Which is the Best Place to Install a Case Fan? – Part 1
Our Tests
Contents
We tested the effect of the case fan on the CPU core temperature in different configurations. First we tested with no case fan and the left panel open. Then we tested with no fan and the case closed.
The following tests were done with the case fan at the rear, top, front, and side panels, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The case was closed for those tests.
Figure 1: Fan at the rear panel
Figure 2: Fan at the top panel
Figure 3: Fan at the front panel
Figure 4: Fan at the side panel
The following table shows our results.
| Test | Room Temp. | Core Temp. | Difference |
| Open case | 24 | 58 | 34 |
| No fan | 24 | 63 | 39 |
| Rear fan | 24 | 58 | 34 |
| Top fan | 23 | 57 | 34 |
| Front fan | 23 | 58 | 35 |
| Side fan | 24 | 61 | 37 |
The graph below shows the temperature difference between the CPU core temperature and the room temperature in each test.
