Case Fan Filter Position

[megamanfre]

Is there any fan performance lost if you were to place the fan filter on the intake side of the fan, as opposed to the output side?

My set up currently is this:

FAN >>AIR FLOW>> - CASE

My case setup (Rosewill Challenger) prevents me from easily accessing a front fan filter between my fan and case, and would like to have it set up like:

FAN FILTER - FAN >>AIR FLOW>> - CASE

What Ive seen, most setups are:

FAN >>AIR FLOW>> - FILTER - CASE

Does it really matter where you place the fan filter? My top and top rear 120mm fans blow out, while my 2 120mm side fans, and front 120mm fan blow inward. My 92mm CPU Cooler fan blows upward towards my top fan, essentially blowing out.

Currently the only fan filter I have is the one that came with the case, at the bottom for the PSU, which allows easy access to clean it out, and I do get a decent amount of dust still in my case, and want to eliminate as much of it as possible. I still want to be able to access the fan filters so I can clean them at least once a month, without having to uninstall my fans, as I plan on using rubber grommets to reduce vibration noise, and dont want to cause undue wear and tear on them.

Currently using 2xAPEVIA CF12S-BK 120mm, 1xAntec TrueQuiet 120mm and 1x120mm Rosewill that came with the case, if that makes any difference in filter placement.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[nostall]

Filter SHOULD be on the intake side of the fan. I don't know where you have seen the filters on the back side of the fan, but such arrangement isn't logical as the fan then collects more dirt. Exhaust fans don't need filters; if they are blowing air out of the case, then any airborne dirt/dust that got through the filters will be blown out also.
Re. airflow restriction, that will depend upon the filter material. I have used the relatively inexpensive stuff you can buy at Home Depot that is designed for small air conditioner filters (the stuff I have is grey), and I have heard that the material from panty hose/nylon stockings works very well with minor air flow reduction: The nylon material is a lot less bulky then the other I mentioned.