Cooling Advice

[cusimar9]

I'm planning on buying an Athlon XP 1700+ system soon, which I'm intending on overclocking.

I'm buying some extra fans, but I'm not sure where to put them for the best setup.

My case has room for another fan at the front, and another at the back, but I was checking out this little beauty (http://www.tweakmonster.com/fanbrackets/index.htm) and I'm wondering if this would be more effective?

Has anyone come across a review or article on where to put fans to get the best cooling?

Cheers

:D Westside

[Imperion1]

The fan in front draws cooling air in, the fan in back pushing warm air out, since heat rises.
As for the fan bracket, if your case cover has the vents (openings) in the side for mounting fans, save the few extra bucks and just mount the fans to the cover. If the cover does not have the vents (openings) in the lid, then you're gonna have to cut the lid to allow the fans to draw air in. And since you'd end up having to cut the lid for the fan vents, why not drill 4 holes for each fan, in the cover. Then you'd mount the fans to the case cover. Here by still saving you the money instead of getting that fan bracket.

[cusimar9]

That's a good point, but.... I'd like to keep the noise down as much as poss, and if I fit loads of fans to the outside of the case it's gonna sound like a rocket taking off.

That's why I liked the idea of the fan bracket, because it keeps the fans INSIDE the case, so keeping the noise down, but also keeps things cool.

Any more ideas?

[*TeKKeD*]

well from what ive learned searching the so many web sites on the net about proper cooling i found out that the best solution is too have 2 80mm fan w/filter drawing cool air in at the front bottom of the case and another 80mm or 120mm whichever you want, at the top end or at the back side of the case if u have room to install a fan there, if not just cut a hole at the top of the case, so the rear top that is, and this would of course be taking out warm air from the case, with this 2 in and 1 out fan solution ive learned that you can have a proper cooling solution aswell as proper airflow in the case, so keeping your case nice and cool!
Hope this helps!

Albert

[TweakerXP]

Just a thought.... before you go hacking your case all to pieces, get it running and then see where your at with the heat problem. You may find out you don't have one!?! That would be nice , huh!

Remember you want to get rid of the heat. More fans removing the hot air, not forcing air IN... but getting the air OUT that's what's important.

Good Luck.

[cusimar9]

Really?

I've just moved around my PCI cards with the intention of fitting a big fan on top of my graphics card - i'm sure I read some temperature readings of a similar setup, where having the fan pointing towards the card had a result of 41c, whereas having the fan sucking air away had a result of 45c (or thereabouts).

I guess it's just a matter of setting up the fans both ways and testing the results, see which performs better.

Another Idea I had was to remove all the little metal plates from the back of the case (which cover the holes for the PCI cards) this would surely improve ventilation a little more?

[Jimstep]

Depending on your budget, check out the water cooled cases. No fans and the best cooling available.

[Imperion1]

Ok, you misunderstood me. I was talking about mounting the case fans on the inside of the lid. This way the fans are still inside the case. Guess I should have said that the first time.;)
And even if you use the fan bracket, you would still need to make some kind of vent holes in the side panel. The air needs to come from or go out of the case. Without the vents holes, all you'll be doing is recirculating the warm air thats already inside the case, since it has nowhere to go.