Best way to install case fans?

[Darthgumby]

I have an Antec Three Hundred case, with fan mounds for the top, back, side, and two in the front.  I don't want to max this thing out with fans, but considering I will have my Processor fan blowing, power supply fan going, and GPU fan going, any ideas how many fans I should consider, where to put them, and what direction of flow would be best?

I do already have the top fan blowing air out, and a side fan blowing air in, and will buy a rear fan - but not sure which direction for this blowing would be best?  The power supply is mounted on the bottom, and the GPU will be blowing air out the back and sides of the card.  (HIS 6850 card)

Any suggestions?  Please check into the case design specified above, and you'll see what I am working with.

[Geek-9pm]

I have an Antec Three Hundred case, with fan mounds for the top, back, side, and two in the front.  I don't want to max this thing out with fans,
...

Use as many fans as your need.
Unless the case starts to walk on a column of air.

[patio]

Solid advice....

[WillyW]

...
 and what direction of flow would be best?

I do already have the top fan blowing air out, and a side fan blowing air in, and will buy a rear fan - but not sure which direction for this blowing would be best? 
...

In the front
Out the back
Out the top, too
I can never remember the norm for a side fan... I don't have one ...  somebody else will comment specifically on side fans when they see this.

[patio]

Side fans = in...

[BC_Programmer]

I believe the idea is to have more fans blowing in than blowing out, so as to prevent dust gathering in case crevices. Aside from that, the only important thing is whether there is adequate airflow.

[Darthgumby]

I thought it was more out than in?

I was also nervous about having too many fans, as there may be some conflict in air flow and too much noise.  I'm thinking blowing front air in, along with the side fan blowing cool air in, and the top and back fans can blow the hot air out.  I can keep them at a lower speed for now to prevent noise, but if needed I can run them faster.  I think this would be best.

[BC_Programmer]

I thought it was more out than in?

No. you want positive pressure inside the case. If it's negative, it will suck air in through all sorts of crevices in the case which will accrue dust like you wouldn't believe.

[Geek-9pm]

Noise? More noise the better. If this is a game machine, you want it to sound like a jet takeoff.

[Lumpy44]

Ya. Definitely want more in than out. Keeps it a bit less dusty. The rest really depends on the purpose of the comp. If you have a gaming machine just run the game for a bit and then check what temps you have with HWMonitor or Speedfan. Trying different configurations until you get one that seems to be coolest/noisey is a good idea. I run my media PC with one in the front and one in the back and it stays very cool.

[quaxo]

In the front and side, out the back and top. If you have a CPU cooler with a fan that is vertical instead of horizontal, correctly inserted it should send air through from the front to the back of the case, towards the rear fan(s).