Fan Filter raises Temps

[Orbit]

Well, after messing with my water setup some more... (a never ending search for betterer), I put a 120mm 12v 103cfm fan on my rad, then put the 120mm a/c IBM server fan on the side cover of my case where the 12v fan used to be, because it's much quieter.
My temps dropped amazingly. I'm currently at 25 C System, and 28 C CPU, running 145fsb on an XP2000.

What I noticed is that when I put the filter back on the fan on the side cover, my system and CPU temps rose 5 degrees C!!
I'm flat amazed, as there doesn't seem to be that much of a drag in airflow. So, looks like I'll run without the filter, and just get out the blower every once in awhile to get rid of the dust.

Has anyone else noticed this, or experimented with it?

5 degrees is a lot, in my eyes.

PS: I LOVE my DD Maze 3 even more each day. Best $45 I've ever spent on a cooling component.

[Áedán]

Most fans can't drag air under much resistance at all! Give them any kind of back pressure or restricted input, and they rapidly lose the ability to move air. They're designed to move air without any restrictions.

If you want to move air through filters and the like, then consider using a "blower" instead. They can handle much higher backpressures than a more traditional fan can.

AidanII

[Orbit]

Yes, and then we get back to the noise issue.. heh, one of the main reasons I went to water to begin with.

Ah, well, I don't use filters on my tobacco, either, I guess my computer can be a filter-less item also.

[Holst]

put the filter on the other side of the fan, so you blow through it rather than suck

That should give you better airflow and keep your PC cleaner.

If you smoke please do use a filter. I sometimes get a smokers board to test at work, a 1mm thick layer of tar and smoke is absolutely disgusting.

[dimmreaper]

Like AidanII said, a blower is the way to go. Axial flow fans are really just to move a minimal amount of air through the radiator, not to move a lot of air through it. Often a blower with half the volume("flow") rating will perform on par because with the back pressure present it actually moves equal volume.