Case/cooling questions

[User N]

Hello. I'm planning on making my next computer my first homebuilt,
and I've begun to research and learn about cases & cooling. A couple
of questions if I may...

1) I see some cases that have a vent in the side panel, positioned
"above" the CPU. In some cases a fan is mounted there, in some cases
a shroud is mounted there. For example:

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/11-129-148-07.JPG

Please excuse my ignorance, but is that side vent supposed to be an
intake or exhaust?

2) Some cases, such as the 8400 from Dell, have a vent next to the
PCI slots:

http://img.dell.com/images/global/products/dimen/8400_chassis_back_314.jpg

In the case of the Dell 8400, there is an optional "card fan" that mounts to
the inside side of the case and helps to cool add-in [video] boards. Diagrams
are available on pages 83 & 84 of:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/en/om/F7571A00.pdf

It appears that the vent next to the PCI slots may provide an intake or
exhaust for that card fan. Which is most likely?

3) There are numerous, conventional mid tower cases that support 120mm
fans front & back, or multiple smaller ones. IOW, cases which do not
provide additional, special purpose vents and/or fans like I previously
asked about. If you were building a higher (but not bleeding) end ATX
based gaming system and wanted reasonably quiet operation, would you
opt for the former or the later?

Thanks

 

[Dave C.]

Hello. I'm planning on making my next computer my first homebuilt,
and I've begun to research and learn about cases & cooling. A couple
of questions if I may...
1) I see some cases that have a vent in the side panel, positioned
"above" the CPU. In some cases a fan is mounted there, in some cases
a shroud is mounted there. For example:

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/11-129-148-07.JPG

Please excuse my ignorance, but is that side vent supposed to be an
intake or exhaust?

2) Some cases, such as the 8400 from Dell, have a vent next to the
PCI slots:

http://img.dell.com/images/global/products/dimen/8400_chassis_back_314.jpg

In the case of the Dell 8400, there is an optional "card fan" that mounts
to
the inside side of the case and helps to cool add-in [video] boards.
Diagrams
are available on pages 83 & 84 of:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/en/om/F7571A00.pdf
It appears that the vent next to the PCI slots may provide an intake or
exhaust for that card fan. Which is most likely?

3) There are numerous, conventional mid tower cases that support 120mm
fans front & back, or multiple smaller ones. IOW, cases which do not
provide additional, special purpose vents and/or fans like I previously
asked about. If you were building a higher (but not bleeding) end ATX
based gaming system and wanted reasonably quiet operation, would you
opt for the former or the later?

Thanks

1) Intake, to vent cool air directly at the CPU cooler.

2) Exhaust . . . that is where the air will go when the case is closed the
card fan blower is pointing directly at the slot near the PCI expansion
slots.

3) OK, to keep any system quiet . . . Look for a quiet power supply by
Thermaltake or Seasonic or several other good brands. Then look for a
mainboard with NO FAN on the Northbridge. (passive cooling only). Then get
a video card with passive cooling. Even for gaming, Sapphire makes some
good passive cooled video cards. Then find a quiet CPU cooler. Regardless
of CPU, there are quiet CPU coolers available at reasonable prices. Then
you have to consider case cooling. If you chose your power supply wisely,
one extra case fan is all you should need. That would be one fan in the
front of the case pulling cool air in. Regardless of the size of that fan,
get a quiet one, somewhere around 25db or lower.

If you want, you can also use side cooling fans, such as the fans and
shrouds you've seen pointed at the CPU. If you choose your CPU cooler
carefully, this shouldn't be necessary, though. And every fan adds
oise. -Dave

 

[Lordy]

Hello. I'm planning on making my next computer my first homebuilt,
and I've begun to research and learn about cases & cooling.

I addition to other replies, get a PSU with an underside fan. This
helps draw a lot of hot air away from the CPU in standard towers.

Generally, you want to exhaust air at the top rear of the box.

Cold air comes in from the lower from of the box, although a side
intake over the CPU/mobo is quite effective.

I put a 120mm fan on my side intake (using an adaptor) running at 7v,
and temp dropped another 4 degrees,

Swapped PSU for one with bottom fan and temp dropped another 2 degrees.

Of course my PC is nosier but most fans are running at 7V so the noise is
mostly a low whoosh of air moving rather than fans spinning if that makes
sense, Like trying to whistle with your mouth wide open

Lordy