Advice on case fans

[bigster]

I was planning on drilling holes in my cab today for some case fans.  It is a tight fit and I do not want things overheating.  I made this drawing (with MS PAINT!!) that seems to  make sense.  All the hot air rises.   1 fan on the hdd, entry fan blowing on the motherboard and exit fan up top blowing all the hot air out.  also the hot air can escape through the small cord hole (about 1.5 inches in diameter).   Am I on the right track?  I don't want to drill large holes if it is wrong. 

[leapinlew]

I've had good luck just pushing air in and letting it passively exhaust.

[JDFan]

Looks about right -- though what type of PSU and where is the fan located in it (ie. will it be sucking in the air that the upper fan is also trying to expel or is it pulling air in through the cord hole and expelling it toward the fan out - or is it pushing the air out the bottom of the PSU and back toward the MOBO ?) Depending on how the PSU moves air you will want to try to keep the air flowing in one direction as much as possible for the best results.

[PL1]

The other thing to consider is the distance between the two fans on the right.

Make sure they are far enough apart that the exhaust from the upper fan isn't pulled in by the lower fan.


Scott

[nitrogen_widget]

If it were me, one fan at the bottom, one fan at the top.
Go 5 inch fans.
Bigger fans move more air at slower speeds.
That equals less noise with same cfm as smaller fans. Usually.

[lilshawn]

i usually go in at the front and out at the back or in at the bottom and out at the top. get the flow going.

if the case has strategically placed vents or holes, I have everything push out and allow the case to do the cooling.