Radiator setup: push or pull?

kibbler · 02-09-2002, 08:37 PM

Sorry for a newbie question, but since this is a friendly forum, I should be okay

I have a super small case, so I plan to attach my 5X5 radiator and 120mm fan to the bottom of the case, right in front of the front intake fan. The air from the 120mm will go out the bottom of the case (first of all, tell me if there's anything wrong with that).
My question is, should the fan blow air thru the radiator ie. fan on top of radiator, or should the fan suck air thru the radiator, ie. fan under radiator. I'm hoping the former, because I've cut a great blowhole (with a nibbler, took forever), but I'd have trouble mounting the radiator to the case (no mounting holes)

Thanx for the info!

jaydee · 02-09-2002, 11:10 PM

I have done it both ways on two different rads and both ways where identical temp wise, so go with what ever is easier.

And you can test your rad by switching the fan from one side to the other and take temp readings. Each rad may react different.

Brad · 02-10-2002, 06:29 AM

I doubt you'd notice any differance. As jaydee suggested, an idea would be to test it first, and see what the temperatures are

gmat · 02-10-2002, 01:00 PM

Only if you're concerned about noise / airflow / efficiency, fans (those we use in computers) usually 'pull' more easily than 'push' due to their design.
With a good rad either way wont make any difference.

f155mph · 02-12-2002, 09:53 PM

Use two 120mm with about 85cfm with low noise and put one infront and one in the back with about 1 inch spacing between the fan and rad.

Brad · 02-13-2002, 04:55 AM

the problem with that is the amount of room you are taking up, with 38mm thick fans, you are at 7" or so thickness

mashie · 02-13-2002, 07:31 AM

My fan is pulling the air through the radiator.

f155mph · 02-13-2002, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad
the problem with that is the amount of room you are taking up, with 38mm thick fans, you are at 7" or so thickness

True true, but with push and pull you don't need to get a noisy 120mm to do the best job.

Brad · 02-14-2002, 02:02 AM

a 38mm thick fan will be quieter than a 25mm thick fan if they are both rated at the same cfm. Also the 38mm will have a higher static pressure, so it will move more air if you have say a radiator or heatsink in the way of the air flow

QazTaz · 02-14-2002, 01:24 PM

my is pulling... a 170mm 230VAC steel fan (chassie alu, rotor steel) the radiator is from an golf 2:nd generation... works good..

(and yes, I'v not using that bottle any more, got an alu reservoar now

)

Brad · 02-14-2002, 04:55 PM

nice work, even though you did use duct tape, it doesn't look messy at all.

a 230v fan is quite a differant animal to a 12v or 24v though

Jim · 02-14-2002, 08:41 PM

Looks GREAT! The birds are staying cool too!

Jim

QazTaz · 02-15-2002, 08:55 AM

the fan.... the rotor is quite heavy, and quite sharp... and I can't find a 170mm fan-grid here in sweden... lethal sun of a bitch... already eaten som skin...

and who said overclocking wasn't dangerous?

..

Brad · 02-15-2002, 04:56 PM

caseetc sell them, so do some other refridgeration places, and other industries where big fans are needed

02-09-2002, 08:37 PM	#1
kibbler Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 107	Radiator setup: push or pull? Sorry for a newbie question, but since this is a friendly forum, I should be okay I have a super small case, so I plan to attach my 5X5 radiator and 120mm fan to the bottom of the case, right in front of the front intake fan. The air from the 120mm will go out the bottom of the case (first of all, tell me if there's anything wrong with that). My question is, should the fan blow air thru the radiator ie. fan on top of radiator, or should the fan suck air thru the radiator, ie. fan under radiator. I'm hoping the former, because I've cut a great blowhole (with a nibbler, took forever), but I'd have trouble mounting the radiator to the case (no mounting holes) Thanx for the info!

02-10-2002, 06:29 AM	#3
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	I doubt you'd notice any differance. As jaydee suggested, an idea would be to test it first, and see what the temperatures are __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

02-13-2002, 04:55 AM	#6
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	the problem with that is the amount of room you are taking up, with 38mm thick fans, you are at 7" or so thickness __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

02-13-2002, 07:31 AM	#7
mashie Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 149	My fan is pulling the air through the radiator. __________________ mashie

02-14-2002, 02:02 AM	#9
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	a 38mm thick fan will be quieter than a 25mm thick fan if they are both rated at the same cfm. Also the 38mm will have a higher static pressure, so it will move more air if you have say a radiator or heatsink in the way of the air flow __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

02-09-2002, 11:10 PM	#2
jaydee Put up or Shut Up Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 6,506	I have done it both ways on two different rads and both ways where identical temp wise, so go with what ever is easier. And you can test your rad by switching the fan from one side to the other and take temp readings. Each rad may react different.

02-10-2002, 01:00 PM	#4
gmat Thermophile Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: France Posts: 1,221	Only if you're concerned about noise / airflow / efficiency, fans (those we use in computers) usually 'pull' more easily than 'push' due to their design. With a good rad either way wont make any difference.

02-12-2002, 09:53 PM	#5
f155mph Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: LALA Land Posts: 27	Use two 120mm with about 85cfm with low noise and put one infront and one in the back with about 1 inch spacing between the fan and rad.

02-14-2002, 01:24 PM	#10
QazTaz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: stockholm, sweden Posts: 13	my is pulling... a 170mm 230VAC steel fan (chassie alu, rotor steel) the radiator is from an golf 2:nd generation... works good.. (and yes, I'v not using that bottle any more, got an alu reservoar now )

02-14-2002, 04:55 PM	#11
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	nice work, even though you did use duct tape, it doesn't look messy at all. a 230v fan is quite a differant animal to a 12v or 24v though __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

02-14-2002, 08:41 PM	#12
Jim Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 389	Looks GREAT! The birds are staying cool too! Jim

02-15-2002, 08:55 AM	#13
QazTaz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: stockholm, sweden Posts: 13	the fan.... the rotor is quite heavy, and quite sharp... and I can't find a 170mm fan-grid here in sweden... lethal sun of a bitch... already eaten som skin... and who said overclocking wasn't dangerous? ..

02-15-2002, 04:56 PM	#14
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	caseetc sell them, so do some other refridgeration places, and other industries where big fans are needed __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

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