I'm considering buying an Antec C5 for my next PC build, but I'm unsure whether its panoramic glass design affects cooling. Since the intake fans are positioned along the side rather than directly behind a traditional front mesh panel, will airflow and temperatures be noticeably worse?
2 Answers
With the same number of fans, a traditional front-mesh case will generally run a little cooler. The difference may be around a few degrees, such as roughly 5°C, rather than a dramatic performance loss. If you like the panoramic look, the Antec C5 should be fine as long as you provide adequate intake and exhaust fans.
It shouldn't be a major problem. As long as the case has enough quality fans and unobstructed vents for fresh air to enter, airflow can be perfectly acceptable. Modern designs have largely solved the old issue of glass or solid panels blocking ventilation.
So the design itself isn't automatically bad—it mostly comes down to the specific case and how well the fans are arranged?