Push or Pull??

[Butch]

I now have my 2 BX Miros and High output Sunon fans. I took the PSU plate on a Lian Li PC75 and turned it upside down so PS is on top with the units fan on bottom as it suppose to be. So now the 2 80mm fan holes are under PS. Now my ? is: Do I push or pull the air through the Rads and out the case? I plan on my water flow at this time to be: Pump>Rad1>CPU>Rad2>Res>Pump>. I just am not sure on the direction of air through Rads to get the best cooling. Pulling air from outside case I know is the best bet but not an option at this time. Hmmm Survey Time, Butch:p

[kms]

a rad cant tell if air is being pushed or pulled, its effectively the same (i'll dig a link out for you in a sec). What is important though is that you mount the fan with at least 10mm dead zone else turbulence will reduce the efficiency by quite a bit. Also the bix micros are core type rads arent they ? in which case they will have high resistance to air so you may need a pusher & a puller ?

[kms]

that link (http://www.pclincs.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?threadid=108), there are 3 links of the thread, though the 1st two claim one way is better than the other (which may be the case slightly for some kit) in general the 3rd link is the important one. Another point is that if your bothered about noise, pulling is louder than pushing even with the same rad and fan, something i've observed with a few fans and a few rads.

[Player0]

KMS, I thought air turbulance over the radiator fins was a good thing? I havent played with that though...i just sort of mount the fans flat. But ive heard of people mounting them at a slight angle to help improve turbulance with the air flow...any word on that?

120mm fans are definately louder as pushers than as pullers, for reasons completely beyond my comprehension. Something to do with fin turbulance and isobaric pressures surrounding the fan. I dont know.

I do push and pull with my radiators, since it gives me more airflow without resorting to hideously loud fans :)

[kms]

hmm not sure, ive read an article somewhere will see if i can dig it out saying why the gaps important. With 120x25x25 fans against a flat mount rad you need the gap. If you use a 120x38x25 extra wide fan the gaps already in the design of the fan, the wider fans have same size blades, just a gap built into the shroud. Most modern rads also have the fan mounts off set from the fins. Check the aqua coil i think you have one of those. For pulling i'm not so sure its important but for pushing it causes turbulence around the blades causing air to come back rather than go through. I'll check for a link :)

[tripodal]

the turbulence becomes more important as the velocity of the air increases... you dont want a aerodynamic effect of some kind keeping fresh air more distant from the fins on the rad.

but at the same time the gap between the fan / rad will reduce turbulance and the actual airflow will be increase because less energy is lost with turbulence.

[kms]

cant find that link but apparently if its mounted tight against the rad then theres a dead zone in the center where no air passes through the rad cos of the fan centre, backing it off a bit prevents this dead zone, using one of the new TMD fans with coils at outer corners will reduce this no end if you have to mount tight to rad

[Butch]

On the BX Micro the cooling fins set back from frame of Rad about 6mm. Than you have a little more clearance where the fan is screwed to Rad frame. Would this qualify for this dead area you talk about? Butch