Stock and Aftermarket Fan Placement

[Victor Reyes]

I have a stock 120mm fan in front and I just got a Noctua 120mm fan. Should I put the Noctua in the front so there is more airflow intake? or in the back for a more powerful exhaust?

 

[synphul]

I'd place it in front. My theory (maybe wrong) is that heat rises and the exhaust is near the top. The front intake is quite a distance from most components other than hard drives and may even have to blow past hard drives. Use the stronger fan in front to move cool air all the way to the back of the case where everything needs cooled off and the somewhat less powerful is positioned to extract warmer air where it's naturally occurring.