Help with positioning case fans

[Pavin]

Hi guys, I have a Mercury ATX cabinet with the PSU on top.

Its a pretty basic one.

I wanted to reduce the temps a bit due to my high ambient room temps which are always above 30 C.

My current setup :

1.Rear exhaust - 90 mm fan @ 2500 RPM.

2.Side Intake (Blowing in on the processor) - 90 mm fan @ 2500 RPM.

I also have a side intake for blowing air onto the graphics card (which gets almost to 90 + C when gaming since its overclocked).So, will adding another of those 90 mm fans to blow into the GFX card reduce my temps.

My case only has these 3 fan installation sites.It doesn't even have a front intake.

So which is the best setup for me? Please help.

 

[Alphamale]

I spent a lot of time researching case design, fan CFM, positive versus negative pressure, intake/exhaust searching for better temps.

Based on what I've learned, you need a new case. There are plenty in the $50 range that would be an improvement. Watch the flow in this video. You're not going to get high flow with that case.

 

[Conumdrum]

Agreed. Not much you can do except replace the case fans with high RPM/CFM/noise fans. And to compensate for only having the two fans, get really high CFM ones.

Other option is a better case.

 

[Pavin]

I'm saving the money for whole new rig for now.So, spending money on a case now is not a viable option. Can you please help with what I need to do on the third intake for the GC. Should I make it all exhaust or should I keep my current config with a new intake for the GFX card.

 

[Pavin]

My current config- 1.Rear exhaust (After seeing the video, I think thats the most important of all).Will keep it that way.

2. Side intake blowing air onto the cpu and heatsink as of now. Should I make this an exhaust?

3. Planning on adding another side fan positioned onto where the graphic card sits. Should I make this an intake or exhaust?

Please help. Thankyou for the video and inputs.

 

[bluezero5]

Ducts can help in some situations.

Post some pictures, let us help.

 

[Conumdrum]

Intake front and side. All others exhaust.

 

[Knufire]

I'm saving the money for whole new rig for now.So, spending money on a case now is not a viable option. Can you please help with what I need to do on the third intake for the GC. Should I make it all exhaust or should I keep my current config with a new intake for the GFX card.

How often does case technology change? Get a new case now, and then just reuse it for your new rig. Good cases should last 7+ years.

 

[Conumdrum]

If your saving up for a new rig in a few months, and have used the rig for 3 years, why not drop the OC till you buy a new one? No reason to buy all new fans etc when your gonna get a new case with your new rig.

 

[Pavin]

bluezero5 - Will post soon.Thanks.
Conumdrum - I dont have a front intake . Only 2 side intakes and a rear exhaust.
Knufire - I might not be getting another rig until next June /July(Main reason to upgrade to a GT 630 in two weeks.9400 GT is killing me).

 

[Pavin]

These are the images of my case (Sorry for the poor clarity,took it on a Nokia 5800)

1. Side ( One intake (up top) blowing into cpu and stock Intel HSF)



2. Rear (Only space for 1 exhaust (down), PSU and its fan up top)



What should I do with the side slot for the GFX card (intake or exhaust?). What would be the ideal setup in my case?
Thanks.

 

[Pavin]

My temps when idling are :

CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz 52 °C
Yorkfield 45nm Technology

Graphics
SyncMaster (1280x1024@60Hz)
512MB GeForce 9400 GT (XFX Pine Group) 63 °C

Hard Drives
313GB SAMSUNG SAMSUNG HD322HJ ATA Device (SATA) 35 °C

My ambient room temp is around 30 C always.(27-33C)

 

[EarthDog]

How often does case technology change? Get a new case now, and then just reuse it for your new rig. Good cases should last 7+ years.

Winner winner, chicken dinner. Get a new case now and use it with the new build.

 

[Conumdrum]

When is the last time that case has been cleaned? I see wayyyy to much dust, wonder what the heatsinks are like inside, and the wiring..................

 

[Pavin]

Well, this casehasnt been cleaned for three years, and what about the wiring?

 

[EarthDog]

Clean the dust out of all the heatsinks.

Proper wire management helps airflow. So if its not tidy, cleaning that up with proper routing would help.

 

[Pavin]

Can anyone please help with the positioning of the fans?

EarthDog -- I will certainly clean it while I'm free and about the wires, they are kept adequately tucked in at the sides,so no problem there.

 

[EarthDog]

Front/sides = intake
top/rear = exhaust

 

[Pavin]

Got it.thanks