What fan should I use and where to put it in my comp?

[Wilson]

I just put in an ATI video card that has a heat sink and fan. However, my
comp also has 3 opticals and 2 hard drives. I think I better put in another
fan. I was thinking about a slot fan, but I do not know what I need to do. I
can't tell if my the fan on my front panel is sucking or blowing, and I
don't want to suck any air off my graphics card by putting in a slot fan.
Can you tell me what I should do?

Here is the fan I was thinking about getting:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811999485


Below are some pics of my comp. There are two links for the same pic, so you
probably need to click on just one link.

There are 6 small holes on the plastic cover of the front. But I think these
are mostly for look though.
http://tinypic.com/idyqsg.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyqsg



This is my fan on the inside of the front panel of the computer. I cannot
tell if it sucks

or blows.
http://tinypic.com/idyqz5.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyqz5



This is the front panel on the outside. The fan is right on the other side
of these holes.
http://tinypic.com/idyrfd.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrfd



This is the back panel of my comp. You can see vent holes from top to
bottom.
http://tinypic.com/idyr2w.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyr2w



This is what the vent holes on the back of the comp look like from the
inside of the comp.
http://tinypic.com/idyrye.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrye



This is another shot of the back panel close up.
http://tinypic.com/idyr91.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyr91



Inside shot of my whole comp.
http://tinypic.com/idyrle.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrle


Another inside shot of my comp.
http://tinypic.com/idyrso.jpg
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrso

 

[Gringo]

I just put in an ATI video card that has a heat sink and fan. However, my
comp also has 3 opticals and 2 hard drives. I think I better put in another
fan. I was thinking about a slot fan, but I do not know what I need to do. I
can't tell if my the fan on my front panel is sucking or blowing, and I
don't want to suck any air off my graphics card by putting in a slot fan.
Can you tell me what I should do?

With that case I would put in the slot fan as that case is poorly
designed for cooling. It doesn't have any rear exhaust fan. The front
fan should be blowing in and most fans put an arrow on the side to
tell you which way it blows, but you can tear off a piece of paper and
put it near the fan and that way you can tell if it is sucking or
blowing.

 

[stargazer257]

I agree w/Gringo. More ideas are nested in your quote
[quote:11a865adf4="Wilson"]I just put in an ATI video card that has
heat sink and fan. However, my
comp also has 3 opticals and 2 hard drives. I think I better put i
another
fan. I was thinking about a slot fan, but I do not know what I need t
do. I
can't tell if my the fan on my front panel is sucking or blowing, an
I
don't want to suck any air off my graphics card by putting in a slo
fan.
Can you tell me what I should do

Here is the fan I was thinking about getting
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681199948

Below are some pics of my comp. There are two links for the same pic
so you
probably need to click on just one link

There are 6 small holes on the plastic cover of the front. But I thin
these
are mostly for look though
http://tinypic.com/idyqsg.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyqs

Yes, pretty inefective at airflow. The mai
source for air inflow into that case is UNDER the bottom edge of th
front cover. If your box is on a carpet, it could shut off thi
airflow. If on the carpet, place a board or some other solid objec
under the computer to open up that space

This is my fan on the inside of the front panel of the computer.
cannot
tell if it suck

or blows
http://tinypic.com/idyqz5.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyqz

[color=red:11a865adf4]From the dust bunnies, it looks as if it blow
INTO the case, as it should. You can "slightly" help airflow here b
trimming those 4 wide cross-beams in the beige fan holder. you nee
to remove the fan holder and the fan to do this. Be careful and cu
carefully. PS, clean off that fan while you are at it :
[/color:11a865adf4

This is the front panel on the outside. The fan is right on the othe
side
of these holes
http://tinypic.com/idyrfd.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrf

[color=red:11a865adf4]Going to the next level here, cut out tha
circle of "circles" to provide less resistance to airflow. Thi
would most likely require you to disassemble the case or be VER
careful. Use the right tool (dremel (?), jigsaw (?)) and don'
distort the case. A "nibbler" may be the best tool to use and get
fair finish.[/color:11a865adf4

This is the back panel of my comp. You can see vent holes from top t

bottom
http://tinypic.com/idyr2w.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyr2

[color=red:11a865adf4]Pretty typical of most AT
cases[/color:11a865adf4

This is what the vent holes on the back of the comp look like from th

inside of the comp
http://tinypic.com/idyrye.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyry

