case fans, which is more important?

[Allargando]

It's looking like I'll be in the market for a few new fans, now that I have my cold cathode I don't really need my led fans anymore

(right now I'm really wishing that I could turn the leds off so I don't have to cover my rig so I can sleep)

Some manufacturers include static pressure, and nearly all include cfm.

What do you guys find contributes most to a fan's performance?

currently I have 5 fans (not including my graphics card or psu)

2x AC 80mm in the front of my case (intake)

1x AC 120mm in the rear (exhaust)

1x Aspire 80mm(side panel intake)

1x unknown 80mm (top exhaust)

I'm looking to replace the top exhaust and side panel intake. The side panel intake is assisting my hsf (link)

Noise is a concern, I'd like to stay under 30dB

 

[markkleb]

I think you are making it more complicated than needs to be. Specs of fans are more a guideline.

They are like polls politicians make. They can be manipulated to make the fan (PS or mobo, voter, etc) seem better than it is.

Imagine air liking to go straight, yes it goes around things too but it likes to go on its way unimpeded.

So first get the junk out of its way best you can.

Fans come with several styles of bearings,

Sleeve- cheapest to mfg.

Fancy Sleeve- (Silenx calls theirs FDB, fluid dynamic bearing, but its a fancy name for grease inside) they last longer they say because they wuse better materials in the sleeve. Arctic Cooling fan bearings are very similar to the Silenx. I think the Panasonic call theirs Hydro Wave

Ball Bearing- last longer (usually) but the bearing can transfer vibration to the housing than on to the case. (Silverstone high speed fans)

I try to bring air in the front and straight out the back, to me the side fans only mess things up. For your case is there a way to use a 120 in the front?

Also posting a side view pict of the whole comp can help so we can see what you are working with.

 

[Allargando]

My mid-tower Aspire X-cruiser doesn't let me put a 120mm up front

this is what my cables pretty much looks like right now...just imagine that the hsf is on there

I moved 2 of my drives into drive bays that fit in the 5.25 externals

the remaining 2 drives occupy the lower 2 slots of the hdd rack

The cables coming from the psu are routed to be behind the top fan, so there really isn't anything in the way of any of my fans....the exception being the 120mm rear fan when I have the side panel fan+ air duct (which almost touches the fan on my cpu heatsink)

 

[markkleb]

I would definitely get one of these first

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Than I would fit a 120 in the front (a 120 will supply MUCH more air at a slower speed,quieter too )

get a pair of these (yellow is for straight, red is for left hand curves and green for right curves)

Cut out the center on your intakes and exhaust,

the perforated metal blocks MOST of the air and adds noise

 

[Allargando]

That looks like a project I'll probably have to leave til summer.

Thanks for the input, didn't know that the perforated grates would block a lot of air

 

[markkleb]

Happy to help,

the perforated holes on the Aspire cases (and all other cases with stamped holes for vents) can block over 60% of the air. They also add a bunch of noise.

And the AC CPU fan sends air out the back instead of just swirling it around the mobo. (its an awesome cooler for the $)