Cabinet cooling query.

[Conrad Pinto]

Hi all,

I got an Antec X1 case and it comes with 2 120mm fans (front intake and back exhaust).

As per the an article on Tom's (link) the top fans must be exhaust fans for bottom mounted PSUs.

My query, I have a an option for putting 2 120mm fans on the top of my case. If I install them as exhaust fans then I'll have one intake and 3 exhaust fans. Is that gonna be okay?

Plus I read that if you want to reduce dust you need to drop the internal cabinet pressure by having more intake fans. Now I have a bit of a dust problem and now I'm confused.

I have an Intel i5 4th gen with a stock cooler (temps are 70C+ when gaming and using BOINC manager).

GPU is a AMD R9 270 (temps are about 70-80C when gaming).

What is my best option? I need the fans (dust is settling on my PSU from the top fan slots. Have to clean the system every week).

 

[andy_Man]

Yes, ideally you want positive air pressure in the case. This means that air gets pushed out all the nooks and crannies. Negative air pressure would mean dust can be sucked in from everywhere.

Positive air pressure doesn't stop dust by itself, you will want dust filters to help with that. (And to not have your pc on the floor)
I think you should use the fans at the front/side of your case as intake. So it's 2 intakes front/side and 1 exhaust (top)

 

[Conrad Pinto]

What would happen if I were to keep 1 intake and 3 exhaust fans? All 120.
I already have 1 front intake and 1 rear exhaust.
I was planning 2 top fans. If I go for top intakes (to reduce dust) the would my PC suffer during gaming?

 

[andy_Man]

What would happen if I were to keep 1 intake and 3 exhaust fans? All 120.
I already have 1 front intake and 1 rear exhaust.
I was planning 2 top fans. If I go for top intakes (to reduce dust) the would my PC suffer during gaming?

Your case would have negative pressure, which means every little hole/crack would suck in air and dust.
Why don't you want more front intakes?

 

[Conrad Pinto]

What would happen if I were to keep 1 intake and 3 exhaust fans? All 120.
I already have 1 front intake and 1 rear exhaust.
I was planning 2 top fans. If I go for top intakes (to reduce dust) the would my PC suffer during gaming?

Your case would have negative pressure, which means every little hole/crack would suck in air and dust.
Why don't you want more front intakes?

I guess I can go for another front fan.

So that would be 2 front intakes and 3 exhausts (rear and top). But that is still negative air pressure.

Please let me know what positive air pressure does to gaming.

 

[andy_Man]

As long as your not over heating, it does nothing. Cooler temps do allow for better overclocks(To a point), it sounds like you have plenty of air flow. Positive air pressure is mostly about dust control.