should i cover side ventilation holes?

[JayP]

I've got one of those cheapo mid atx cases that have those weird side panels with ventilation holes on the top half and bottom half. I'm trying to create the wind tunnel effect for best air flow, so shouldn't I close up all ventilation holes on the side panels? Fans are as follows:

1. bottom/front = air in
2. top = air out
3. left side = air in (direction ---> hsf)
4. psu = air out
5. pci = air circulating

should I cover the side panel ventilation holes?

[flounder43]

I have mine covered, with tape. It depends on how much you want to control air flow. I found it did nothing to my temps, I just did it to see...

[Monaco]

I used duct tape on the inside to cover holes on the bottom of my side panels. I got maybe a half a degree drop on the CPU- I might be imagining it- but I definatelygot a good drop in temps for my northbridge and video card. Vid card goes to 250 wit the tape, won't get over 230 without it. The holes are directly in line with the vid card, that may have something to do with it.

Also, when I adjust my fan speed control, it varies the case pressure, and the holes go from output to intake as I increase fan speed. So I just taped the bugger!:D

[donny_paycheck]

I say do it. It looks like your setup would work better with the holes plugged.

[eobard]

I've got mine covered with tape. As you can read it's a good idea.

[JayP]

sounds good guys... i think i'll give it a try.

[JayP]

well, seems like covering side ventilation holes works! i've dropped my cpu and case temps to about 2 degrees, and that's not having my front bottom fan running. it looks pretty good. once i get a new fan at the bottom front sucking 50-68cfm of outside air into my case things should look even better. :burn:

[donny_paycheck]

Originally posted by JayP
well, seems like covering side ventilation holes works! i've dropped my cpu and case temps to about 2 degrees, and that's not having my front bottom fan running. it looks pretty good. once i get a new fan at the bottom front sucking 50-68cfm of outside air into my case things should look even better. :burn:

Is the front-bottom an 80mm?

[VegetaQ]

Hmm, thats weird. Ive been on a crusade to cool mu machine (Ive done a couple posts asking questions about cpu fans and this and that) and for my system I have a 120MM intake fan, 92mm output (in back shooting out air) and 92 on top back (shooting out air). but on my side I have a 80MM intake and It was working well. So good I made a ... "minor" modification to my case to put in a 120mm fan. the 80 blows over the pci/agp card slots and the 120 blows almost directly over the CPU. And at least for my system my temps went down. I went from running 52C idle down to about 48-49 idle. Maybe its just my setup. Oh well. Just wanted to add my 2 cents.

[TruckChase!]

It seems that covering the holes is generally a good thing unless you have a really bad intake/outtake ratio. An excessive +/- case pressure would work the fans in one direction awfully hard, and I'd venture to guess reduce the overall effectiveness of your airflow, since an over pressure situation would make it more difficult for air to circulate and an under pressure situation would just blow directly from intake to outtake without much mingling in-between. Um, methinks. ( Haven't actually tested this )

[JayP]

Originally posted by donny_paycheck


Is the front-bottom an 80mm?

the front-bottom has room for an 80mm fan... as of right now i don't have anything at the front-bottom. i'm planning to stick a 80mm Sunon 50cfm or Delta FFB0812SHE 80x38mm 68cfm!!! after that i hope things will be much cooler inside the case.

[donny_paycheck]

The 80mm Deltas are AWESOME. The EHE is 80CFM so even better.....but watch the noise! I have 4x50CFM 80mm Sunon fans (2 in, 2 out) plus the PSU and a (supposedly 43CFM yeah right) slot blower near the AGP that's pretty much useless. 68CFM is a lot quieter than the 80 though....it's like 4500rpm vs. 5300 I think. Go for it.