Improve pc case cooling

[LiamHUD]

I've seen a PC on reddit with any holes at the back taped up and just leaving room for the exhaust fan. Would this improve PC cooling? as the cool air would stay in the case rather than go straight out the gaps in the back?

 

[Eximo]

Possibly, depends on a lot of factors. Positive/Negative pressure and overall airflow.

If the overall system is under negative pressure, that would mean cool air coming in through the exposed holes (along with dust). Under positive pressure, that would mean additional exhaust despite there being no fan there.

The entire idea behind cooling is getting the components to spread the heat around to the environment. Closing off anything means you are changing that dynamic a little bit.

If the exhaust fan is the only way out of the case due to the tape, that means the only intake is coming from where?

 

[LiamHUD]

Possibly, depends on a lot of factors. Positive/Negative pressure and overall airflow.

If the overall system is under negative pressure, that would mean cool air coming in through the exposed holes (along with dust). Under positive pressure, that would mean additional exhaust despite there being no fan there.

The entire idea behind cooling is getting the components to spread the heat around to the environment. Closing off anything means you are changing that dynamic a little bit.

If the exhaust fan is the only way out of the case due to the tape, that means the only intake is coming from where?

I've got 1 intake fan at the bottom and one exhaust fan at the back both 120mm

 

[Eximo]

So neutral pressure effectively. The tape would have little effect in that scenario.