CPU Fan Positioning

[Corbetio]

I have a be quiet! shadow rock slim in a zalman z9 case which is very audible especially when playing more demanding games.

As it wouldn't fit on its side I have installed it horizontally with the fan side closer to the top of the case and the heatsink closer to the gpu. I was wondering if this was inefficient as the cpu fan is intake and right above it is the exhaust fan meaning it might begetting less air? Should i flip it so that the fan is closer to the gpu. In my mind this would pull air through the heatsink and then out the exhaust but I may be wrong. Thanks

 

[Gallarian]

So you have an exhaust fan at the top of your case, and the CPU cooler fan trying to intake air from the top of the case to exhaust downward?

If so, you are making the two fans battle eachother for air flow, as one is pulling air one way, while the other tries to pull it the other way.

The clue is in the name; airFLOW - i.e. it needs to flow through your case in one direction.

Your better option is to mount the CPU fan on the underside of the cooler, so it exhausts the air upwards. This way, the hot air will then be picked up by your top case fan, and be exhausted out of the top.

 

[Corbetio]

Yes that was my worry about the airflow, thanks. So instead of rotating the whole thing 180 degrees can i just unclip the fan from one side of the heatsink and move it to the other?

Thanks again

 

[Gallarian]

Most coolers allow you to have fans on both sides, so unclipping it and moving it to the other side shouldnt be an issue.

No worries