Case Airflow Experts Needed!

[jzodda]

Ok I need advice from any cooling experts ou there :)

I have an Alpha 8045 cooling an XP 1900 and in the instruction sheet it has the fan pointed in such a way that the air flows up from the cpu and not down onto the cpu. I have seen this before in the alpha line but I have one problem.

On top of my heatsink/fan I have a cage thats attached to my case with another 80 with the air-flow pointed down towards the cpu. Its not a hole in the case with a fan attached, just a cage inside the case with a fan with airflow pointed down.

My question is wouldn't this cancel out the benefits of having the fan on the heatsink that directs the airflow away from the CPU?

Should I either remove the case fan that points down on the CPU, or reverse its flow which would point the air at the wall of the case (dont see how that could do anything)

Or should I turn the fan on the Alpha around so it points down onto the cpu and in so doing then have 2 fans with airflow heading at the CPU.

What do you think?

[Warlord2]

I would try and just unplug the fan and see if your temps go up or down.

you can also try and turn your cpu fan around and see what your temps do

almost every setup is different so you can only try new things

[Diggrr]

I'd say to reverse the fan on the heatsink to take advantage of the cool air coming in through the fan cage.
If, however, the cage is lining up with the side of the heatsink, leave it.

[jzodda]

Diggrr

Ok but just to let you know- the fan in the case cage thats over the CPU heatsink/Fan is not getting any cool air from outside the case. Its a cage thats attached with a screw to the inside of the case but not in any area where air is coming in from outside the case.

For intake from outside the case I have 2 fans in the front of the case- 1 120 and 1 90. And for exhaust I have 1 60 at the back middle and 2 90's at the top rear.

[Sonny]

What is the use of that "cage" fan if it is not pulling cold air into the case? Might as well take it out. Test the Alpha with both fan directions & side panels removed.

[jzodda]

sonny

Your guess is as good as mine. the case was one of those modded additronics cases by Jim H. I just figured there was a reason he put it there- but in the back of my mind I have always wondered what good it was doing if it was not taking cool air from outside.

[Sonny]

Never heard of him:rolleyes: Better take it out & see what happens:burn:

[Acko]

You will get good results if you take out the cage fan & let the Alpha fan suck off from the cpu area.

But you will get better results if you turn the Alpha fan to blow on to the cpu & cut a hole in the side of your case in line with the Alpha fan & fit an 80mm fan blowing outside air straight into the Alpha/cpu area.

Acko

[Maximus Nickus]

Why not mod ya case:eek: using a Dremel so the Fan held on by the cage is blowing in cool air (maybe make a duct) as this would dramaticly drop CPU temps if your case gets hot.

[jzodda]

Acko and nick_cw

What about leaving the CPU fan blowing away from the HS and then mod the case door to have an 80 right in line with the CPU fan blowing out as an exhaust?

Or is it generally considered better to have the CPU fan and the blowhole blowing onto the CPU?

[Maximus Nickus]

If you have a Hot:eek: case then blowing out is worse as the CPU fan will be circulating the hot air into the HSF then out through the case, whereas having it blowing in would provide the CPU with cool air.

[Acko]

I agree with nick-cw

You have to extract the hot air out of your case & get some cooler air in.

It`s all trial & error but there are still the basics to consider.

Acko

[Hippo]

Leave the fans and go for watercooling. It is more quiet and more effective.
I cannot hear my comp. it is so quiet:D

[Maximus Nickus]

I didn't get watercooling (as if ur case is loud enough) there will not be to much diff in temps (7C) and I don't like having water going through my case, I mean Water+Electricity =BANG:beer:

[Acko]

Yeah

Water & electricity don`t mix & then there is the mould then the smell etc. etc. he he

Whats wrong with nice fresh air?

Acko

[Diggrr]

Nothing wrong with watercooling or air cooling. But with as much time I spend on the computer, quiet is definately what I'm after.

As for water+electricity=bang, you left out a piece of the equation...water+electricity+stupid mistakes=bang. It's a challenge to watercool an electric system, and the benefits are real. It's kinda like Junkyard wars-the home version.

Besides, don't you need an ORV sticker from the state for your hovercraft?

[Maximus Nickus]

Or Clever Person not much cash=bang=DEAD.

Air cooling can be just as good as water cooling sometimes and it makes ya PC seem REALLY POWERFUL! If its quite is doesn't give that impression.