How many fans does a PC need?

[jonapap]

I am currently doing my first build: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/xWKrjX. I want to have a good airflow and was wandering if I would need a other case fan. I think I would put this one on the top of the case as exhaust fan. Is this ok and do I need any more fan? Also, do I currently have a good CPU cooler?

 

[smorizio]

the case if you look at the newegg photos there two fans with the case already. there set up as a push/pull. pulling cool air over the hard drives and then out the back of the case. what i would do is conenct the two case fans to the mb headers for now and see if your temps are fine. if they are then leave the rig alone. if the rig runs hot do to lack of airflow. (open the side case panel) if the temp drops then you need to add fans to the top of the rig. the evo 212 is a great cooler for the price.

 

[jonapap]

the case if you look at the newegg photos there two fans with the case already. there set up as a push/pull. pulling cool air over the hard drives and then out the back of the case. what i would do is conenct the two case fans to the mb headers for now and see if your temps are fine. if they are then leave the rig alone. if the rig runs hot do to lack of airflow. (open the side case panel) if the temp drops then you need to add fans to the top of the rig. the evo 212 is a great cooler for the price.

I will not build the computer before the next month, I am just beginning to look for one. Also, I live in a small city and I would like to buy all the parts in one shot. So I guess it is better buying the fan with the other parts?

 

[smorizio]

if you do by more fans for the top of the case set them up to blow out and if there room on the front or bottom of the case set a fan to pull air in. if the mb your using only has two fan ports your going to have to buy a fan controller for the other fans. you dont want 120mm fans running full speed. it make a back ground hum..that can drive gamers up the wall after a few hours.

 

[jonapap]

if you do by more fans for the top of the case set them up to blow out and if there room on the front or bottom of the case set a fan to pull air in. if the mb your using only has two fan ports your going to have to buy a fan controller for the other fans. you dont want 120mm fans running full speed. it make a back ground hum..that can drive gamers up the wall after a few hours.

My motherboard only support 3 system fan. I read it is OK if you have more exhaust fan that intake. Also, if I put a fan at the bottom, where will it pull the air from, the case is sitting on the ground?

 

[smorizio]

with cases some have larger feet that keeps the power supply and bottom fan from sucking in carpet. if not they do sell stands with wheels that are not to epeisive for computer cases.

 

[jonapap]

So, am I better with 1 exhaust fan at the top or two fan, one exhaust and one intake with a fan controller? If I go with the two fan, I think I would connect the two to the fan controller, right?

 

[smorizio]

i would put the the front,bottom and rear case fan on the mb. i would then put the two top fans on a fan controller. the two fans that you dont want to stop is the top fans. want to pull hot air out of the case.

 

[James Mason]

You can buy a fan splitter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812311001 This will let you support 4 more fans (for total of 5) off one port. (You can plug a 3-ping into a 4-pin and a 4 pin into a 3pin without issues, you just lose functionality of being able to measure fan speeds)
BUt basically, you can put as many fans as you want, the speeds of the fans will determine how loud they are, as well as a few other things like noise reducing rubber washers for the screws that some fans have.
And the general rule for fan airflow directions is:
Top and rear: vent air outside (hot air rises)
front, side, bottom: pull air in

Bigger fans (ie 200mm) move more air and are quieter than smaller fans (like 80mm).
You can make trade offs with higher fan speeds = more airflow = more sound and lower fan speeds = less airflow = less sound.
But unless the system is in a very hot environment you don't need lots of high speed fans, extra quiet ones can help dissipate the heat good enough and not generate a lot of noise.

 

[jonapap]

You can buy a fan splitter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812311001 This will let you support 4 more fans (for total of 5) off one port. (You can plug a 3-ping into a 4-pin and a 4 pin into a 3pin without issues, you just lose functionality of being able to measure fan speeds)
BUt basically, you can put as many fans as you want, the speeds of the fans will determine how loud they are, as well as a few other things like noise reducing rubber washers for the screws that some fans have.
And the general rule for fan airflow directions is:
Top and rear: vent air outside (hot air rises)
front, side, bottom: pull air in

Bigger fans (ie 200mm) move more air and are quieter than smaller fans (like 80mm).
You can make trade offs with higher fan speeds = more airflow = more sound and lower fan speeds = less airflow = less sound.
But unless the system is in a very hot environment you don't need lots of high speed fans, extra quiet ones can help dissipate the heat good enough and not generate a lot of noise.

Ok, thanks for that, I would never thought of that, a fan splitter. Also, if I put a fan on the bottom with my case, the should be able to get air from somewhere, I assume the case is a a bit up from the ground. Also, I think it be a great idea to buy a fan filter for the intake?

 

[James Mason]

You can buy a fan splitter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812311001 This will let you support 4 more fans (for total of 5) off one port. (You can plug a 3-ping into a 4-pin and a 4 pin into a 3pin without issues, you just lose functionality of being able to measure fan speeds)
BUt basically, you can put as many fans as you want, the speeds of the fans will determine how loud they are, as well as a few other things like noise reducing rubber washers for the screws that some fans have.
And the general rule for fan airflow directions is:
Top and rear: vent air outside (hot air rises)
front, side, bottom: pull air in

Bigger fans (ie 200mm) move more air and are quieter than smaller fans (like 80mm).
You can make trade offs with higher fan speeds = more airflow = more sound and lower fan speeds = less airflow = less sound.
But unless the system is in a very hot environment you don't need lots of high speed fans, extra quiet ones can help dissipate the heat good enough and not generate a lot of noise.

Ok, thanks for that, I would never thought of that, a fan slitter. Also, if I put a fan on the bottom with my case, the should be able to get air from somewhere, I assume the case is a a bit up from the ground. Also, I think it be a great idea to buy a fan filter for the intake?

As long as the case has feet (which 99% do) and has a bottom fan mount (or one where the PSU goes) then yes you can put a fan there. Some cases have built in filters, but you still have to clean the filters, which may or may not be as easy and cleaning the dust out of the whole case.