View Full Version : Case fully open ?
I have my case fully open (left and right panels off)
Should i close it and put intake and exaust fans ?
What's better for air cooling ?
Thanks a lot.
turbo accord
03-27-03, 07:40 AM
i have found out that with my case open it stays cooler. but i also have a copy of fans on it, so it sounds like an airplane getting ready for take off. if you dont mind the noise i would try that.
What do you mean by "a copy of fans on it" ?
turbo accord
03-27-03, 08:35 AM
a couple. sorry
Thanks.
I have some fans too.
TheMightyBuck
03-27-03, 09:01 AM
yeah, leave yer case panels off, unless you care about noise and aesthetics. me, i can't stand noise, and a prerequisite for going in my case is that it was to look cool. so it's not for me. but yeah, you'll pretty much get ambient temps for sys temp, and 1-2 degrees at most above that for core.
I don't care about case esthetics... it's a server rig and nobody see it... except me ;)
All i want is good cooling...
turbo accord
03-27-03, 11:25 AM
if i were you and didnt care about noise, i would throw a couple of fans in there and leave it open. maybe put another one on top of the hsf.
I have 2 fans...
A 9" over the CDRW with the 2 bays off.
and the other is an exaust at the back of the case.
In theory, a case that has inadequate ventilation will benefit from the side panels being off.
However, if you have good circulation with a large amount of air moving in and out, you may see a performance penalty.
You see, a wind tunnel effect is better for heat removal than just air being thrown around all over the place. With strategic fan placement, this can be achieved.
slater3333uk
03-27-03, 02:03 PM
well i dont see the point in putting the side panels on most people say that it will create dust but it would be just as bad if you had a few fans.
my rig has a window cut in the side but i never botherd to put any plexi in it so its as good as having the side panel off. i still have 8 case fans tho so i dont see much of an improvement from having the side off. but i dont see the point in having it on other than pretecting the components from kids/pets.
Ron Brooks
03-27-03, 03:02 PM
I've heard, can't remember whee That a closed case was protected from ESD. Wouldn't this be a factor for always leaving the side panels off ?
modenaf1
03-27-03, 03:07 PM
I dont think so because not all cases are EM sheilded
If you leave the side panels open at least put some fans inside the case to make a circulation of airflow. My case runs cooler with a ton of fans and the side closed vs. 2 fans and the side open. with no airflow even having the case open heat still builds up and stays in your case. you COULD leave it open and put a big box fan up against the side of the case.
Footba_SWAT5420
03-27-03, 05:21 PM
on my old crappy case i left off the panels and i got alot better temps but that was bc i had crapp airflow. on my new ATX style chieftec i got a varitable wind tunnel so my temps are bette with the case closed. it all depends on airflow.
Footba_SWAT5420
03-27-03, 05:25 PM
BTW most cases DO have EMP protection but many wiht windows do not.
(HR)Titan
03-27-03, 05:39 PM
last summer i have overheating problem . i took off side panels.
use big fan, and direct it in my comp.
the temperature was down for 10 C . ;)
Footba_SWAT5420
03-27-03, 05:43 PM
it would go down alot farther if u could keep out the dust. with my case off i had about a 7-12C drop (oild case mind you;)) but i had to clean the heatsink each week bc my temps would go UP over average by about 6C.
Puer Aeternus
03-27-03, 10:46 PM
IMO if your fans are set up correctly than panels on = better temps and quieter.
My preference is for a duct. The cool air is directed to the heatsource. The other option is good air flow...a intake (IMO and experience) should be matched w/ a exhaust fan. Thus cool air is being drawn over your cpu and exhausted out. Before ducts my intake was in my front bays w/ a 80mm and at the rear of the case on the same level was another 80mm..the cool air moved right past the cpu and took out all the hot air. Dont be afraid to experiment w/ fan placements...fans are pretty cheap and besides it is more fun to mod a case yourself than to buy one modded for you.
I have less than fans now that I have learned to direct air flow...and my case is quieter!
modenaf1
03-27-03, 11:40 PM
Originally posted by Puer Aeternus
IMO if your fans are set up correctly than panels on = better temps and quieter.
My preference is for a duct. The cool air is directed to the heatsource. The other option is good air flow...a intake (IMO and experience) should be matched w/ a exhaust fan. Thus cool air is being drawn over your cpu and exhausted out. Before ducts my intake was in my front bays w/ a 80mm and at the rear of the case on the same level was another 80mm..the cool air moved right past the cpu and took out all the hot air. Dont be afraid to experiment w/ fan placements...fans are pretty cheap and besides it is more fun to mod a case yourself than to buy one modded for you.
I have less than fans now that I have learned to direct air flow...and my case is quieter!
Ducting=very good ;) :)
(in my opinion anyways)
slater3333uk
03-28-03, 01:48 AM
Originally posted by Footba_SWAT5420
i had to clean the heatsink each week bc my temps would go UP over average by about 6C.
Same here but you stilll have to do it if you have the side panels on but i think the problem is worse with them off.
Puer Aeternus
03-28-03, 05:42 AM
A little trick i use to keep dust out is this. Buy some window screen...(it is dirt cheap and you get alot of it). Cut the screen so it fits on your fan and screw the fans on w/ the screen underneath. Now you will just have to clean the screens weekly and your cpu/heat sink will stay "dust Bunny" free longer! It is worth the effort!
Originally posted by Puer Aeternus
A little trick i use to keep dust out is this. Buy some window screen...(it is dirt cheap and you get alot of it). Cut the screen so it fits on your fan and screw the fans on w/ the screen underneath. Now you will just have to clean the clean the screens weekly and your cpu/heat sink will stay "dust Bunny" free longer! It is worth the effort!
