Computer Fan Airflow Direction Tutorial

[Gamea650]

i dont have intake air all of it is exhaust just to prevent dust to build up and make a revolution LOL!

[atom608]

HELP Me i got that stupid cooler master 120 fan but the flow gose out the side where teh braces are so the leds arnt noticible in the case any way to change that?

[emann43]

thanks. 

[badakkurus96]

Thanks a lot !!

[caohnutrition]

I am looking at my PC right now and the opisite is true on the fron fan. It must be labeled wrong.

[ZmyhayZ]

I dont know what fans to buy for a cpu cooler led or nonled ???

[ComputerTechTV]

@don2xify Depends on case, hardware, and total airflow of each fan. 200mm fans are good usually push about 100cfm and are quiet. Now look at 2x120mm 100cfm fans very loud!

[19JP87]

I have a front case fan taking air in, and a rear case fan taking air out.

This seems a bit more intuitive to me because it keeps a constant airflow in the front and out the back.

Am I wrong? Or does it not really matter?

[TheJoseamado]

hi i am have 3 fan cool master its best for my 2000rpm

[seymournuggets]

Awesome, You have a nice day too!!

[robertxtm]

I have a question. how about the cpu cooler air flow? most modern cpu cooler air flow are towards the back or top exhaust of the pc pushing heat away. some are directed at the motherboard, chipset and memory to cool them also.

[ComputerTechTV]

@robertxtm If you have good cooling in case it really doesn't matter to much. Downward facing cooler tend to cool board a bit better, however tower style ones cool CPU better most of the time.

[tedwutang]

@ComputerTechTV

Hey Rick,

I have two quick concerns for you regarding case fan. 140mm Thermaltake 2020.

Used it for 5 years kicking on and off due to connection. Now I got solid LED lights but fan will not turn. I have black and red wire. Worth the fix?

My finally concern if replacement is called for which brand is more reputable to buy from? I have liquid cooling TT big water kit, so fan is just to assist my crossfire 4890 x2 non water cooled stock fan.

[TheZoly13]

Same speekers like my ones ! :D

[vmicza]

thanks!!

[jonndemainjr]

Hey Rick you also might want to point out that there are arrows on the sides of fans showing which way the fans blow air. Other than that you have done a good job explaining they just need to learn to pay attention a bit with regards to what you said.

[cesfilms]

Nerds



[WhatiDoWhenBoredv2]

Call me stupid but im confused. Ok so in the beggining of the video the fans were on there right side, then you flipped them over for "exhaust fan". Im installing a 2 fans in my case do i need to flip them all over like u did or have them were the big logo is?

[bridgedt]

VERY helpful, thank you for a PC hardware noob...

[bluetounge]

Ive just noticed, your CM690 has a large side fan, how is this possible? do have a modded side panel?

[vishalkumar89]

hey can u help me on compaq c700 model fan .....in which direction it has to rotate ? ..... becoz my laptop fan seems to rotating wrong way .... and how to change its rotation direction... plz show on it with video..... many thanks.....

[saloei]

A computer generates heat when it's on. So, the trick is to make room for more heat. You do this by having all fans blowing air out! Heat rises, so I like a 120mm fan at the top blowing air out.

[XHolyPuffX]

Do you have to thread the screw holes yourself with brand new fans? And is it hard?

[ComputerTechTV]

@XHolyPuffX Good question with new fans yes you have to thread them but on most fans it is not hard. If it is difficult or to make it easier once fan is in place pre-thread them before hard to avoid stripping the screw head. Also use a good fitting screw driver this helps with a large grip to ensure good torque for turning the screws and to avoid messing up the head so it will come out and be able to be reused if needed later or for another fan. Hope this helped out good day.

[Kairuxc]

I have a Nxzt Phantom case and i want to know if i should have all the fans except the top to be intake.

[ComputerTechTV]

@Kairuxc The front and side fans should be intake the rear and top fans should be exhaust this works the best. However depending on your GPU cooling solution the side fans can be exhaust just experiment and see whats works the best for your hardware.

[Films4You]

Positive vs. negative air, which do you think is better?

e.g pushing air in like you, (the best I thnk), or negative pushiing air out which is replace by cooler air from outside.

[ComputerTechTV]

@Films4You It depends on the case and the hardware I say equal if you can. Since too much intake and air will get stale and sit in the case, too much negative and you will suck in dust from ever crack and crevice on the case.

[Films4You]

@ComputerTechTV I didn't even think about the dust issue, thanks :)

[feliesa91]

thank you!

[hoganfoundation]

I wish I could see this before placing fans in this new machine running ie9x64 that wont support vid format. All blowing in, 200 mm on top exhaust and power supply out. its water cooled with fans blowning inward thru radiator. Was going to reverse the side fan but told not to. oh another on the bottom inwards as well as front. Big time positive pressure here. Its running cpu cooler then human body temp so ? forgot the mb assist fan direction. putting in now so will figure it out.

[Limitbreak07]

Guys if i install my front and side fans as an intake, while my rear and top fan is exhaust, will there be a better airflow on my computer??

[ComputerTechTV]

@Limitbreak07 That is preferred method of fan placemen sometime you can switch the side panel fan to exhaust depending on your video card set up. You have the right idea should work best with the way you stated.

[iEmpire]

Thanks. I had a brain fart and this video quickly answered my question.

[souverng]

I have a question,do all the fans turn in the same direction ?

[dave3030]

perfect

[ComputerTechTV]

@dave3030 Thanks for watching!

[DanXartz]

What ill minded individual requested such an obvious airflow tutorial?

