Which direction should the CPU Cooler Fans be facing (Noctua NH-U14S )?

[Temoojin]

Hi,

On the NZXT H440, you have 3 x 120mm intakes in front 1 x 140mm exhaust at back.

If I get the Noctua NH-U14S cooler, should it face to assist front > back air flow? Or should it push air from bottom to top?

Also will adding a second fan to the NH-U14S help in this case (pun intended)?

 

[Agera One]

The CPU cooler's exhaust and the case's exhaust fan should remove air in the same direction. (i.e. from front to back). This is the best way.

 

[Valkyrieneos]

The CPU cooler's exhaust and the case's exhaust fan should remove air in the same direction. (i.e. from front to back). This is the best way.

does that mean the fan blades face the back of the case or the front?

 

[Temoojin]

The CPU cooler's exhaust and the case's exhaust fan should remove air in the same direction. (i.e. from front to back). This is the best way.

I have seen some high end builds where the CPU Fan is bottom > top air flow and the case is front > back, any reason they chose this set up?

 

[Agera One]

If there's is only one fan on the cooler, it will be for EXHAUST. But if you have two fans attached, the one pushes the air into the heat sink should be facing towards the front and the one pulls the air out of the heat sink should be facing the back of the case. Attaching a second fan does help in that cabinet.

 

[Agera One]

I have seen some high end builds where the CPU Fan is bottom > top air flow and the case is front > back, any reason they chose this set up?

They would probably have a top exhaust fan. More and more intake air and less exhaust produces stagnant air inside the cabinet which stores the heat and even distributes the heat on the surface of other components. If you have time, read this, you'll get a lot info about PC cabinet cooling which everyone doesn't include in their answers.

Computer case air flow setup
Air cooled system setup: (Part 1)
Air cooled system setup: (Part 2)

The second link (part 1) deals more with CPU cooler mounting. If any doubt, ask again.