The best part about this is it's like 20 cents for an 80mm fan.
Have you tried some paper filters ? Like the one used in coffe...
Thats cheap to.
Puer Aeternus
03-28-03, 07:59 AM
Originally posted by ZaTaN
Have you tried some paper filters ? Like the one used in coffe...
Thats cheap to.
Never thought of that, how well does the air flow thru a coffee filter?
The air flow should be the same as the windows screen i think...
great info ppl! I originally thought that with the side panels off (or at least one off) that you would be causing the fans to blow the cool air right away from the cpu&mobo and into the mid air instead. :) I have had one side panel off for some time..to remind me to finish my "adding a window" mod, all i have done so far is pencil marked an outline to cut. i will get it done.
as a security precaution i put my side case panel on when i leave in the morning..and take it off when i come home.
I think if you leave the right panel on ( the one behind the mobo ), the hot air can flow between the mobo and the panel and warm the mobo components because it can't flow out easily.
So i will try to put on the left panel with a duct... and wait for results.
Ron Brooks
03-28-03, 10:16 PM
I know that when I have the side off of my Antec case the temp was higher than when I had the side on, although I didn't have a house or window fan blowing on the mobo.
A passive blowhole/duct question. Should I make the hole the size of the fan, or would it be better to make it larger ? Say for an 80mm fan, would it help or at least not hurt to make it say 120mm ?
Thanks
modenaf1
03-28-03, 10:28 PM
is dust really that much of a problem?
dust dosent build up in my comp. had for about 2or 3 months now and still no dust.
Puer Aeternus
03-28-03, 10:38 PM
Originally posted by Ron Brooks
I know that when I have the side off of my Antec case the temp was higher than when I had the side on, although I didn't have a house or window fan blowing on the mobo.
A passive blowhole/duct question. Should I make the hole the size of the fan, or would it be better to make it larger ? Say for an 80mm fan, would it help or at least not hurt to make it say 120mm ?
Thanks
If you cut the hole too big than what will you screw the fan to?
I cut my hole the width of the blade and left room to screw the fan onto the side panel. Another tip is to buy a fan grill to cover up a shoddy cutting job. I had never used a dremel for cutting sheet metal before so my cut was pretty shaky but w/ the grill you would never notice:)
Hope that helps.
hardcorecomp
03-28-03, 10:45 PM
Back in the day, my friend gave me a computer to use and it was pretty bad. The motherboard had a horrible design so that all the heat was focused on one corner of the motherboard. Anytime I closed the case it would start to blue screen. Anyways I had to leave the side panel off all the time with a house fan next to the computer. It allowed the computer to work great, but it became dusty very fast, so if you dont care about looks and dust build up, take off the case panels.
Originally posted by modenaf1
is dust really that much of a problem?
dust dosent build up in my comp. had for about 2or 3 months now and still no dust.
Where do you live ? In a bubble ? ;)
I think in 3 months you will have dust... sooner or later dust arrives...
Just2Good99
03-29-03, 01:22 AM
i could never run my comp with both sides open the dog hair and dust alone would kill it lol :o :p
Ron Brooks
03-29-03, 12:16 PM
Puer Aeternus,
You misunderstood me. Not hard to do. ;) Any how, I was thinking of adding a passive blow hole. Just a duct that would end at my HSF. This was just to allow the HSF to pull in cool outside air instead of the preheated air inside the case. I was just wondering if in this instance it would be better to have it the size of the HSF or could/should it be larger for more air flow ? I know that if this was an active blowhole you would want it to be the size of the fan, but I ask since this would just be a duct to a fan.
Puer Aeternus
03-29-03, 01:13 PM
Originally posted by Ron Brooks
Puer Aeternus,
You misunderstood me. Not hard to do. ;) Any how, I was thinking of adding a passive blow hole. Just a duct that would end at my HSF. This was just to allow the HSF to pull in cool outside air instead of the preheated air inside the case. I was just wondering if in this instance it would be better to have it the size of the HSF or could/should it be larger for more air flow ? I know that if this was an active blowhole you would want it to be the size of the fan, but I ask since this would just be a duct to a fan.
Sorry mate.
I Understand you now.
I was lucky enough to find "dryer hose(duct)" that fit snug around my fans. A snug fit ensures the duct will stay on the fan so you wont need to attach it...less trouble in my opinion. Now since I swtiched my cpu fan I went from a 80mm fan to 70mm...the fit is looser and needs a little more finese to keep on.
basically bring in your fan to the local hardware store and try on diff ducts for size....the clerks will be baffled and probably amused but dont tell em what u are doing cause they will raise eyebrows and say WTF!
Now something I did once was try attaching a fan at both ends of the duct so one fan blew cool air in to the cpu fan. I personally found that one fan(cpu fan) sucking air in works better. the temp diff was not much and it is quieter this way, but I would like to know if anyone else has done a duct w/ 2 fans.
I have old pics of a duct set up..it has changed since then but it will give you a good idea of what it looks like and maybe help you set up yours.
anyone wanna host me so I can post some examples of ghetto ducts?
Footba_SWAT5420
03-29-03, 02:50 PM
is dust really that much of a problem?
you may think you have none in there but trust be its there! you probly have plenty of the powder dust on your memory and that stuff insulates like crazy!
Footba_SWAT5420
03-29-03, 02:53 PM
BTW i realy dont like ducts. i feel like in screws up the airflow inside my case (a friend of mine had one and we tried it out on my computer). i guess if i had realy crappy airflow then it would make a diffrence in temps but except in one corner of my case (ARRRR) all hte air gets out.
Ron Brooks
03-29-03, 03:41 PM
Puer Aeternus,
That's sort of what I thought. Thanks for the verification. Much appreciated.
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