Antec300 - Fan based cooling advice

Hi Guys,

As you're probably bored to death by now, I'm doing a home-build as soon as I get the cash together or get my student loans, and the first thing I'll be doing is getting is the Antec 300 case and any relaevent parts for it.

One thing I want to ensure is that the case has optimal airflow as I'm not at the level of confidence to be changing GPU coolers etc.

I was wondering whether I should buy extra fans and such to improve circulation and which were the best value for money.

Ideally, if someone has an antec300 case they could post pictures of where the fans would be fitted?

I'm thinking of getting 2 *or 3 at a stretch* of these :- http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=700900

They are Xigmatek *to match my CPU HS* and have a good airflow rating for a fair price, also they seem to be near inaudible.

Where would you put them and which way would the need to face to improve airflow?

I've also seen somewhere (but cant find it for the life of me) a PCI slot card with a fan to blow more air onto your GFX, seeing at the 4850 seems to be a good possibilty, with the problems of its heat, do you think it'd be worth getting one of these?

Any diagrams of how where they'd be setup if needed or pictures of your setups would be greatly appreciated.

Don't know if you have seen any of the reviews about the case, you might want to have a look at this one, the pictures are pretty much showing everything:
http://www.ozhardware.com.au/Case-Re...se-Review.html

Since you want to specificly cool the graphic cards, there are already 2 cooling fans inside the case, and there are 3 more optional, there's 1 spot on the side of the case which is optional and there to specificly cool the graphic cards.

Quote:

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Cooling System:
• 1 rear 120 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control.
• 1 top special 140 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control
• 2 front (optional) 120 mm fans to cool the hard drives
• 1 side (Optional) 120 x 25 mm Fan to cool graphic cards

---

I'm going to get the Antec Three Hundred myself aswell, together with an E8400 and the GTX 260, I was also wondering if it would be smart to get a third fan. So I'll be looking forward to more answers here aswell =p (my guess was going for the Antec TriCool 120mm fan)

I have the Antec 300 and im planning to buy those exact fans soon (or posisbly some antec tri cools! lol (ps what are those fans like since u have them, are they quiet too?)

Anyway, the 300 comes with two exhaust fans already, so your half way there! what you want to do is buy two of those xigamateks, and place them at the front of the case, the case has two purpose built slots for 120mm fans, and it is very very very easy to install. What those fans at the front will do is intake air, so youll have two the fans at front sucking in air, blowing over the components and then the exhaust fans taking the heat out.

Additionally you can install a fan on the side socket too, which blows air onto the gfx card.

Those gfx exhaust fans your talking about the pci ones, i personally dont find them any use, put one on mine and it didnt do anything just added noise.

Also make sure you get your cable tidying done neat, otherwise they will obstruct the airflow.

You only need to buy two extra fans.

There are two 120mm fan placements at the front of the case, I suggest you install the two fans as intake here (blowing air into the case).
The two fans which come with the case are fitted in the CPU area, there is one 120mm fan to the rear and one 140mm fan on the roof, both are fitted as exhaust fans.
There is also a side fan placement but no need to install a fan there.

Tri-cools are very good unless you want something that actually is silent. I wouldn't buy them on their own, yate loons/nexus or scythes make more sense but as they come with the case they are pretty damn good even on their low setting :)

What sort of price are we loking at for Scyths or Yate Loons or even spare Tri-cools?

Oh actually, another question, the Xigmatek CPU HS, does it come with some sort of bracket in it or is it sold separatley? Cause i cant imagine that HS just dangling there on its side without one :P

I have that case. And although it is not fully built yet I am using a sharkoon golfball fan in the side for the GFX and a yate loon in the front (you can add another) for intake over the drives. With the 120 in the back and the 140 in the top; I think this will be fine :)

The heatsink somes with a fan and mounting bracket for both LGA 775 and Socket AM2 iirc

Two Yate Loons will be fine at the front and are only about £5 each at overclockers but if you wanted to you could buy 3 replace the rear antec fan and then get a fan controller to control the 3.

Watercooled PCs are cheapest for Yate Loons iirc