I'm setting up a 240mm AIO cooler on the top of my case, and I've read that top-mounted AIOs are usually better as exhaust fans. However, this would create negative pressure since I have two bottom intakes and one rear exhaust, plus the AIO would add two more exhausts. My case has a glass front so I can't add any front intake fans. Should I stick with exhaust for the AIO, or could it work as intake if I put a dust filter on it? Just as a side note, my PC is on a table and a slight temperature increase (around 3-5 degrees) wouldn't bother me if it means less dust intake. Currently, I'm running a Ryzen 5 5600 and 3060 Ti, which haven't exceeded 85°C with my air cooling setup. Any advice?
4 Answers
Definitely exhaust! If dust is a big concern and adding intake up front isn’t an option, a small increase in temperatures for the sake of less dust might be worth it. The current setup should still keep your components cool enough.
One option is to flip the rear fan to intake instead, which could help create a better air flow in your case. Just be wary that it might not look as clean, depending on how your setup is. If aesthetics aren't critical, it's a feasible solution!
What case are you using? You might also consider completely removing the rear fan to create more of an airflow tunnel from bottom to top. This could lead to better cooling overall without adding more exhaust fans.
You might want to stick with exhaust for the AIO, even though it's tempting to flip it to intake. A negative pressure setup can help filter out dust, but keeping the air moving properly is key. If you're worried about dust, you might adjust your fan curves, but overall, exhaust seems to be the better option for cooling efficiency.
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