Q&A

What direction should PC fans face?

What direction should PC fans face?

When mounting case fans, air flows across the open side towards the side with the protective grille, like so: So the open side of the fan should face outside the case for intake fans on the front or the bottom, and it should face inside the case for fans on the rear or top.

What is the standard size for PC fans?

120mm
120mm case fans tend to be the most popular size of fans in modern PC cases, but you will find many sizes such as 80mm, 92mm, 140mm, 200mm and beyond. Fan size is closely related to airflow, in that larger fans will push more air than smaller ones while running at the same RPM.

Is one exhaust fan enough for PC?

Yes, should be fine, just make sure its a good quality airflow fan. My 120mm kicks all the heat out of my case really well, its optimised for airflow while not being annoying in noise, basically it is the noise floor for my PC as my two 140mm intakes are much quieter.

How do you tell if a fan is going clockwise?

The blades should move from the top left, then down to the right, and then back to the top. Looking for a more telltale sign? You should feel air movement while standing under the fan. If you do not feel air movement, the fan is spinning clockwise.

Are there different PC fan sizes?

Size. Most popular size is usually 120mm in modern PC cases, however, you will find other sizes such as 80mm, 92mm, 140mm, 200mm and various other configurations.

How many fans do you need for a mid tower computer?

The size of the computer case will dictate how many fans you are able to install to a certain degree. For most mid tower cases, you will preferably want around two or three fans on the intake on the front side of your PC and one exhaust fan.

Where do you place the fan in a computer case?

If your case has vents at the top, they should be placed as exhaust fans because hot air will rise. Side-mounted fans should be used for intake, though they often don’t have air filters. To prevent dust issues, you can custom fabricate your own filters.

How do you change the direction of a fan?

You’ll need to rotate the fan 180° to change the air direction. Fans powered by alternating current (AC) such as common household 120V or 220V fans typically can only blow forward. However, direct current (DC) fans are often reversible.

What kind of fan should I use for my computer?

If your case has vents at the top, they should be placed as exhaust fans because hot air will rise. Side-mounted fans should be used for intake, though they often don’t have air filters. To prevent dust issues, you can custom fabricate your own filters. Speaking of dust, you want to make sure that your computer remains as dust free as possible.