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Question

Best Fan Configuration for Corsair Carbide 500r

Aug 23, 2015 11:59AM PDT

Currently building a new PC and would like some advice on best fan configuration. I have the Corsair Carbide 500R, which has two 120mm Front Intakes, One 200m side Intake and a 120m Rear Exhaust Fan.

http://s5.postimg.org/dba33tqh3/20150823_193412_HDR.jpg

http://s5.postimg.org/5xup4v6fb/20150823_193443_HDR.jpg

I have also purchased two 140mm Corsair SP140 fans that I have installed at the top of the fan, set to exhaust.

http://s5.postimg.org/69c5hmmvb/20150823_193422_HDR.jpg

However im thinking it may be better to have one of the top fans as intake, leaving the one nearest the back at exhaust but the other one as intake. I have a large air cooler that has an intake fan installed onto it. So im thinking may be better to have the air from the top just to the right and above it as intake, which will suck the air in and then directly to the cooler.

http://s5.postimg.org/wrusqcll3/20150823_193401_HDR.jpg

Or will that be odd and best to leave it as it is?

Thanks in advance
James

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Hot air rises
Aug 23, 2015 4:36PM PDT

General rule of thumb.
In at the bottom,,,,out at the top.
It's your call if you want to try to fight that.

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Bob b.
Aug 23, 2015 4:44PM PDT

I totally had to resist here. Re-read your post. Grin
Dafydd.

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(NT) I'd certainly resist that!
Aug 23, 2015 4:46PM PDT
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Politics and PC hardware mash up.
Aug 23, 2015 6:43PM PDT

Thanks!

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How about...
Aug 24, 2015 1:10AM PDT

Thanks for your replies...I thought it might not be a good idea...so how about keeping it as it is with the two fronts and sides as intakes at the top two as exhausts but move one of the top ones (the one near the cpu cooler) to the bottom.

I don't like the idea that I have the top middle one sucks air out, whilst the fan on the CPU is doing the opposite and blowing against it. Seems to me that the top fan might interfere with the CPU Cooling. As you can see from the picture in the link

http://s5.postimg.org/wrusqcll3/20150823_193401_HDR.jpg

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(NT) That fan looks like you can remove and flip.
Aug 24, 2015 7:49AM PDT
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Trial + error
Aug 24, 2015 7:50AM PDT

Best you can do is try different fan configs and monitor the cpu temp.

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.
Aug 24, 2015 11:49AM PDT

That sounds like a good plan...it turns out that I can't put one of the top fans at the bottom as the PSU is in the way. Even though the case has holes for both 120mm and 140mm fans. So ive just got the top two as exhausts for now. Will be installing Windows on it soon

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Answer
Flow
Aug 25, 2015 10:49AM PDT

Just keep the flow of air in one direction.
I've seen a few machines that had a lot of fans and still overheated because they were pulling air in and none were pushing air out.