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?
4 Answers
Compared with an equally well-designed case that has large front intake fans and an open rear exhaust, a fish-tank case will usually lose a bit on temperatures simply because the layout is less direct. That said, a good model can still cool perfectly well, and the main tradeoff is aesthetics versus maximum airflow.
It depends on the particular case, but having glass side panels doesn't automatically hurt cooling. My case uses glass on the sides and still has excellent airflow. Just make sure the intake vents aren't blocked—for example, don't place the ventilated side directly against a wall.
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?