Air flow design

[Fear.Sin]

Alright so I am experimenting with some air cooling designs and need a few expert opinions. 8)

So I was thinking that it would make sense for the air flow to have a simple input and simple output. So the idea is to set up an equal amount of fans in the front and back of the case so the air is just streaming past all of the components.

All the hardware that goes in the system will not be using stock cooling. Part of the design was to add the Gemeni II CPU cooler into the picture to blow the air onto the motherboard. I was hoping to keep the case nice and open so there is no obsticles other than the hardware blocking the air, which hopefully will create a faster air flow.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5117/casefan1xt9.png

Of course the motherboard I/O will not work in the usual spot in the back of the case so I was thinking of fixing it to the top of the case. I would ofcourse mod the case to accomidate the odd positioning :smoker: .

Now this is all just one design I have so I want to know what you all think, whether to pass or not on it. So I am sure I overlooked a few things so let me know if there are any problems with the design.

Also I have not thought of a good place for the power supply yet so again, comments welcome!

:bunny:

[MaxOC]

hmm well if the mobo is rotated then that wont work, remember that videocard? itll just act as a aire blocker deflecting it and messing up the airflow, now if you made some sort of ramp or nosecone for the back of it it would work but then the other side and any other cards wont get anymore cooling,
not trying to dis you but that just wont work unless you get about 20 fans to totally manipulate air flow

[DaJe]

It's better to have more exhaust than intake. At least 1 more exhaust than intake. So maybe you could bring it down to just two intake fans, kind of centered.

[MaxOC]

eh well it depends on what kind of effect you want, there are pros and cons to both positive and negitive pressure

[NuKS]

One thing to remember is that hot air rises, so it would be best to put your intake fans on the bottom and the exhaust fans on the top. Another thing you might want to think about is how much air do your fans push. One other way that might help you with your fan design, if you like the design, is to put one on the top of your case.

[Fear.Sin]

Well this case is going to be for my old P4 that I have running an ATI 9800. I want to OC it as much as I can and don't feel like spending the money for water cooling on it. Gotta save the dough for the real mod I am going to be getting into soon. ;)

So do you still think the 9800 is big enough to obstruct the air flow? I know the 8800's are monsters! When I got mine I thought I accidently bought a motherboard.

The hot air rising was a concern I was thinking about. I did plan to buy some fans that will move a lot of air in hope that it will be blowing fast enough from one end to the other for the hot air not to be an issue.

Which would be better air cooling, tweaking the idea above or working with the normal air flow?

[Silenced_Coyote]

I would recommend the Thermalright Ultra 120 (or the Extreme version) over the GeminII. It would work better with that airflow design. It's also better at cooling, which leads to better OC'ing.
http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling/showdoc.aspx?i=2978&p=6

[Fear.Sin]

Thanks coyote, that was a helpfull link. I was under the impression from a few posts in other forums that the Gemeni II was a cut above the rest. After taking a look at those temps I will probably go for the thermalright Ultra 120.

[Eclecticos]

Ive done alot of experimenting with different size fans. One thing is for sure there is a such thing as to many!

For example if you have a video card with a fan on it an you have a case fan the blows in right beside it you are combating your video fan, I learned this the hard way my video was freezing up intil I turned that fan on the side off.

The diagram on the top looks decent. I was thinking about using a partition wall between the cpu mem | and the cards to cool them seperately and exhaust seperately as not to mix it all up in there.

Im still trying to figure out a way to do a visual demonstration of the fans at work. The only way I can figure is lessen the voltage of the fans and use some kind of smoke that dosent leave deposits.

If anyone knows a way to do this or has an idea, let me know. I have a case set up at my homeboys shop to do exactly that.

I figured a fan controller would work, but with cigarette smoke it dissapears.


One thing to remember is that hot air rises
Exactly. Thats why a made the exhaust on the top on my saturn mag mod. "In the Works"

[Ookazoo]

Won't that many fans be like a small tornado in your case in terms of noise?

[NuKS]

Im still trying to figure out a way to do a visual demonstration of the fans at work. The only way I can figure is lessen the voltage of the fans and use some kind of smoke that dosent leave deposits.


What about those smoke generator machines used during halloween?