How many fans do I need?
How many fans do I need?
I created a build at http://pcpartpicker.com/list/xgVMpb. I was curious about the number of fans required, their placement, and whether they should be input or output fans. Also, this is my first gaming build, so any advice would be helpful!
Your build doesn't need many fans.
Two intake fans at the front and two exhaust fans—one on top, one on the back.
It's recommended to use the Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg), even though it costs a bit more, it offers superior quality.
Also, you might want to hold off for a few weeks. The RX460 (or possibly the RX 470) will be available then and will provide much better graphics for the same price.
While waiting, you could also think about spending around $100 and switching to an i5 build, which would last longer and offer a better gaming experience.
Notes:
Your build doesn’t need many fans.
Include 2 intake fans at the front and 2 exhaust fans—one on top, one on the back.
It’s recommended to use the Antec High Current Gamer 620W power supply (80+ Bronze Certified, semi-modular ATX, $59.99 from Newegg). It’s a bit pricier but offers superior quality.
You might want to wait a few weeks; the RX460 (or possibly RX 470) will arrive then and provide better graphics for the same cost.
While waiting, consider adding around $100 and switching to an i5 build for longer use and improved gaming performance.
Thanks for the advice!
I can’t afford the i5 right now—my budget was $500 but I increased it to $550. Also, I think the case already has one front fan, so using just one front fan and the other two on top and rear is fine.
The price on PC picker is lower since I’m not ordering from NCIX because of their very high shipping fees. I don’t have much left, but I’ll check your power supply! Thanks again!
Here’s what you need to know:
I’m happy to reply! My budget was initially $500, but I updated it to $550. Regarding the case, it seems it includes one fan at the front—should I use just that one and the other two on the sides? Also, the price on PC picker is lower since I’m not ordering from NCIX, which has very high shipping costs. With limited funds, I’ll check your power supply options. Thanks for your help!
You’d be better with a single exhaust mounted at the top or rear and two intake fans. This would reduce dust buildup in your system.
Given my tight budget, wait for the RX 460/470—definitely worth it and not a long wait.
Fans. The spec-01 red comes with one 120 mm Ted led fan. The main question is whether you really want the red fan at the front. If yes, consider getting a matching Corsair red LED 120 mm fan for the front, two more for the top. With a stock cooler, mounted fans are more useful in the front than at the back, so having two on top would be preferable to just one at the rear, and one on top. Personally, I’d prefer to place the red LED at the rear, with two 120 mm fans on top and two 140 mm fans as intakes at the front.
It’s an AMD CPU with a stock cooler, so it will get warm quickly. Don’t overcool it until you have a good cooler in place. Maximizing fan output will result in more airflow than needed, meaning you won’t need to spin the fans at full speed—around 500 rpm or less—which makes it quieter. For setup, run the two front fans as intakes using a splitter, direct the two top fans as exhausts through a splitter to one header, and keep the rear fan as its own header.
If budget is tight, a 4-pack of 120mm Corsair AF performance is affordable, along with splitters, and I’d go for that instead, but still place the red LED at the exhaust. It will create a more noticeable effect in the window.
Notes:
Your build doesn’t need many fans.
You should have two intake fans at the front and two exhaust fans—one on top and one on the rear.
It’s recommended to use the Antec High Current Gamer 620W power supply (80+ Bronze Certified, semi-modular ATX, $59.99 from Newegg). It’s a bit pricier but offers superior quality.
You might want to wait a few weeks; the RX460 or possibly the RX 470 will arrive soon and provide better graphics for the same cost.
While waiting, you could also think about spending around $100 and switching to an i5 build, which would last longer and give a better gaming experience.
Karadjgne:
Fans. The spec-01 red comes with one 120 mm Ted led fan. The main question is, do you really need the front red fan? If yes, consider a matching Corsair red LED 120 mm fan for the front, two for the top, and two on the rear. With a stock cooler, mounted fans are more useful in the front than at the back, so having two on top would be better than one at the rear. Personally, I'd prefer to place the red LED at the rear, with two 120 mm fans on top and two 140 mm fans as intakes at the front.
Since it's an AMD CPU with a stock cooler, it will run warm, so don't overclock until you have a decent cooler. Maximizing fan output will provide more airflow than necessary, allowing you to run the fans at lower speeds—closer to 500 rpm—which will be quieter. You can run the two front fans as intakes using a splitter to a single header, the top two as exhausts via a splitter to another header, and the rear as its own header.
If budget is tight, a 4-pack of 120mm Corsair AF performance fans is affordable, along with splitters, and I'd go for that instead, but still keep the red LED on the exhaust. It will make a more noticeable difference in the window.
Can you link the 4-pack of fans? I can't find them.