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Thread: Optimum air flow

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    Optimum air flow

    I'll be building my new system very soon, and have been considering what the best air flow setup in the case would be. I'll be getting a CM690, which has placed for fans at:

    - Rear x1
    - Front x 1
    - Left side x 2
    - Right side x 1
    - Top x 2
    - Bottom x 1

    I was thinking of having an intake at the front and bottom, and exhaust at the back and top (x2).

    Anyone got any experience or thoughts?

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    Re: Optimum air flow

    Positive flow is always better for temps (not for dust-bunnies mind!), have more intake than exhaust.

    You've got to remember that all the airflow in the world won't help you if you have 'dead spots', i.e. no moving air over your chipset/ram/GPU/CPU etc.

    I assume you'll be overclocking with that case/air cooling setup, so consider what HSF you'll have on your CPU/GPU. Air flowing everywhere isn't ideal. The old in at the bottom/front, out at the back/top is still useful - depending on the case/PSU setup (My PSU is at the bottom so airflow isn't ideal).

    Also, if you are planning on having a lot of high speed drives, remember they will add considerable heat - I read a thread earlier where a chap removed an optical drive that increases system temp by 5degC (albeit a shuttle). Little things like that have a huge impact on overall temps. Imagine your intake fan is blowing air over a hard drive running at 40degC (for example), the CPU HSF then might have to deal with with 40degC air temp.
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    Re: Optimum air flow

    Generally I believe the rule people follow is funs at the front pulling air in, fans at the back pulling it out.

    I have mine set to the fan on the front and one on the side push air into the case, while the two top and one back pull air out.

    Also as far as I am aware, this case doesnt have fan openings on both the left and right.
    Front :120 mm Blue LED fan x 1, 1200 rpm, 21 dBA,
    Rear : 120 mm standard fan, 1200 rpm, 21 dBA,
    Top : 120 or 140 mm fan x 2 (optional),
    Bottom : 120 mm fan x 1 (optional),
    Left: 120mm fan x 2 (one is optional)-up to 140mm fans
    Straight from Coolermaser website.

    Front + Left pushing air in.
    Back + Top pulling the air out.
    Bottom - Im not sure about what to do with this one, im tempted to say push air, but saying that, if its close to the floor it would probably pick dust and bits crap up of the floor and deposit them in the case, if you have it on pull, if there isnt enough space, there isnt much from for the hot air to go anywhere.
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    Re: Optimum air flow

    Quote Originally Posted by WhiteGiant View Post
    Positive flow is always better for temps (not for dust-bunnies mind!), have more intake than exhaust.

    You've got to remember that all the airflow in the world won't help you if you have 'dead spots', i.e. no moving air over your chipset/ram/GPU/CPU etc.

    I assume you'll be overclocking with that case/air cooling setup, so consider what HSF you'll have on your CPU/GPU. Air flowing everywhere isn't ideal. The old in at the bottom/front, out at the back/top is still useful - depending on the case/PSU setup (My PSU is at the bottom so airflow isn't ideal).

    Also, if you are planning on having a lot of high speed drives, remember they will add considerable heat - I read a thread earlier where a chap removed an optical drive that increases system temp by 5degC (albeit a shuttle). Little things like that have a huge impact on overall temps. Imagine your intake fan is blowing air over a hard drive running at 40degC (for example), the CPU HSF then might have to deal with with 40degC air temp.
    Will be overclocking yes, but nothing uber. I'll have a Fenrir with the fan pushing towards the back, or maybe to the top. There'll be two drives so again, nothing OTT. I had considered the MSI TwinFrozr GPU but as that exhausts back into the case, I'll get a normal version.

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    Re: Optimum air flow

    Quote Originally Posted by Disturbedguy View Post
    Generally I believe the rule people follow is funs at the front pulling air in, fans at the back pulling it out.

    I have mine set to the fan on the front and one on the side push air into the case, while the two top and one back pull air out.

    Also as far as I am aware, this case doesnt have fan openings on both the left and right.


    Straight from Coolermaser website.

    Front + Left pushing air in.
    Back + Top pulling the air out.
    Bottom - Im not sure about what to do with this one, im tempted to say push air, but saying that, if its close to the floor it would probably pick dust and bits crap up of the floor and deposit them in the case, if you have it on pull, if there isnt enough space, there isnt much from for the hot air to go anywhere.
    Hmm I'd thought there was one on the right, below the CPU but obviously I'm wrong. To be honest I'd doubt eh fan on the bottom would be too bad with regards to dust, as the area below the case is usually covered up and quite clean. But maybe I'll have just a front intake with rear and top exhaust.

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