[dudedxrox]

Hey I am confused. I knew which was the intake and exaust but on my Cooler Master 120mm I can feel air going out both sides! I know that it doesnt make any sense but it is happening to me!

[ComputerTechTV]

@dudedxrox Yes the intake side will have some turbulence. That is what you feel is the air getting sucked into the fan.

[adilsokolovic12]

wow! u have the same speakers as mine,ow and same cooler master fan,oww and case as mine xD

[SharkGTX]

Right fan setup! I'm agree with you, that you have to intake the fresh air into the GPU, because it's heat sink need it!

5/5

[ComputerTechTV]

1,000 views thanks so much for watching my videos any other computer stuff you want to see comment or PM me.

[Schnikerdoodle]

@ComputerTechTV What 120mm fan would you recommend for having a high CFM at a low DB? Thanks mate.

[ComputerTechTV]

@Schnikerdoodle Hard to put those word in same sentence IMO. Scythe Gentle Typhoon 2150RPM are nice fans so are thermalright and nochua.

[ComputerTechTV]

Thanks for watching I will have videos on static pressure vs. CFM and positive vs. negative case pressure coming soon.

[unokilo321]

Coolermaster posted this video on their facebook page!! that's siickkk! haha congrats!

[ComputerTechTV]

@unokilo321 Really that is sweet thanks to you guys who watch! Without you my channel would be nothing.

[WestCoastMods]

LOL.....

[exceptional1414]

@WestCoastMods why u laughing man. You r passionate about tech so you know it but there r so many ppl who can't tell a difference.

[WestCoastMods]

@exceptional1414 Wasn't laughing at Rick, was laughing at those who were asking the questions.

Almost all fans have an arrow pointing in what direction air flow is, and one could always just plug it in and see which way air flow is.

With all due respect, if one doesn't know which way a fan blows then maybe he shouldn't be opening up his case.

[exceptional1414]

@WestCoastMods Couldn agree more on your last statement. I wish I could say that to my 12 yrs old cousin whom I let play with my old stuffs laying around. BTW like your work and passion on mods.

[TheMRamstaff]

why not say that they have a little arrow showing the airflow

[zver711]

@TheMRamstaff

My thoughts were exactly, but he is also right.

[JdudeTutorials]

And to think I had my fan the wrong way... -_-

[exceptional1414]

hey rick, is there any 300mm fans out there? I found 250mm fans but not 300 mm. After looking through lots of silent PC projects over web I even found someone attached a 17 inch table fan to the case instead of a side panel which sounds great considering it would be silent with lots of air but would look ugly and lot's of dust. wouldn mind cuttin my side panel to fit the fan.

[ComputerTechTV]

@exceptional1414 I think XCLIO made one on there case that big but it was a fail. Unbalanced and did not run as good as 2000-230mm fans.

[crimson177]

how did you mount that fan thats directly pointing at the gpu

[unokilo321]

oh yeah, I really like that case still!, right now I have a mcr 220 radiator, and i'm thinking about getting a gpu water block for my gtx 480 because it's way better at warming up my room then my heater does, lol I played mafia 2 last night and my card was 85c, it was like a sauna in here, I think i'm going to order that case and get a second mcr220 for the bottom there under the hdd cage, I only have one hdd so I won't need the bottom half, keep the vids coming, <3 em, haha i'm out though peace

[soxfanant95]

Nice video man, keep it up I always got these confused.

[unokilo321]

hey comp tech, how do you like those coolermaster fans? I have some from like four years ago, and they are dying on me, i'm thinking about ordering some new ones, I like the design of the newer models, they look like they push more air.

[ComputerTechTV]

@unokilo321 Yes the R4 fans are great 120mm fans for the price. They push a lot of air and are relatively good on sound. They do click a bit when undervolted but most fans do with this type of bearing. Check out the new Scythe fans they are sweet have some 135mm 140mm frame units and some 120mm PWMs as well.

[unokilo321]

@ComputerTechTV nice, thanks for the tip. i'll check them out, I find my old ones are either dying or just not moving fast enough, I think they might have been 1600rpm, I have my cpu oc'd to 4ghz and my average temps are 35-45c and I know it's pretty good by other peoples standards, I've had people say those temps were great, but with a single 120mm rad and a 2200rpm fan I had my temps in mid to high 20's, so not impressed with the bigger rad performance, i'll order some new fans tomorrow.

[pr0jectSkyneT]

how bout a video on the pros/cons of positive and negative cooling. That would be an awesome video :D

[ComputerTechTV]

@pr0jectSkyneT That is a great idea I will do that thanks.

[pr0jectSkyneT]

@ComputerTechTV : No, thank you. I look forward to that one :D

[xin0710]

@ComputerTechTV Don't forget to include Airflow vs Static Pressure... :D

[ComputerTechTV]

@xin0710 Thanks was thinking of a video on that.

[getlow1985]

Nice video! I know there are a lot of people who don't know this. Most fans don't have arrows.

[ComputerTechTV]

@getlow1985 I forgot about the arrow in the video.

[keiki646]

If people can't see that is there an arrow direction on the fan that identify the way the air will clearly tell you switch way the air flow through the fan, Have have to be an idiot not to even know that the back base of the fan is where the air is being release and the outside where the fins of the fan is expose is where the air comes in.

[unokilo321]

@keiki646 you should really use spell check and proof read your comments before you go online calling people idiots, you have a beast of a system i'm subbed to you, great over clocking, but come on, be nice, the world is full of people that like gaming but don't know about components, and like getlow1985 said not all fans have the directional arrow. I have a friend that has an awesome computer but couldn't put it together, had someone order the list of stuff for him and i built it. play nice :)