I'm building an enclosure for an arcade system (motherboard + supergun). I currently have an MVS system with Blazing Star and will soon have a Sega ST-V with Die Hard Arcade (or Dynamite Deka as it was known in Japan). I'm using a Sony PVM as the monitor. I will probably post pictures of it as soon as it's done. However, before I even begin, I have one very basic question about its design. I'm going to put one fan in it to cool it off, and I was wondering: should the fan blow the air outward from the case, or into it? Also, does there need to be a hole on the opposite end as well? Thanks in advance.
As arcade boards don't have a single hot spot like a PC, blow cool air in and across the board. You can leave a gap at the top for exhaust as hot air rises and will leave naturally. Pulling air out won't resolve the issue of deadspots. Personally I prefer some small internal chassis fan to ensure under and over cooling in addition to the main fan. Antec makes some 12V fans that are on flexible , bendable stems. you can bend it to where you need it (cps 2 fan in) If you set it all up on a cheap fanbus, you can adjust the noise level.
Id recommend some sort of mesh, done right it can look nice enough, while allowing plenty of airflow without a big gaping hole or something of that nature.
Thanks for the advice. A couple other questions: does the fan need to be on top of the board (as in, suspended over it) or can it sit on the side? I can draw a picture if necessary to explain my question. Moreover, if it's on the side (or even if it's on the top) does there need to be a hole at the opposite end of the box to allow for air flow?
