Fans

I was just wondering, when my systems box came, it had the cooling fans on it, one each way around, i was just wondering, are these exhaust or inlet fans? and does this mean the guard faces the inside, or outside of the systems box? i recently bought two more, and I am confused about which way they go.

thanks in advance, Monty

 

Most of the time there will be one fan in the front (intake) and one in the back (exhaust). This is the best way to position the fans since heat rises.

Also look closely at the fans. there should be an arrow somewhere around the edge that indicats which direction the air will flow.

Cooked

 

They work either way, depending on which way they're pointed. Traditionally, bottom front of the case is intake, pulling cool air in, and top rear, and more recently very top ("blowhole") fans are exhaust, blowing the hot air out. Since hot air rises, you feed cool in at the bottom & suck the hot stuff out the top. Some now have fans on the side covers and those generally blow cool air in, generally at the hot vid card and CPU area that need it the most.

[edit] Wups. Didn't see yours OC.

 

fan direction

Another quick way to tell fan direction just by a glance is that if there is a label or logo in the center of the blade that will be on the exhaust side. Manufacturers figure that will usually be the side visible to the user as they mount on the rear or top with the label side out. If you're messing with ventilation a lot and up to your ears in fans (like I am), once you find the direction of the fan, mark a big arrow on the side so you don't have to search for that little arrow.

spaz