How To Set Up Case Fans

Ensuring your computer receives sufficient cooling with PC case fans isn't rocket science but it can be tricky. Sure, you could take the "maximum power" approach of shoving as many fans as possible into and onto the case, but that's far from ideal. There needs to be rhyme or reason to the setup or else it becomes something wholly inefficient. We break down the fundamentals of air cooling your computer so you can avoid a Chernobyl-like meltdown.

Case fans and ventilation

Every fan features a cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating, which measures of the volume of air it moves in a minute. The greater the CFM, the more air a fan moves. To properly air cool your computer, you need have enough case fans to push or pull air into and out of the case. More case fans means higher total CFM and more air being moved through your computer.

Just be mindful of the noise levels as fans can generate quite a buzz. To avoid making your computer too loud, use fewer or quieter fans. Also, flashing multi-color lights shouldn't be the main feature of your case fans.

fan_diagram

Use proper fan positioning

Air travels one way through a fan, in one side and out the other. By changing the direction a fan is mounted, it can act as either an intake or exhaust. You should also heed the placement of the fans. Air should travel in clear path through the case. Generally, you want the case fans in front of the case drawing in air while the fans at the rear blow air out.

If your case has vents at the top, they should be placed as exhaust fans because hot air will rise. Side-mounted fans should be used for intake, though they often don't have air filters. To prevent dust issues, you can custom fabricate your own filters.

positioning_diagram

Dust is the silent killer

Speaking of dust, you want to make sure that your computer remains as dust free as possible. Otherwise, all the airflow in the world won't help much to cool down your components. To reduce dust in the case, ensure that the air going into the case first passes through a filter. Many cases have removable filters that can be cleaned by a quick rinse. Just be sure to actually clean the filters once in a blue moon. By leaving filters dirty or covered in dust, you reduce airflow and cooling power.

Aside from fans and vents the other major points of ingress include the many small gaps in the chassis and adjoining pieces. You can't really control airflow at these points unless you want to put caulking or sealant in your case.

dust

Photo by Jeff Kubina, taken from Flickr Creative Commons

How To Set Up Case Fans

Source: https://www.neweggbusiness.com/smartbuyer/over-easy/pc-cooling-how-to-set-up-computer-case-fans/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20you%20want%20the%20case,don't%20have%20air%20filters.

Posted by: whiteheadprifecon.blogspot.com