Only One Fan Spot Available: Intake or Exhaust?

[kimbo_schlice]

Hi everybody! I'm making a build in the Silverstone SG13, which is a very small shoe box case with space for only one fan up front. I will have a top mounted PSU and a blower style GPU as exhausts, so my question is this: what should I do for my case fan in the front? I can fit a 120mm fan. I think that my system exhaust strength will be small enough that any kind of case fan mounted as an intake up front will make positive case pressure. So I think I have two options:

1. Go for a strong static pressure fan to blow air across my components.
2. Mount a fan as exhaust for negative case pressure.

Which one would you recommend?

Here's a rough sketch of my case if I were to use an intake fan (GPU not shown, but it exhausts):

 

[Nuwan Fernando]

Make the front fan as an intake. it'll make a positive pressure that'll keep the dust out of your case. Since you have a top mounted PSU, it'll act as your top exhaust. That's the best way to do it.

 

[kimbo_schlice]

Do you think I should go with a high static fan, something like the Noctua NF-F12, or more of an air flow fan, like the Noctua NF-S12?

 

[Cons29]

not familiar with the case, but may i suggest that you check out spot cool,maybe it will fit inside your case? it should help keep some componets cool or at least help circulate the air

 

[Nuwan Fernando]

A normal air flow fan would be enough since that fan will not directly focusing it's air to the GPU and CPU. A simple fan will take the air in and the flow on the case will drive the air where it's needed.

 

[madmatt30]

Fairly sure the case will take a 140mm fan mate.
& definitely an intake - the little silver stones are designed around positive pressure with all the vented sides etc.

 

[kimbo_schlice]

Thanks for all of the responses! From what I've read, I can only fit a 140 mm fan if my graphics card does not extend all the way to the front of the space and eat into the space where the fan would be. Since I'm going to be using a full sized 970, I think I'm forced to use a 120 mm fan.

So it sounds like the Noctua NF-S12A is the better option?

 

[Nuwan Fernando]

yeah, good to go..

 

[Cons29]

check the spot cool. it's a nice little fan, flexible too, literally