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I'D LIKE ONE INTAKE FAN AND ONE EXHAUST FAN, PLEASE (The power supply fan is also usually an exhaust fan.) An ideal fan pattern puts one or two intake fans at the front of the case, and one or more exhaust fans at the back of the case. If all of your fans blow out (exhaust), you create a vacuum, and again limit air flow to whatever can enter through the various gaps in the case. If all of your fans blow in (intake), you pressurize the case and limit air flow to whatever can escape through the vents and other gaps in the case. Your goal should be to use a combination of intake and exhaust fans to provide air movement through the case. For general cooling, you need supplemental case fans, which are readily available from online vendors and local stores. The power supply fan provides some general system cooling, but its primary purpose is to cool the power supply itself. Ideally, you want cool room air to enter through the front of the case, be directed over the drives, expansion cards, memory, processor, and other heat-producing components, and then be exhausted from the rear of the case.
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Best airflow direction for pc install#
You have to consider the air flow pattern inside the case, and install fans to direct that air flow for optimum cooling. It also prevents loose cables from fouling fans.īut you can't just add fans willy-nilly and expect your case to be cooled optimally. Dressing the cables neatly does more than just improve air flow and cooling. Use cableties or those yellow plastic thingies that come with garbage bags to secure the cables to the case frame or otherwise out of the way.
Best airflow direction for pc upgrade#
Before you declare your upgrade or repair complete, tie off all of the internal cables into neat bundles and tuck them out of the way. One quick, easy, cheap thing you can do to improve air flow and cooling is to dress the cables. If the exhaust air is 5 C (9 F) or more warmer than ambient room temperature, you need more or better fans. Use an ordinary thermometer to determine ambient room temperature and then measure the temperature of the air being exhausted by the rear case fan (not the power supply fan).
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Test your system periodically to determine its cooling efficiency. MagLev fans offer the best performance, lowest noise levels, and longest lifespan of all bearing types, but they are also the most expensive.The most important thing you can do to improve cooling efficiency is to keep the case clean, particularly the air intake grills and the fans themselves.
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