What are reverse blade fans and how do they work?

Prawn here with a look at Reverse Blade PC fans. I thought it might be worth talking about what reverse blade fans are, how they work and how to install them for the correct airflow.

You can get reverse blade fans from a number of different brands now. I've seen reverse blade fans from Lian Li, Montech, MSI and more. Phanteks do them, as do ThermalTake. But it might not be immediately obvious what they're for.

Well...usually when installing PC fans, the front of the fan is where the air is pulled from. So, for example, if you're mounting an exhaust fan (to get rid of hot air from your case), you'll put it face inward on the rear or top of your case. If you're mounting standard fans as intake fans then they have to face out of the case. If that's on the bottom of your case that means the front has to face toward the bottom and only the back is visible. Which is a real shame when you have Infinity fans.

That's where reverse blade fans come in. The fan blades face in a different direction, so you can put them face forward into the case, but still use them as intake. The performance might not be as good, but they look loads better!

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Related videos:
Common Mistakes You Might be Making with Your PC Fan Setup! PC airflow tips and tricks

Disclosure: Shopping links within the description of this video generate a commission at no extra cost to you. These are added for your convenience but other retailers are available. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Products:
Products featured may also have been sent for free for review/testing purposes. Often these have to be returned by me, but not always. I endeavour to avoid bias in my videos wherever possible and try to give honest, subjective opinions. Unless otherwise stated, the videos are not sponsored financially.

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[ootsie]

So I just want to make sure I get this right:

Reverse fans - will have the front face showing when used as intake fans
Standard fans - will have the front face showing when used as exhaust fans

Is that correct?

[gregworth]

Finally someone explains it without a 3 hour video

[enfieldjohn]

Its about time that someone thought of this.

[snbd]

Im setting up a build in my Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL case and ive been at a crossroads whether to get the Lian Li SL-INF 140's or the Thermaltake SWAFAN EX14 ARGB reversible fans, i kinda prefer the look of the Thermaltake fans tbh but i want quality, any opinion would be great, cheers.(btw love the picts you always have on the back wall during your takes )

[alexanderevens]

if im gonna build my pc with lian li dynamic evo so i have to buy 6 reverse inf fans and 1 standart? or im wrong? i choosed top for the aio

[pickthestickup]

Is there a noticeable difference in temps if fans are swapped into a top mounted 360 AIO radiator?
Take the Montech King 95 pro for example--
If the bottom three 120s and two side 140s are intake fans, and the rear 120 and top three AIO 120s are exhaust...
would there be a major difference in temps compared to--
If the top three AIO 120s and two side 140s as intake fans, rear and bottom 120s as exhaust?

What would be the most optimal airflow arrangement, with positive pressure to minimize dust?

[meganschafer]

My ceiling fan is reversible, are there any reversible PC fans?

[westfield]

Thank you. This had me so confused much like RGB and ARGB lighting

[jackjonseon]

is that app for lianli fan only that you using?

[Spookyplayz]

hey i have a question if i have the hyte y70 what fans should i get reverse or normal??
and where do i place them pls respond fast

[Moreno]

My fans dont show were air goes so i am confused

[ZENKAIZENttv]

so if i want to use a Lian Li lcd fan for the exhaust in the back, with the lcd panel facing inwards in the case so i can see the display, should i use the regular one or the reverse blades one? i wanna mention that i want to put 3 140 lcd normal fans for the intake, with the lcd on the outside of the case because i have a nice mesh which can open and close from the front and i would love to put that extra touch in the inside case for the rear fan.

[CAL]

when you say pulling air through the radiator and exhausting it out of the top do you mean the fan is pushing air thru the radiator and out the top? or is it getting pulled from the top and pulled out through the side?

[yannisgallos]

Hello, i have the Cosmos 700m . I am thinking to change the exhaust fans with reverse blade fan . Is sounds good ? My case has x3 140mm front and 1x 140mm exhaust . What the best option ?

[KvK.-]

If I have no space at the top for fans because I am using the O11 Vision of Lian Li what would be the best placement of standart and reverse fans?

[corbindeadwyler]

Ok I’m new to pc building my first one I have asus Hyperion fan comes pre installed with 4 140mm fans
Front 3 140mm fans are intake so get 3 reverse fans
Back 140mm fan needs to be standard for exhaust?

[rzs]

Is the fan in the video a Lian Li UNI Fan?

[marcusnohype]

Can I use (1) reverse blade fan for rear exhaust? Or does the rear exhaust have to be a regular fan blade? Please help.

[Nobody-hcrw]

If i mount a radiator on top should that always be exhaust, and likewise if its front mounted should it always intake?

[cheekster]

Would reverse blade fans (3 x 120mm) on the base of an Antec Performance 1 FT case negatively impact the air flow from front to back and out of the top of the case? The fresh/cool air being sucked in probably won’t get past the RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks.