How to Install a Case Fan

Before installing a case fan, ensure you have the right size fan. In some cases you can screw them in, in other cases they snap into a plastic housing.

In our example we will show you two ways to install a case fan. Technically the air should flow through the case out the back. If you only have one fan, either of the two ways is fine but I have noticed a lower system temperature (which is good) when mounting the fan on the back so it sucks the hot air out.

Click here for screwing the fan into the case
Click here for mounting a fan using a housing

Screwing a fan in

1. Figure out the direction the fan is blowing. The direction the fan blows depends on where it is located in the case. Look on the sides of the fan, it should tell you which direction the air will flow. If not then skip step 3 and plug in the fan and feel which direction the air is flowing then come back to step 1.

2. Line up holes with fan. On the inside of the case there should be a series of holes similar to the one in the picture below. Line up the four corner holes with the holes on the fan.

3. Insert screws. Once you have lined up the holes, simply insert the screws.

4. Giving power to the fan. Currently there are two ways to add power to a case fan. The method you use depends on the type of power connection it has. Some of them use a small plug that you can plug right into the motherboard like you did with the heat sink fan over the processor while others use a bigger plug to hook directly up to the power supply.

If you have one with a big plug, grab an extra power cable from your power supply like the one in the image below and simply plug the case fan into it. If you don't have an extra plug, the case fan should have a female plug leading out of the first one that will plug into your hard drive or cd rom drive.

If you have a smaller plug, grab your motherboard manual and look for a "Jumper & Connector Guide" section. Similar to plugging in the heatsink fan, look for a vacant fan connector named "System Fan Power" or something similar. Once located, plug it in!

5. Re-attach side panels. This step is optional right now. The same technique to remove the side panels are used to attach them. When booting up the computer something may not be fully connected or incorrectly installed and you will have to reopen the case to correct it.

If you have any more case fans to install, do that now. If you need to install one that has a plastic housing, click here. If you are done then lets plug everything into the back.

Using a plastic housing

Not all case fan housings are the same but our example below should help you get started.

1. Figure out the direction the fan is blowing. The direction the fan blows depends on where it is located in the case. Look on the sides of the fan, it should tell you which direction the air will flow. If not then skip step 3 and plug in the fan and feel which direction the air is flowing.

2. Snap fan into housing. Some cases come with a plastic housing. After purchasing the proper size fan, snap it into the housing.

3. Snap housing into case. Some are different than others, for ours we had to insert the left side first, then firmly press down on the right side until it snaps into place.

4. Giving power to the fan. Currently there are two ways to add power to a case fan. The method you use depends on the type of power connection it has. Some of them use a small plug that you can plug right into the motherboard like you did with the heat sink fan over the processor while others use a bigger plug to hook directly up to the power supply.

If you have one with a big plug, grab an extra power cable from your power supply like the one in the image below and simply plug the case fan into it. If you don't have an extra plug, the case fan should have a female plug leading out of the first one that will plug into your hard drive or cd rom drive.

If you have a smaller plug, grab your motherboard manual and look for a "Jumper & Connector Guide" section. Similar to plugging in the heatsink fan, look for a vacant fan connector named "System Fan Power" or something similar. Once located, plug it in!

5. Re-attach side panels. This step is optional right now. The same technique to remove the side panels are used to attach them. When booting up the computer something may not be fully connected or incorrectly installed and you will have to reopen the case to correct it.

We are almost done, now lets plug everything into the back.