Case flow dynamics

[Scotty99]

One thing i feel needs to be talked about more when building a PC is how air should flow in a system. It is not 100% clear to me how things should flow, although i have an idea.

The case in question is an antec 300 illusion, the power supply is a raidmax http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

Ill assume you all know the antec 300.

Ok, so the two front fans are intakes and the top 140 and back 120 are exhausts. Now, the antec does not have a perforation on the bottom where the PSU mounts, so that means i need to have the fan upwards drawing inside case air and shooting it out the back correct?

If this all sounds right, would it make sense to install a side fan (as an intake) to help the PSU draw in cool air rather than the hot air provided by the GPU.

I just think manufacturers should include this kind of stuff with their products, case and PSU manufacturers especially.

 

[Emperus]

Hey that is a good deal for a nice video card.. So well done on that.. As for your PSU theory (yeah I know here we go again), it is the most critical component in a PC.. So skimping (in quality terms) is not at all recommended.. Your call though.. All the best..

 

[Flightsimluke]

See, this is exactly what i am talking about when i made this thread. In no situation should i need to modify components that should be 100% compatible.

It just boggles my mind that pointing the PSU up or down is even an option from case to case. Airflow is one of the MAJOR selling points because cooler systems run better, but hardly anything is ever talked about things like my post here is.

I see it two ways here:

1. Point it upwards and decrease the lifetime of my PSU and possibly lower GPU temps (probably the best option considering the price difference between these two components).

2. Point it downwards, forcing me to go to the store and design some sort of filter, as well as cutting a large hole in the bottom of the case. Trust me, if i did not do these two things i would be in a worse off situation than just pointing the fan up and sucking in case air.

So... Why ask a question on a forum if you seem to know exactly what you are doing, and will not change your perspective?

 

[jsc]

scotty,
I have 3 Antec 900 cases. I orient the PSU's with the fan up. It gets most of its cooling air from the air that cools the hard drives in the lowest drive bay. PSU exhaust air is about 3 C over ambient. If that truly bothers you, it is just a few minutes' work to cut a hole in the bottom of the 300 or 900 case.

Case modding is no big deal:
Antec 900 case mods for cable management:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/264112-28-antec

Side fans - if you have a case with a hole for a side fan, try the case with and without the fan. Use what ever gives you the better temps.

Inexpensive power supplies - You have the cheap junk. Next step up are the things like Raidmaxes and Coolmaxes. They are generally useful in simple, low spec systems. I have used them in budget builds for other people. Generally, they are not too bad if you derate them by 20%. If the box says it is a 500 watt PSU, mentally treat it like a 350 - 400 watt PSU.