[color=red:11a865adf4]Nice PSU. Lots of PSU ventilatio
there.[/color:11a865adf4

This is another shot of the back panel close up
http://tinypic.com/idyr91.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyr9


Inside shot of my whole comp
http://tinypic.com/idyrle.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrl

[color=red:11a865adf4]Just an idea, You improve airflow a bit within
case if you route your cables (especially those pesky wide ribbo
cables) out of the path of airflow. Remember you want that cool ai
coming in from the lower front and moving smoothly through the case
exiting at the rear. Clear up that airflow.[/color:11a865adf4

Another inside shot of my comp
http://tinypic.com/idyrso.jp
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=idyrso[/quote:11a865adf4

Bottom line. The case is not the best design for cooling. So the bes
solution ($ not an object) would be to invest in a better cooled case
Since that is not your question I will go on

The slot fan will help some, but if your inlet airflow from the fron
is restricted (by the computer case on the carpet, bunch of holes i
the metal front of the case, and even poor cable routing), a slot fa
may "short circuit" the air flow. That is, drawing more from thos
holes along the back side of the case which is where the warm ai
your slot fan will expell air out will reside.

Years ago, I used to use a indoor/outdoor thermometer to see how m
case temps would change after doing some modifications. Today'
motherboards most likely have temperature sensing chips on board.
Good old Motherboard Monitor or Speedfan software (free) would give
you that telemetry and more in your cooling endavors.

Good luck, SG257

PS kudos on the pictures. It sure makes it easier to "see" what you
are saying.

 

[Wilson]

Just to update you guys. I separated the hard drives, I moved the pci card
over one slot, I opened one of the 3.5" bays on my front panel, and I put in
those fancy rounded cables in place of the ribbon cables, and the computer
is about 3 inches off the carpet.

I now have a gaping 3.5" hole on the front panel though where the floppy
used to be. Wonder if that is even necessary? Also, it seems like this would
work against the fan on the PSU. I would think the front panel fan is to
bring in new air, push it to the back, and along with the PSU fan both
should try to push the air out the back of the comp, where I have alot of
little vents.

 

[jaster]

I just put in an ATI video card that has a heat sink and fan. However, my
comp also has 3 opticals and 2 hard drives. I think I better put in
another fan. I was thinking about a slot fan, but I do not know what I
need to do. I can't tell if my the fan on my front panel is sucking or
blowing, and I don't want to suck any air off my graphics card by putting
in a slot fan. Can you tell me what I should do?

[snip]

Kudos on the pics. I have a similar case except it has an extra slot
above the AGP card. That's the slot where I placed my slot fan making it
an extra exhaust fan in the cpu area. The Nvidia card is fine with
normal airflow.

It's hit or miss with that case. All the heat is generated at
the top of the case with only the psu and cpu fans to cool the area. A
slot fan will interfere with airflow no matter where you stick.

Maybe a 120mm quiet and cool fan with a 60mm adapter to replace your
bottom fan would work better if it will fit.

 

[jaster]

I just put in an ATI video card that has a heat sink and fan. However,
my comp also has 3 opticals and 2 hard drives. I think I better put in
another fan. I was thinking about a slot fan, but I do not know what I
need to do. I can't tell if my the fan on my front panel is sucking or
blowing, and I don't want to suck any air off my graphics card by
putting in a slot fan. Can you tell me what I should do?

[snip]

Kudos on the pics. I have a similar case except it has an extra slot
above the AGP card. That's the slot where I placed my slot fan making it
an extra exhaust fan in the cpu area. The Nvidia card is fine with normal
airflow.

It's hit or miss with that case. All the heat is generated at the top of
the case with only the psu and cpu fans to cool the area. A slot fan will
interfere with airflow no matter where you stick.

Maybe a 120mm quiet and cool fan with a 60mm adapter to replace your
bottom fan would work better if it will fit.

A 120mm would be nice but there are only 60-80mm, 70/80-92/120mm
fan adapters. Pick the high cfm, low db (< 35db).

 

[stargazer257]

That double-post thing (a few posts up) was kind of freaky. In th
first one I'm registered, the second one I'm a guest!!

???? wierd ????

 

[JAD]

That double-post thing (a few posts up) was kind of freaky. In the
first one I'm registered, the second one I'm a guest!!!

???? wierd ?????

You know what even weirder?






There is no double post................