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I'm thinking 3 & 1... see what others think...

perhaps do a poll, so others can choose 2 options at once.

 

2 & 4 to allow plenty of flow while still directing it to the GPU.

 

Try 3, some air would get redirected towards video card.

 

i would go for 1 & 3 or you could even go for 1 & 4.

in the end its going to be your choice.

 

If the graphics card has a shroud over the heatsink (like most do these days) then directional airflow won't make much difference at all.

You're better off choosing the config cools your drives most effectively. More heat is dissipated from the bottom of drives then the top, so 1 & 3, or 2 & 4 with the drives mounted upside down, or 1 & 4 with the bottom drive mounted upside down.

 

What case do you have?

 

i'd go 1&4 .....

 

1 & 4 for sure. Slots 2 & 3 won't get as much flow from the fan.

 

Ahh, what type of card are you trying to keep cool?

 

I'd go 2 & 4 to allow the heat from each to escape (upwards).
If you need maximum airflow to reach past the drives into the case, then I'd go 1 & 4.

 

i would go 2 and 3

there is a dead spot in the middle of a fan so you would get the most airflow at the top and bottom

this also gives you air flow over both sides of the HDD (all be it only a little through the middle depending on the gap)

 

Possible to take a photo so I can get an idea - Im thinking of 2 and 4 but want to see the size of the gpu in comparison to the rest of the components.

 

Either combo, making sure the hard drives are a space apart.

 

WTF?
fans are radial, shouldn't be any diffrence in orientation to airflow
I'm not trying to be picky or anything, but that statement defies logic dude
the only limitation would be obstructions in or out

 

no shit i though they where rectangles

if you have the hard drives on the top and bottom then you are blocking alot of the fan and there is the dead spot

if you have them in the middle you then you are at least not blocking as much air flow (ie you are blocking the dead spot and part of the air flow)

 

Mate, his point is valid, you just need to read it a little more to get what he is refering to. There is more airflow for the HDD's in slots 1 & 4 rather than 2 & 3 but the difference is not so much to worry about.


OP, it is not going to make two fith's of bugger all what way you mount the drives. Sticking the drives in any of those slots will keep them very cool while allowing good airflow to the GPU (only a baby card). Just a side note, keep more speed (or air volume flow) from the front case fan and leave the rear 120 slow. This will avoid a negitive pressure in the case leading to dust building up around all the case edges, also stops the starvation of good airflow to the PSU. PSU fans are never that strong and don't flow well against most case fans that can overpower the little darlings.

 

I got the point ok, but my argument hasn't been comprehended.
The notion that putting 2 drives in the centre utilises the dead spot of the fan to give more exposed surface area is an illusion.
I've done a quick sketch in paint to illustrate the point.


Click to view full size!

Visualise 2+3 blocked off by drives, count the surface area of the fan thats remaining, then do the same for 1+4, it's actually more exposed surface area.

A more neutral setting would be 2+4 (or 1+3, same thing)

 

I concur 2+4 looks to be the best.

 

1 & 3, cool the hdd logic boards or whatever they're called.