3 things I learned from building in a case with no airflow planning

Before I built my current PC, I used to prioritize aesthetics over everything else. A sleek, minimalistic case with a tempered glass side panel was all I cared about, and airflow wasn't even on my radar. I assumed that as long as I packed my case with fans and splurged on high-end CPU and GPU coolers, I'd have nothing to worry about when it came to thermals. But the more I used my PC, the more problems started creeping in, like loud fans while gaming, random FPS drops, and high temperatures while monitoring using MSI Afterburner.

I tried repasting my CPU and GPU with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, which is still one of the best thermal pastes out there, thinking that would help. But I completely overlooked the real issue: my Phanteks Evolv ATX case was restricting airflow, especially with the way I had configured the fans. Looking back, I underestimated just how crucial proper case airflow is for avoiding overheating issues. Even high-end cooling solutions couldn't save my build from thermal issues, all because I didn't put any thought into airflow planning.

3 Mesh front panels generally offer better airflow

Solid front panels may look sleek, but they often limit effective cooling

The Phanteks Evolv ATX case was definitely a looker, but the solid front panels meant that I had to settle for suboptimal CPU and GPU temperatures. Sure, it did have intake vents on either side behind the front panel, but that meant air had to push through tight spaces, which isn't ideal for effective cooling. Even though I had two 140mm fans mounted up front, they weren't getting enough fresh air to work effectively. Most of the airflow was being choked before it even reached the interior of the case, and both my CPU and GPU ran hot, often hovering around 85C.

That's one of the main reasons why I went with the Phanteks P500A when I built my current PC in 2020. The mesh front panel made a night-and-day difference. With three 120mm front intakes and a similar internal layout, my components finally had access to proper airflow. CPU temperatures never exceeded 82C while gaming, and the GPU stayed in the low 70s during extended sessions. The airflow felt more natural and less forced, and I didn't have to worry about dust buildup in odd places like I did with the Evolv.

2 More fans don't mean better cooling

Fan configuration mattered a lot more than I thought

When I first noticed high CPU and GPU temperatures with the Evolv ATX, I decided to replace the two included 140mm fans on the front with three 120mm fans, hoping that would improve the airflow. But in reality, it did the opposite. The problem was that the stock fans were static pressure fans, while the ones I replaced them with were airflow fans. This makes a big difference in the Evolv ATX, since its front intake relies on tight side vents for air to pass through.

Static pressure fans are specifically designed to push air through tight spaces, like radiators, dust filters, or in this case, the narrow intake vents behind the Evolv's front panel. Airflow fans, on the other hand, perform best in open environments where there's little resistance—for instance, behind mesh front panels. By switching to airflow fans, I unintentionally reduced the amount of cool air making it into the case, even though I had more fans spinning at higher RPMs. The result was a louder PC with no improvement in thermals. So, before you buy more fans, make sure you understand your case's design, the airflow layout, and choose the right fan type for the job.

1 Positive air pressure keeps my PC clean

More intake fans than exhaust help reduce dust buildup

My Phanteks Evolv ATX came with two 140mm intake fans and one 140mm exhaust, which was ideal for maintaining positive air pressure inside the case. However, once I installed a 360mm AIO liquid cooler at the top, everything changed. The three 120mm fans attached to the radiator served as additional exhaust, creating negative air pressure instead. This meant I now had more air leaving the case than entering it, and I quickly started noticing the consequences.

The biggest issue with a negative air pressure setup is that it draws unfiltered air into the case through every possible gap. Within weeks, I started seeing dust buildup in unexpected areas, like the PSU shroud, motherboard heatsink, and even the edges of the front panel. It was almost as if the dust filter in front of my intake fans did nothing. However, once I later swapped to an air cooler for the CPU, the dust buildup slowed down significantly. That's because removing the three top-mounted exhaust fans allowed the case to return to a positive pressure setup.

Building a PC without airflow planning can prove to be costly

Looking back, I wish I had taken airflow more seriously from the beginning. All the money I spent on aftermarket coolers and high-end thermal paste couldn't hide the fact that the case had a poor airflow design, and my fan configuration was far from optimal. These days, I don't even consider PC cases that don't have a mesh front or proper intake vents. Ever since I started prioritizing positive air pressure, mesh panels, and using the right type of fans for the job, airflow hasn't been an issue in any of my builds. My current PC not only runs cooler and quieter, but also stays fairly clean for months, making maintenance less of a hassle.