrong with adding some sort of filter for your fans, check any pc mod store websites, not just newegg. So if a side fan is added, make you use something for air filtering too.

@trog100 check out GRID+ to control your fans, I found it worth every penny for the level of control it provides.

there is a lot wrong with filters from an airflow point of view.. they severely restrict airflow.. i would say by at least 75%.. soo more fans (and noise) are needed for same the cooling effect..

i aint saying dont use them but at least know the price paid for a dust free PC..

as for positive or negative pressure thing.. anything that restricts airflow will have a negative effect on cooling.. i wont say any more.. except maybe that blowing more air though case than is needed dosnt achieve much except fill it with dust.. he he

there is a paradox at work here.. on one hand folks go to extremes to get better airflow on the other hand some suggest filters and other means that will restrict airflow..

i do my own thing and voice my own opinions.. others will do the same..


trog

 

[rtwjunkie]

except maybe that blowing more air though case than is needed dosnt achieve much except fill it with dust.. he he

This is where you are wrong. You use dust filters the extra air that goes in escapes through all the holes and cracks that would otherwise be sucking in unfiltered air without a positive pressure situation.

My own system is slightly positive pressure, filtered on all intakes, has great airflow, stays cool, runs quietly. All the counters to your argument. Indeed, every system I build gets the same treatment.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

There are so many different kinds of dust filter material just pay attention to how much air flows thru it. An air filter from a window AC unit would do better than a filter made from paper towel.

 

[trog100]

filters massively restrict airflow end of story.. pretty obvious when you think about it.. i am not saying they cant be used but they dont fit in with maximizing airflow..

you ether maximimize airflow or you choose dust free and filters.. you cant do both..

me.. i settle for minimum fan usage (an ideal would be all fans off unless needed) no filters and give the case a good blow our with compressed air as and when it needs it.. but that is just my choice..

trog

 

[Jetster]

SP fans and filters works pretty well but your right you just need more fans