Case fans are necessary for every computer to properly dissipate heat and prevent overheating issues. When your CPU and GPU work to their full capacity they generate lots of heat which can overheat your other components like storage drives, motherboards, and RAM. Case fans help to move cool air through your PC case so that hot air can dissipate and the components aren’t overheated.
In general there are two different types of case fans: intake and exhaust. Intake fans are placed at the front and bottom of the case where they pull cool air in and then blow it over the components inside the case. Exhaust fans are located at the top and back of the case where they push hot air out. Most cases have both intake and exhaust fans but some only have one or the other. In general you want a combination of both intake and exhaust fans to have the best cooling performance.
Differences in Fan Characteristics & Setups
There are many factors that affect how well a case fan performs. Two of the most important are the airflow and static pressure a fan can produce. Airflow is the volume of air a fan can move, typically measured in Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM). Static pressure is the force a fan produces and it can be a factor in how much noise a fan makes.
A good rule of thumb is to aim for a minimum of 40-50 CFM in an intake fan and 50-60 in an exhaust fan. This will allow you to keep your hardware at the optimal temperature and reduce overall system noise. Case fans