Airflow: more in or out?

[MadMan007]

The title is self-explanatory. Is it better to have net airflow into a case (postive pressure in case) or net airflow out of the case? Or try to balance them as close as possible?

The specific case in question is an enlight 7237 midtower, but I would also appreciate any "non-specific" theories as replies.

Thanks!

[stool]

As a rule, the closer to parity the better. I would tend toward slightly more in than out, as too much outflow will draw air(and dust) through your drive bays, floppy, Cd, and any other opening. More dust equals more heat and less effeciency.

[Hoot]

I concur with Stool. I have a 7237 and take a tip from ol' Hoot. The fans that come with it are not sufficient for good throughcase circulation. I putzed around with different 80mm fans and unfortunately, by the time I got the airflow up where I wanted it, the noise from the fans was unbearable. What I wound up doing was cutting a blow hole in the side panel, directly above the CPU area of my motherboard. In that hole, I mounted a 92x32 Sanyo Denki Mini Ace 32 fan. I then removed the rear case fan and sealed the hole and turned the lower front fan was to blow out. That lower fan, along with the PSU fan were a perfect exhaust balance for the 92mm fan blowing in, yielding a slight positive pressure. Originally, that blow hole was where I mounted my "Hoot Chute" centrifugal blower, but when that unit became my wifes PC, the blower had to go. The 92mm SD fan was a good choice to take its place.

Hoot

[o770]

same opinion: slight positive pressure.

[MadMan007]

k, thx. Hoot, I don't think there will be any cutting in this case since it is a system I am building for someone else. :) BUT I could mount a 92mm in front intake and move the front 80mm to the rear, and have it output with the PSU...

[Hoot]

That's what I did initially with my Enlight, before going to the Hoot Chute. Though not as good as a blow hole arrangement, it was an effective arrangement.

Hoot