side fans really needed?

CommanderZero · 28-January-07, 07:04 AM

im about to get a watercooling kit (dont worry, i went big, not a TT WC kit). currently i have a 9500c and stock 7800GS HSF's. my case has 2 (loud) 80mm side fans, one for the cpu heatsink and 1 for the gpu. since they make up most of the noise on my computer. would it really hit the temps if i took them out, and just made a standard front-to back airflow system? im thinking about putting 1 120mm fan in the empty CD bays i have, and i already have a 120mm fan at the top and back of my case, and a 80mm at the front, by the HDD's. what do you guys think?

ERAD Caz · 28-January-07, 10:45 AM

Have you considered the effects on case pressure and temps? Well, from what I understand, getting rid of the side fans and keeping only an 80 intake and a 120 on top (blowing out I assume) and another 120 in back (also blowing out?) will give you positive case pressure, which may cause things to run hotter. Adding that 120 in the cd bays would really help keep the temps lower, but with two 120s pulling air out and an 80 teamed up with a 120 pulling in might still be positive pressure, but slightly. Hope that helps in your decisions.

HoJo · 28-January-07, 11:25 AM

Actually with 1 80mm intake and 2 120mm exhaust you would have negitive pressure, but don't forget about the PSU. Is there any reason you can't replace the side fans with 120's? I believe you can't have too much air flow but you can have too little.

Slaymate · 28-January-07, 11:53 AM

You said watercooling. What components will be involved? Even if your watercooling all
the major components (cpu, northbridge, video) you'll still need good case ventilation
for the video memory, system memory and the mofsets on the mobo. And harddrives
generate a lot of heat 2. I guess I'm saying your still gonna need your fans. But maybe
you can replace them with quieter, slower fans. Personally I don't feel safe unless my
PC sounds like a Jet Fighter :-)

ERAD Caz · 28-January-07, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoJo


	Actually with 1 80mm intake and 2 120mm exhaust you would have negitive pressure, but don't forget about the PSU. Is there any reason you can't replace the side fans with 120's? I believe you can't have too much air flow but you can have too little.

Damn, I always mix that up. What he said. And HoJo, so would you count a PSU with 2 80 fans as 2 exhaust? Or the whole PSU as one big exhaust-er?

HoJo · 28-January-07, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERAD Caz


	Damn, I always mix that up. What he said. And HoJo, so would you count a PSU with 2 80 fans as 2 exhaust? Or the whole PSU as one big exhaust-er?

I would count that as 1 80mm exhaust. Having 2 fans in a row like that dosen't really increase the total air flow. Think of the PSU as a small case. You have an intake and exhaust.

CommanderZero · 28-January-07, 04:50 PM

well, the main reason i dont really want to put too many 120mm fans in my case is because i have no way of nicely cutting a nice 120mm hole. all i have to do that is a router, and...yeah. i guess if a had fan filters or something i could cover the mess a little. my psu has 2 5v 80mm fans. as for the watercooling setup, it will be mostly everything (cpu, gpu, chipset). what im talking abou tis that the fnas are accually really quiet, but just that when i put them on the plexiglass i get this vacuuming sound. could it be my homemade fan filters?

oh and btw the 120mm on the top is sucking in

28-January-07, 07:04 AM		#1 (permalink)
CommanderZero Apex Master Tech	side fans really needed? im about to get a watercooling kit (dont worry, i went big, not a TT WC kit). currently i have a 9500c and stock 7800GS HSF's. my case has 2 (loud) 80mm side fans, one for the cpu heatsink and 1 for the gpu. since they make up most of the noise on my computer. would it really hit the temps if i took them out, and just made a standard front-to back airflow system? im thinking about putting 1 120mm fan in the empty CD bays i have, and i already have a 120mm fan at the top and back of my case, and a 80mm at the front, by the HDD's. what do you guys think?

28-January-07, 10:45 AM		#2 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech	Re: side fans really needed? Have you considered the effects on case pressure and temps? Well, from what I understand, getting rid of the side fans and keeping only an 80 intake and a 120 on top (blowing out I assume) and another 120 in back (also blowing out?) will give you positive case pressure, which may cause things to run hotter. Adding that 120 in the cd bays would really help keep the temps lower, but with two 120s pulling air out and an 80 teamed up with a 120 pulling in might still be positive pressure, but slightly. Hope that helps in your decisions.

28-January-07, 11:25 AM		#3 (permalink)
HoJo Review Pimp, but still Jo's Ho	Re: side fans really needed? Actually with 1 80mm intake and 2 120mm exhaust you would have negitive pressure, but don't forget about the PSU. Is there any reason you can't replace the side fans with 120's? I believe you can't have too much air flow but you can have too little.

28-January-07, 11:53 AM		#4 (permalink)
Slaymate PCApex Reviewer From Hell	Re: side fans really needed? You said watercooling. What components will be involved? Even if your watercooling all the major components (cpu, northbridge, video) you'll still need good case ventilation for the video memory, system memory and the mofsets on the mobo. And harddrives generate a lot of heat 2. I guess I'm saying your still gonna need your fans. But maybe you can replace them with quieter, slower fans. Personally I don't feel safe unless my PC sounds like a Jet Fighter :-)

28-January-07, 04:50 PM		#7 (permalink)
CommanderZero Apex Master Tech	Re: side fans really needed? well, the main reason i dont really want to put too many 120mm fans in my case is because i have no way of nicely cutting a nice 120mm hole. all i have to do that is a router, and...yeah. i guess if a had fan filters or something i could cover the mess a little. my psu has 2 5v 80mm fans. as for the watercooling setup, it will be mostly everything (cpu, gpu, chipset). what im talking abou tis that the fnas are accually really quiet, but just that when i put them on the plexiglass i get this vacuuming sound. could it be my homemade fan filters? oh and btw the 120mm on the top is sucking in

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