I've been using my Fractal Torrent Compact case for a bit now. Currently, I have a 360mm fan in the front as an intake, two 140mm fans at the bottom also set to intake, and a single 120mm fan at the back configured for exhaust. I'm wondering whether it would be better to flip that rear 120mm fan to intake and turn the three AIO fans into exhausts, which would give me a neutral pressure setup instead of positive. I've also read that the neutral pressure might not be a big deal and is more about cleanliness. So, if I stuck to the same number of fans but switched from five intake to three intake and three exhaust, with the exhaust coming through the radiator in the front (since the top of the case is sealed and has no exhaust), would that be a better cooling solution?
2 Answers
Honestly, turning the AIO to exhaust could be more effective because it actively pulls the hot air away from your components. In a case with no top exhaust, just make sure that your front intake can still bring in enough airflow. You might find that a balanced setup with three intakes and three exhausts works better for cooling overall.
Positive pressure helps keep dust out if you have filters on your intake fans, but if you don’t mind dust, it's not crucial. It's generally more about maintaining good airflow. You might want to consider that having your AIO set to exhaust should efficiently pull hot air out, especially since it’s cooling your CPU. So yeah, the rear 120mm could stay as exhaust to let hot air escape since cold air will naturally come in from the bottom and front.
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