Reference number: CH001010 Should my computer fans be sucking or blowing?
Question:
Should my computer fans be sucking or blowing?
Answer:
Heatsink / CPU fan A heatsink on the processor or other chip on the motherboard, video card, or other circuit board in the computer will always blow heat away from the component allowing that heat to escape and get blown out of the case. Case fans  Your chassis configuration will determine whether or not the fans should be blowing or sucking. Computer cases that have only one fan in the back should always be blowing the hot air out. Another common configuration is to have the fan in the back with a fan in the front portion of the case sucking in air in. As can be seen in the picture to the right, the computer case brings
in cold air from the front of the case. Because it's always open and not constrained, and as the hot air rises in the case, it is blown out the back. The important thing to remember is, when working with a computer that has more than one case fan, at least one should be sucking air in and one should be blowing air out. Other special case mod related questions Should fans mounted on the top of the case suck air in or blow air out? As mentioned above since hot air rises we suggest that if you're building a case that has additional fans added on the top that those fans be blowing hot air out of the case. How should side case fans be mounted? If you're building a case and creating fans on the side of the case, we suggest that they be blowing air into the computer.
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