stupid question on fan

[wayneh1204]

When replacing the fan that sits on the heat sync - should it blow towards the sync or away from it?

I am a software guy, not a hardware guy, so it may sound like a stupid question but when it comes to hardware I am stupid.

 

[ibmtech65]

I believe the fan should blow away from the heatsink to disperse the heat.

The fan should have an arrow on it to indicate which way the air flows. If the original fan is still on check which way the airflows. Hopefully it was installed correct.

 

[mainegeek]

wayneh1204,
What cpu are you using?

 

[wayneh1204]

i think a p3 but not sure where to find out it is 900 mghz

 

[smah]

Here's one past discussion: thread602-545935 CPU Fan air flow

Steve

 

[wayneh1204]

the label is out and the fan blows in. do not remeber how the old one was

 

[wayneh1204]

and since the heatsinc is quite cool i guess it is working correctly

 

[paparazi]

It's actually quite rare to find a fan sucking air OFF a CPU heatsink they nearly always blow ONTO the sink, so chances are it's blowing onto.
Is this the cartridge style of CPU, with fixed fan?
I can't see you having particular problems either way as the P3 900 wasn't exactly known for heat issues unlike the early cartridge style (Slot A?)Athlons.
Martin


We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[kmcferrin]

CPU fnas blow onto the heatsink rather than sucking away from the heatsink.

If they draw air up from the heatsink then the process would be drawing air from around the sides of the heatsink up into the fan and out. Since the airflow will take the easiest patch, it is possible that you will get less airflow at the center of the heatsink than you do around the edges. Since the CPU core is towards the center, that is likely to be the hottest part and the most in need of air flow.

If it blows down from above, it forces air more or less evenly across the CPU, and then the flow finds the most efficient way to exit the heatsink (on the sides). Blowing down onto the heatsink gets your air distributed much more evenly.

 

[Tony57]

Usually push. Pushed air is denser, and can remove more heat.