Getting the right airflow balance in your PC case is crucial for optimal cooling and performance. Our calculator helps you determine if your current fan setup creates positive, negative, or balanced pressure, and provides recommendations for improvement.
Quick Answer: This calculator helps you determine your PC's airflow balance by calculating total intake and exhaust CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) based on your fan configuration. It provides recommendations for achieving optimal cooling and dust control.
Results
Understanding Your Results
The calculator provides several key metrics to help you optimize your PC's cooling:
- Total Intake CFM: The total amount of air being pulled into your case
- Total Exhaust CFM: The total amount of air being pushed out of your case
- Pressure Type: Whether your case has positive, negative, or balanced pressure
Pro Tip: For most builds, aim for slightly positive pressure (10-20% more intake than exhaust) to help keep dust out while maintaining good cooling.
How to Use This Calculator
Follow these steps to get the most accurate results:
- Count your intake and exhaust fans
- Note the size of your fans (120mm, 140mm, or 200mm)
- Enter your typical fan speed in RPM
- Click Calculate to see your results
Note: This calculator provides estimates based on typical fan performance. Actual airflow may vary based on fan quality, case design, and other factors.
What Do the Results Mean?
Your results will show one of three pressure types:
- Positive Pressure: More air is being pulled in than pushed out. This helps keep dust out but may reduce cooling efficiency.
- Negative Pressure: More air is being pushed out than pulled in. This can improve cooling but may allow dust to enter through unfiltered gaps.
- Balanced Pressure: Intake and exhaust are roughly equal. This is ideal for most builds.
Making Adjustments
Based on your results, you might want to:
- Add or remove fans to achieve better balance
- Adjust fan speeds to fine-tune airflow
- Consider upgrading to larger fans for better performance
- Add dust filters to intake fans
Remember: The best fan configuration depends on your specific case, components, and cooling needs. Use this calculator as a starting point, then fine-tune based on your temperatures and noise preferences.