Optimal placement of case fans.

[Noilzan]

I'm currently using a Fractal design define R3, and im only using the two fans that comes with it. However, im going to invest in two noctua case fans to provide my case with better airflow and im really curious about what the optimal placement for the fans would be.

The R3 has 2x 120/140mm fan mounts in the roof, one 120mm in the back, two in the front and one in the doof. The provided fans quite obviously uses the front as an intake through the hard drive cage and the back one as an exhaust.

I thought it would be a good idea for us to have a chat about how to achieve the best possible airflow in our cases using the fans we have available.

What fans do you use?

Which fan(s) do you mount as exhaust/intake and why?

Not just in the R3, but rather in all cases in general, though suggestions particularly for the R3 will be much appreciated

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

From what I've read on the net, the best placement is one in the front and one in the side. Then if you have three, one in the rear roof too.

 

[Noilzan]

I assume the one in the side would work as an intake and the top one being the exhaust?

This is kind off what i was thinking about doing, using an intake in the door and an exhaust in the roof while keeping the "default" fan the way they are.

It seems like putting an exhaust in the back roof would be a little weird though, considering i have one at the back already.

 

[Firat]

I assume the one in the side would work as an intake and the top one being the exhaust?

This is kind off what i was thinking about doing, using an intake in the door and an exhaust in the roof while keeping the "default" fan the way they are.

It seems like putting an exhaust in the back roof would be a little weird though, considering i have one at the back already.

Just make sure your intake fan = exhaust to prevent negative pressure which cause dust buildup. The setup I did for my friend was 2 in the front and 1 on the side as intake and the 2 in the roof and 1 at the rear for exhaust using all the same fans. It works very well!!!

 

[tharionos]

top roof fans = always exhaust

( top fans for me are noctua NF PF 12's )

rear fan mostly 120 mm exhaust ( be quiet 140 mm for me )

side fans , intake ( be quiet 120 mm x 2 )

fronts always intake mine is a 200 mm CM megaflow and a be quiet 120 mm for the HDD bay

then i also have a small HDD bay which is cooled by 2 stock fans but soon to be changed with noctua's nf pf12's

i hope somehow ime managed to help

ps : its always better to have positive airflow meaning more intake then outlet

also follow the logical airflow meaning for example don't let a front fan exhaust cause this causes turbulence

 

[PetrolHead247]

One in the front (intake), one in the roof and one in the rear (exhausts). Lovely jubbly.

 

[Jadarite]

Hi Noilzan, you might want to try config 1: 2x stock fan's in the front (intake) with 2x noctua p14flx in the top(exhausts), config 2: 2x stock fan's in the front (intake), 2x noctua p14flx in the top (exhausts), 1x noctua s12b flx in the back (exhausts) with a s12b uln in the door (intake), or config 3: 2x noctua p12 (3pin) in the front (intake), 1x noctua p12 (3pin) in the bottom (intake), 2x noctua p14flx in the top (exhausts), 1x noctua s12b flx in the back (exhausts) with a s12b uln in the door (intake). As long as the static pressure coming in is higher then the pressure going out you should be ok.

 

[NRG!]

600t:

Front: 200mm intake, 120mm intake in 5.25 bays

Back: 120mm exhaust

top: 2x 120mm low rpm exhaust.

 

[Noilzan]

top roof fans = always exhaust

( top fans for me are noctua NF PF 12's )

rear fan mostly 120 mm exhaust ( be quiet 140 mm for me )

side fans , intake ( be quiet 120 mm x 2 )

fronts always intake mine is a 200 mm CM megaflow and a be quiet 120 mm for the HDD bay

then i also have a small HDD bay which is cooled by 2 stock fans but soon to be changed with noctua's nf pf12's

i hope somehow ime managed to help

ps : its always better to have positive airflow meaning more intake then outlet

also follow the logical airflow meaning for example don't let a front fan exhaust cause this causes turbulence

I went ahead and put a 120mm in the door, blowing at the graphics card, and a 120m exhaust in the roof

What do you mean by turbulence? How would that affect cooling performance and sound?

 

[tharionos]

if u for example make the front one blow exhaust instead of blow then u can get turbulence cause the airstream collides

but the setup u did now will do fine don't worry

 

[Ya93sin]

Easiest way is to have intake, to the cpu Cooler, out the rear exhaust, maybe roof exhausts just above. Having side fan intake/exhaust will only cause the airflow to slow down.

In my case, I have a large front intake, a floor intake (with dust filter though), then 2 roof and a rear exhaust fan/s.

 

[DarthDudo]

I have an R3 now got it last week will post pics after the weekend I have 120/140mm Blue LED Bitfenix Spectre Pro's in, 2x120mm Front intake 2x140mm Roof Exhaust 1x 140mm Floor Intake 1x120mm Rear exhaust with this set up and all fans on 12v I have NEGATIVE PRESSURE (You can see some dust around the rubber grommets at the rear of the case which was clearly trying to suck dust up into the case) been messing around with different configurations and IMO the best way with the R3 is two in front intak one in floor intake one in rear roof as exhaust(This seems to be exhausting the most amount of heat in my rig so I would say to any potential Define R3 owners it is the most important)

Although I have not tested without all the extra fans thermally its a very good case IMO just dont rub the front panel/door with tissue Its scratches easy

Im just waiting on a Fan controller, braided cables,new GPU and mobo and my builds done currently not very pleased with my cable management so I will probably rip all apart and try again then post pics

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

I was going by what I've read elsewhere which is the best configuration by quite a margin according to the results - without linking.