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Cooling your Computer (cont.)

How to cool your computer case:

There are 2 methods that I like for providing a strong airflow in a computer case.

Method 1:

The first method I will discuss is bringing in cool air through the front of the case and then exhausting it out the back. Antec, Thermaltake, Cheiftec and other server style cases use this method.

Bringing cool air in through the front of your case insures that air flows over all your potentially warm components. The drawback to this method is that it is hard to keep a good airflow through the case. Cables, cards and other items get in the way and restrict airflow.

A problem with cases that have fans already built in, is the fans might be thermally controlled. This can be a good thing because your fans only kick up when the case gets warm. Unfortunately, most of these fans are triggered from within the power supply. Therefore if the power supply is not as hot, the fans won't speed up and provide a stronger airflow.

If you are modifying your own case or adding fans, you will want to ensure that air flows over the right components. To get a strong airflow, ensure that air can get to the fan. Many times computer cases provide a grate which you mount in front of the fan. The grate will restrict airflow and must be cut out to get the maximum flow from your fan. Doing this step alone can double the CFM you recieve from the fan.

Fans are normally mounted in three places, behind the processor for exhaust and in the front bottom and front of the hard drives for intake. NOTE: Because cool air does not rise, the fan at the bottom of the case will not do a whole lot unless you point it upward toward the processor and video card. This can be done by using some washers behind the fan. You only need a slight angle to ensure the air is flowing upward toward the CPU.

The power supply can be used as an exhaust fan but with most temperature controlled power supplies, the fan does not provide an adequate airflow. If you like to solder, you can override the temperature sensor by taking out the thermal lead and allowing the fan to run as normal.

Below is a picture of the ideal airflow with the front style of cooling. Remember that fans produce a circular air pattern, like a spiral, with a larger radius farther away from the fan. The CFM is weaker in relationship to distance as well.

Method 2:

The second method is more effective in my experience and uses an intake fan on the side of your case. The intake fan is positioned to blow air over the processor and video card. This method supplies plenty of cool air to be used for the CPU and video card fans. This method takes a little work because you need to cut a hole in the side of your case and mount a fan to it. You can also get window kits that have fan holes for the side of your case.

An exhaust fan is normally placed behind the CPU. The power supply can be used as an exhaust fan but with most temperature controlled power supplies, the fan does not provide an adequate airflow. If you like to solder this can be overridden by taking out the thermal lead and allowing the fan to run as normal.

Below is a picture of the airflow pattern. My 3D imagination on this is not as good as it should be. Basically, the air will spread out over your hot components and get sucked out as before. NOTE: I am only using a power supply with the fan inside at full blast. The air out the ports in the back would come from an exhaust fan, if one existed.

Additional tricks:

Here are additional things and notes on items to improve cooling in addition to the methods I have mentioned.

Insert a blow hole -- Much like the blow hole on a whale, you can put an exhaust fan at the top of your case. Hot air rises so this fan is effective at creating a vacuum at the top of your case; thus, removing hot air that is not sucked out by exhaust fans.

Use fans with some CFM -- I have tried Panaflos and Stealths as case fans. They simply don't put out any air if you are trying to move air across the case. You may get away with a 92mm Stealth as a side mount intake fan. If noise is an issue, use one decent sleeve bearing fan. Sleeve bearing fans are quieter than ball bearing fans, because there is no whine associated with the bearings. Sleeve will last you quite a few years. You do not need to load up your cases with Delta fans and Tornados. Instead, use an 80mm or 92mm fan that puts out around 30-35 CFM. A Panaflo, in my opinion, is like buying a Geo to pull a boat. Yeah it is quiet but does it actually do the job?

Use a hard drive cooler -- Heat lessens the life span of a hard drive. If you don't cool your hard drive, the metal frame of your case will conduct the heat and heat up your case. It does not take much to cool a hard drive. A good use for a Panaflo is to provide a light airflow over the hard drive. If not using an intake fan to cool your drive, get a bottom mount hard drive cooler. This is the most effective hard drive cooler.