Is this cooling configuration really bad, and how should I fix it?

[MrBubba]

I was just taking a look at my case today because it has been getting really hot and noticed this. ATX standards say the ps should take in air, right? Well, my Enermax whisper seems to exhaust air. The case came with two internal fans, and I think they may be counteracting the power supply's airflow. This is in a rackmount case, so my situation is somewhat unique. Take a look at the pictures. Inside and case. I was thinking to flip the fans on the internal bar and then add two blow holes in the top with 120 mm fans inorder to draw air through to exhaust through the front of the case. The rear holes probably should also be covered, because they might shortcircuit the airflow. Is this a good strategy?

Thanks,

MrBubba

 

[erikwestlund]

Maybe you should just clean up your wires?

 

[MrBubba]

Yeah, the wiring is another issue. The two scsi cables are the worst because they are really thick and have terminators on them. Maybe I should get some of that shrink wrap tubing stuff.

 

[bozo1]

Your powersupply should exhaust air.

 

[SWScorch]

The original ATX spec did call for the SPu to intake air, but they realized that was a dumb idea and revised it in ATX 2.0. It does seem like the two mid-case fans are competing with the PSU for available air, then again, if you flip them around, the drives will be in stagnant air, so its a tricky situation.

 

[MrBubba]

I flipped to fans around just to see what would happen. Now, a ton of heat comes out the powersupply and none is near the front. Before, hot air came out the front grills, sending unwanted heat to the drives. I do not think the air around them is stagnant because if I put a piece of paper in front of the front grills, it gets sucked towards the case. Maybe I will add some additional fans to increase this airflow.

 

[Dolemite76]

PSU to blow out hot air is ideal... but my concern for your case is air intake... I noticed some slots in front of your case on the case view link... but on the inside link... you have some hard drives in those slots... obviously where they go... but how or where "else" are you getting air into your case... exhaust fans are ALWAYS needed provided that there are enough intake vents... intake fans are good to have (at least one anyway)... i suggest adding an intake fan maybe in a blow hole fashion on the top of your case... also... your case placement can restrict airflow... i see your case on the floor... that's fine... but do you have enough space behind the case so that the hot air can dissipate and won't build up an air pocket behind your case (this happened to me until i moved my case to the top of my desk allowing the hot air to spread out into the rest of the room where the air conditioner could take care of it, there was a board blocking the exhaust fans in the back of my case down below my desk, had only about six inches of space)... anyways... these are my ideas... hope they help...

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Can you slide that second fan down and have it blow across your PCI & AGP slots? And you might actually try taping off the vents on the back of the case. They might be sucking hot air back into the case, and blocking them would also increase air being sucked in from the front. You could probably use some sort of intake fan as well. If you could free up two adjacent drive bays you could mount a couple of 80MM fans at the front.

 

[DongTran]

i have that exact same case from atlantec or whatever that company is called. don't swap the PSU fans. those two fans in the middle are supposed to be exhausting as well. In fact, I have a K7S5A in there with an XP2100, and I just have the heatsink on it w/o the the fan because those two fans on the middle bar work fine.

The filter that came with mine in the front was really low flow though even though there is a 120mm front intake fan on mine.

 

[TheBrit]

How about put additional fan as to exhaust the warm air out of the case instead of rely oin the PSU to do that?

I think I spot a space for it? Just before the CPU? Just a thought....

 

[MrBubba]

The filter that came with mine in the front was really low flow though even though there is a 120mm front intake fan on mine.

How exactly was the 120 mm fan installed by the factory? I have no intake fans, so I think I should start by adding one. Also, were the middle-bar fans blowing to the front or back?

 

[DongTran]

middle fans blowing back. i will take pictures of the intake fan when I get home tonight.

edit: here are your pictures. I don't have a lot of time right now so I can't dismantle the front part, but if you notice how the front of mine came with a pullout filter. also, the cage in the second picture houses a 120mm fan that sucks in thru the filter, kind of hard to see thru the hole but one of the fan blades is showing hope you get the idea ok thank you bye
picture 1
picture 2

 

[DongTran]

picture posted