# New Computer Case Design - Airflow Dynamics?

by cerestes
Tags: airflow, case, design, dynamics
 P: 1 Building a homemade computer case, designed mainly for silence. General theory is computers generate heat, fighting heat (fans) make noise. Heat moves, up, don't fight it. Case will be designed in a chimney fashion. Using many levels will force the sound to bounce back and forth (off of walls lined with sound deadening material), and hopefully not hinder air flow too much. Question is, from an airflow perspective, should each tier have the same volume? What i'm worried about is if you go from a tier with a large volume to a smaller tier, does the air simply speed up? I would expect if you halved the volume, their air speed would double. However, I'm concerned about creating a pressure buildup trying to force the air through the smaller tier which would decrease effeciency. |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| <-- exhaust air filter, grill | DVDROM | <-- 5.25" bay | ____________ | | CPU [ [ [ | <-- upside-down motherboard | | | [ [ [ | |___| |__||______| <-- two exhaust ducts | | |_____________ | | | | HD | |_PSU____________| <-- PSU and 120mm fan push air | | |_____________ | | | | | |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| <-- intake air filter V V <-- legs to raise above floor Any input from someone real familar with how air flows?