Best way to set up case fans in a system.

[TheBigFluffyDoge]

After recently benchmarking my rig I was wondering if my fan layout was providing the best possible cooling. I have 2 120mm fans pulling air out of the top 1 rear 120mm exhaust pulling air out and one 120mm at the front pulling air in as well as 2 80mm (i think) in both side panels for hdd/ssd cooling that vent from the side panels.I also have a free space for a 120/140mm fan in the bottom of the case. The case I have is a Zalman z11.

 

[huilun02]

Its better to have equal or higher pressure inside the case. That way the components have more air molecules to pass heat to, before getting pushed out of exhaust.

Install a bottom fan to pull air in, and set both 80mm to pull in as well.

 

[Goldengoose]

There is a huge amount of material regarding cooling and where fans can go.

Top results on a google search are:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1858957/airflow-101-setting-fans-keeping-computer-cool.html
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/128313-extremetechs-guide-to-air-cooling-your-pc
http://www.tested.com/tech/pcs/454619-cooling-your-new-pc-water-cooling-options-explained/

For me - the general rule of thumb is have cool air coming in from the bottom, warm air sent out the top. To keep a good amount of air flow, the usual setup is to have intake on the lower front and then exhaust on the rear top. The PSU is (nowadays) mounted on the bottom, pulling air from beneath the case and out the back so not to impact the overall air flow of the machine.

 

[TheBigFluffyDoge]

Its better to have equal or higher pressure inside the case. That way the components have more air molecules to pass heat to, before getting pushed out of exhaust.

Install a bottom fan to pull air in, and set both 80mm to pull in as well.

Thanks moved around the fans and got a couple of degrees cooler on the gpu by moving the 80mm ones to pull. I shall put in a bottom one when i get the chance as well.