I thought about how a silent computer can be built using the 200mm fans. A tower case is not big enough to hold 200mm fans at the front or the back. Therefore, I had to think of one.
Depending on the layout of the motherboard, 1 or 2 – 200mm fans can be used on the side of the case. If 1 – 200mm fan can be used to blow air at the CPU, motherboard, and the video card, then 1 – 200mm fan is is enough.
Antec, Coolermaster, and several others have cases with a side that holds a 200mm fan, but I have additional requirements. I do not want a case where the air from the fan does not cover the CPU’s heatsink, video card, Northbridge, and the Southbridge. If I get a micro-ATX motherboard, it may work. The fan will blow air at all the vital components at once, therefore, eliminating the need for 2 – 200mm side fans.
In order for this to work, the following must be true:
- A heatsink must be installed on the CPU that is designed to have a fan installed on the top. Currently, all CPU manufacturers provide this, therefore, it can be used.
- A video card must have a heatsink with the fins pointing down towards the bottom of the tower case. The air will blow across the video card heatsink’s fins.
- The heatsink on the motherboard’s Northbridge and Southbridge must be designed with a fan on top or fanless type.
- Power supply must be placed at the bottom of the case.
Now, if the above is all true, the smaller fans can all be removed from all the heatsinks since the 200mm side fan will push much more air than any of the smaller fans can.
There is a problem with this. There is no exhaust. A simple solution is to take out all the drive bay covers and take off the top of the case. This will allow the hot air to passively leave from the front or the top. Hot air rises.
Unfortunately, I have not found any manufacturer that sells a case with a removable lid. If I find one, I will buy that one for my next computer.
The question you may be asking me is why not a bigger fan? Unfortunately, 120mm is easy to find. 200mm is around and several companies make it. Anything bigger, and it may only be available from the company who manufactures the case.