hey, I've been told that side fans have no benefits towards cooling... I've currently 1 in, 1 out with a XP 2400+ (at 2GHz) it idles at 63C which is abismal imo I have the front and side off atm and idling at 57. I got a crappy case atm can only have one in one out, would having a side fan help ventelation?? help plz -=aLEX=-
I would say they can make a difference in certain setups. Check out the link to my microATX case (in my sig) and you will see that I greatly benefitted from the addition of two side panel intakes.
I don’t really think its how many fans you have that counts. Its how you move the air within the case that makes the diff. If you have too many fans exhausting with no way to feed them then you’re case is going to run hot.
That seems awfully high temps, something needs to be sorted there. Have your current fans still got the 'factory' grills on? (ones with punched holes) If so cut em out and put in wire grills that helps airflow a lot. I just want a quiet computer, so ill compromise with higher running temps and quietness. Havn't sorted watercooling yet.
In my point of view I think the side fans are just ruining the air flow. The air flow in a case should be like in a air tube, Front: Cold air in, Back: Warm air out.
The way I see it, a side-fan is good because it directly supplies the graphics card/CPU with cool air.. As for the front ones, the cool air there passes through the HDD's and gets heated up.. so I really think getting a side-fan is a good idea for those who have problems with high case temperature.
Definately put at least one intake on your side pannel, position it right directly over your CPU, thus introducing cooler air directly onto your CPU heatsync. And thats a bit high of an operating temp, my 2100+ runs at a stable 43c/109f with the case fully assembled, and a bounch of low voltage fans (the thing only sounds like a hoover when I enable the second set of fans.... and even then the cpu temp doesn't fluxuate at all, but the case temp drops by about 10 degrees).
I've got a side intake fan that blows onto the CPU, and a top blowhole, and my temps are doing great. it really does depend on what kind of setup you have, though. if you've got front/rear setup, then the side fan will probly disrupt the airflow. but if you've got it like mine it works just great. cuz the air goes right to the processor, heats up, and rises right to the top blowhole.
Do you have the correct heat sink and fan for that CPU? do you have a whole mess of cables blocking airflow to the CPU? How close does the CPU sit in relation to the PSU? is the HSF drawing warn air from the PSU? how much space is there at the back of your PC for the warm exhaust air to disipate into?
Good question, fuzzball. I suggest you put in some bigger fans, in the front and in the back. I had a test-run with my second setup in my project-case. I have 2 9.2cm in the front, 2 9.2 in the back. The air "storms" around in there. My Duron 900 keeps spinning at 41C. It doesnt move at all.
I’m have replaced my stock PSU fan with a Tornado fan so no matter how hot it gets inside I will be able to move it out…those things are screamers. Although I hope the case never gets that hot…those fans running at 12V is like sitting next to a model wind tunnel.
It isnt really rocket science, postitioning is what counts really. IMO the ideal position is about the height of the Graphics Card. ...
If youre aiming for overall case cooling side fans might not be the thing, If youre going for targeted cooling, then by all means add many side fans.
Of course it makes some difference, it would be impossible to put an extra fan in and there be no change. The question is whether the change is for good or for worse and would all depend on the setup (in particular the positioning and balancing of intakes to exhausts including vents). All you have to do is look at you case and think about how to maximise the flow of air trying to eliminate dead spots around crucial componants. Without looking at the case, or even just pictures, it is difficult to say what exactly would be of most benefit. Though the simple answer is to whack a side fan in there and you should see a slight improvement...
