The humble PC fan has been in active service for decades and remains the primary cooling method used in PCs to this day. Other methods exist, but are generally reserved for enthusiasts. Phase-change cooling is excellent but super expensive, and liquid cooling is all pumps, pipes, reservoirs, coupled with the ever-present fear of wet electronics.
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Misgivings about the age of the technology aside, it is difficult to deny the fact that blowing room-temperature air across heatsinks is an effective way to mitigate heat. Problems occur when systems aren’t adequately set up to allow cool air to flow smoothly through a case, and air to be expelled before it can get too warm. This guide aims to help you maximize air flow through your case, thereby improving the performance, stability, and longevity of your precious PC components.
Case layout
Most PC cases today conform to the common ATX layout: optical drives at the front-top, hard disks in the front-middle, motherboard mounted on the right-side panel, PSU at the top-rear, and add-on cards mounted to exhaust out the rear of the case. There are a few variables to this design, some cases have removable side-mount hard disk caddies mounted in the bottom-front of the case allowing easier disk installation/removal and independent cooling from the optical bays. Others mount the PSU at the bottom of the case, rather than at the top to avoid hot air from the working components passing through it before being expelled. These variables shouldn’t have any significant negative effects on air flow, but could change your cable management plans. More on that later.
Fan positioning
Fans are generally mounted in the following locations: front, rear, top, and side. The fans on the front of the case are usually primary intakes, drawing ambient temperature air in to pass across hot components. The top and rear fans are exhausts, expelling the warm air out of the case and away from the internal components. In the past this simple air exchange was enough, but in modern systems with powerhouse (and often multiple) video cards, large banks of RAM, and overclocked CPUs, more thought needs to be put into how air travels through an enclosure.
General Rules
It can be tempting to buy a case that comes with as many fans as possible in the hope that it will more adequately cool your system, but as you will see, efficient and smooth air flow is demonstrably more important than a higher total air flow in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
The first step in any PC build is to buy a good quality case that already comes with the fans that you need, and none that you don’t. Cases that use three fans aligned vertically on the front are a great place to start, as they draw in air evenly across the entire face of the enclosure. That many intake fans will most likely contribute to positive air pressure within the case, though (See the advanced section at the end of this guide for details on case air pressure). Rear and top fans should always be exhausts, expelling the rising warm air from the case.
Do not buy a case that causes any obvious obstructions to air flow. For example, side-mounted hard disk caddies are fantastic, but if they also require you to install the disks vertically, they are obviously going to seriously impede air flow.
Consider spending extra on a modular PSU. Having the ability to remove superfluous cables makes for a much cleaner system, and allows you to easily add cables for hardware acquired in the future.
Do not install unnecessary hardware: Remove those old PCI cards that never get used anymore, leave the RAM module extra fan kit in it’s packaging, and consolidate small hard disks onto a single larger replacement. Please, throw away your floppy drive.
Large internal fan ducts, while a good idea on paper, are more likely to decrease overall thermal performance by obstructing primary air flow through the case. Detach and remove them if possible.
Fans mounted on the side of the case can be useful, but they often cause problems. If they’re running at a too high a CFM, side fans can render heatsink fans mounted on video cards and CPUs ineffective. They can cause turbulence, hindering the efficient flow of air through a case, and can contribute significantly to dust build-up. A side-mounted fan should only ever be used to gently stir the warm air that can accumulate in the “dead spot” beneath PCIe and PCI cards. This is best achieved by using a larger, low RPM fan.
Clean your PC on a regular basis! Dust accumulation is a major hazard to electronics, as it is an insulator and can clog up exhaust ports. Simply open up the case in a well ventilated area and use some compressed air or a gentle brush to dislodge the accumulated dust. A vacuum cleaner can help to collect the dust before your lungs do, but be careful that you don’t knock any capacitors off of your components with it. Cleaning will be a important measure to take, at least until we are are all running coolers that de-dust themselves.
Larger, lower RPM fans are generally far quieter and more efficient than their smaller, faster counterparts. Where possible, choose big.
Environment
Do not run your PC in any sort of enclosed box. Desk cubby holes seem incredibly convenient, but weigh that against the inconvenience of replacing overheated components. There is little point in putting thought into the thermal design of your PC build, only to then place it somewhere that won’t allow the warm air to dissipate. It is often easy to remove the rear panel from desk PC holders, this will usually do the trick.
Avoid running your PC directly on a carpeted surface in order to reduce the accumulation of dust and fibers.
Your climate will be a consideration in your cooling design. If you live in a particularly hot area you will need to put more thought into cooling your system, even going so far as to consider more enclosed solutions such as the aforementioned water cooling or phase-change systems. If you live in a colder environment, room temperature air is even more valuable and thus should be well utilized.
If you are a smoker, it is highly recommended that you do so away from your PC. Dust accumulation is already a hazard to electronics, and cigarette smoke produces the worst kind of dust thanks to the moisture and chemicals that it mixes with. It is very difficult to remove from components, and causes them to fail much faster than they would otherwise.
Next page: Advanced tactics…
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Case fans are the unsung heroes of any computer case. They help prevent dust from settling inside the PC and they keep vital components cool. But when computer case fans are working, we don't give them a second thought. It's only when they fail that we notice case fans even though our systems would probably not perform half as well without them. If you're in the market for computer case fans, either for upgrading or replacement, then you've come to the right place. Newegg has case fans in all manner of sizes and shapes to meet your specific PC's needs and design aesthetic.
Considerations for Computer Case Fans
Your computer case fan options are limited by a few realities. Here are a few considerations for choosing the right case fan for your computer:
- Check what your computer case can accommodate. If it doesn't have the room for an additional PC fan, then you won't be able to add another case fan. You will be able to swap out an existing fan and install a new one, however. Also, most modern computer cases have a variety of mounting options for case fans. A panel that accommodates two 120mm fans may also accommodate three 80mm fans.
- Even if you have a free case fan mount, make sure that internal components won't interfere with it. Some large components, like long video cards or even memory modules, may block the installation of a case fan. Also make sure that wires won't fall out of place and get caught or rub against the spinning fan blades once the computer is on and vibrating.
- Finally, the last issue you may face is not having enough power to run the new PC fan. This is especially true with an LED fan that draws just a little more power for the light. Make sure you cover these potential obstacles before you make your next purchase.
Don't make your next computer case fan purchase lightly. Newegg can help! Get the right case fan today!