In the process of building a new computer and just wondered is a case fan really necessary? Sounds like a stupid question but thought it better to ask!
Your PSU fan acts as a case fan. You probably need an extra case fan if you have a fast processor, multiple hard disks, a high-end graphics card, do a lot of processor-intensive stuff like video rendering, or the computer's in a hot place. If you don't have any of these things going on, you'll probably be alright, but I'd always put a case fan in just in case, as it were. There are temperature controlled ones going pretty cheap. They run slowly and quietly until the air heats up, so they're only noisy when they have to be.
Amstrad once did a fanless PC (couldn't be described as quiet becuase the HD was the noisest beast 'ive ever heard).
Despite the fact thay were proven to dispence heat, the magazine experts had a right go at them (mainly to do with the fact they didn't like amstrad). In the end the poor people had to build all models with fans even though they didn't need it, and offer free fan "upgrades" to the existing machines
I would be susrprised if a quarter decent PC did not need a fan in addition to the pathetic ones that come with the PSU.
Yes - I've had to fix many a machine that was displaying unpredictable behaviour, often because a fan had failed/become clogged up with dust.
Yesterday had to replace a Panaflo fan which as default only runs at 7v (Hence slow and quiet) with something that would shift a bit more air because when doing photoshop type stuff teh machine would shutdown/restart.
Swapping fans reduced the max CPU temp by upto 20c and the case temp by 15c (in a 3.2P4 Radeon 9800pro / 2x HDD RAID etc. machine).
A lot can depend on the ambient temperature of the room the PC is in also.
I think i might need to replace/clean my cpu(athlon 800) fan then.... its reaching 50 degree C ....... it use to run around 35- 40 degree ish when i got it... but that was about 3 yrs ago. think i only cleaned it once but cant remember when tho. hmmm might need to hover dust from my case as well... havent done that in a while.
A lot can depend on the ambient temperature of the room the PC is in also.
My Desktop PC's case fan is disconnected in Winter as it does nothing other than make noise, although it's connected during summer it doesn't help reduce case temp very much (as it's just shifting 30'c air about) it does reduce the CPU temp from about 80'c to 55'c (Athlon XP).
During Winter it runs a lot colder.
Comments
If you have a good cooler on your processor and a decent-sized case that allows are to circulate you probably don't need one.
Despite the fact thay were proven to dispence heat, the magazine experts had a right go at them (mainly to do with the fact they didn't like amstrad). In the end the poor people had to build all models with fans even though they didn't need it, and offer free fan "upgrades" to the existing machines
I would be susrprised if a quarter decent PC did not need a fan in addition to the pathetic ones that come with the PSU.
Yesterday had to replace a Panaflo fan which as default only runs at 7v (Hence slow and quiet) with something that would shift a bit more air because when doing photoshop type stuff teh machine would shutdown/restart.
Swapping fans reduced the max CPU temp by upto 20c and the case temp by 15c (in a 3.2P4 Radeon 9800pro / 2x HDD RAID etc. machine).
A lot can depend on the ambient temperature of the room the PC is in also.
Anyway - best be safe than sorry.
Didn't you know you should never wear nylon pants whilst hoovering :eek:
My Desktop PC's case fan is disconnected in Winter as it does nothing other than make noise, although it's connected during summer it doesn't help reduce case temp very much (as it's just shifting 30'c air about) it does reduce the CPU temp from about 80'c to 55'c (Athlon XP).
During Winter it runs a lot colder.