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Are three case fans enough for cooling a gaming pc?

NewJo
By NewJo
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Go to solution Solved by LogicalDrm,

Is Silencio better than Elite 372 in any way other than USB 3.0 support and the silence? Elite seems like it has better air cooling and decent dust management also. Thanks for your reply.

Pros of Silencio: Noise reduction, removable HDD cage (better airflow), black interior. Con: CPU cooler limits.

Pros of Elite: More drive bays (if you need those), more fan options, better CPU cooler compatibility. Cons: Inside color (personal preference), size and placement of fans, no movable or removable HDD cage.

So if we look at cooling options only. CPU cooler limits can be avoided, and not really a thing with non-K CPU. Silencio has fewer fans but it has them right were they should be. You can have 2x140mm fans at front and single 120mm at rear. Not like in Elite where its only 1x120mm at front and you will need to use side or bottom slots to get more cooling for GPU. Also side vents don't come with dustfilters, if you'd like to use them as intake. Plus the fact that HDD cage aren't removable. Really limiting on front intake. Good thing that the cage is correct way so good HDD placement will be alright (1-2 slots between drives).

Its personal preference, but I wouldn't pick single intake fan (unless its like my 200mm) over 2 of them. Sinlge exhaust is enough and top slots are more when you are using bigger cooler or AIO. Sidefans are 50-50. Difference between having fan or not can be up to 10C with hot GPUs.

Posted

Hi,

 

I am thinking of buying Cooler Master Silencio 452 case - specs and images here. It has 3 fan slots in total, two at the front and one at the rear. It comes preinstalled with 2 fans and I will install the third fan myself.

 

But I am wondering if it is really enough for a gaming pc? There is no fan slots or vents on either side or on the top, it is completely closed on top and the sides. So if there are two intake fans at the front and one exhaust at the back, will it be good enough? Should I look for a different case?

 

I was also wondering if it is possible (and wise) to stick a 4th fan inside the case using duct tape or something which just facilitates the flow of air from the front side to the rear side. (There is no slot for fourth one, so it will have to improvised, dont know if it is possible).

 

My other options are Cooler Master Elite 310 and 372 , Antec VSK 4000B. 

My build includes a i5-3470 with Hyper TX3 evo fan (not going to overclock) and a GTX 670.

 

Thanks very much for the help.

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Yes, it's fine. I have 1 intake and 1 outtake and it's 100% fine.

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Yes it will be fine, you're not overclocking so the case might get a bit warm but nothing to be concerned with.

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Yes, it's fine. I have 1 intake and 1 outtake and it's 100% fine.

 

But this case is completely insulated from the sides and from the top (no opening for air). Would it sill be fine?

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But this case is completely insulated from the sides and from the top (no opening for air). Would it sill be fine?

yes

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yes

 

I also have the Cooler Master Elite 372 elite available to me and it has 7 120mm fan slots. It is going to cost me only like 2 USD more. Should I go for it instead?

 

Also, are these fans good - Scythe Grand Flex SM1225GF12M?

 

Thanks very much!

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I would still get Silencio. You can remove the middle HDD cage to improve airflow towards GPU (your hottest component).

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I would still get Silencio. You can remove the middle HDD cage to improve airflow towards GPU (your hottest component).

 

Is Silencio better than Elite 372 in any way other than USB 3.0 support and the silence? Elite seems like it has better air cooling and decent dust management also. Thanks for your reply.

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Is Silencio better than Elite 372 in any way other than USB 3.0 support and the silence? Elite seems like it has better air cooling and decent dust management also. Thanks for your reply.

Pros of Silencio: Noise reduction, removable HDD cage (better airflow), black interior. Con: CPU cooler limits.

Pros of Elite: More drive bays (if you need those), more fan options, better CPU cooler compatibility. Cons: Inside color (personal preference), size and placement of fans, no movable or removable HDD cage.

So if we look at cooling options only. CPU cooler limits can be avoided, and not really a thing with non-K CPU. Silencio has fewer fans but it has them right were they should be. You can have 2x140mm fans at front and single 120mm at rear. Not like in Elite where its only 1x120mm at front and you will need to use side or bottom slots to get more cooling for GPU. Also side vents don't come with dustfilters, if you'd like to use them as intake. Plus the fact that HDD cage aren't removable. Really limiting on front intake. Good thing that the cage is correct way so good HDD placement will be alright (1-2 slots between drives).

Its personal preference, but I wouldn't pick single intake fan (unless its like my 200mm) over 2 of them. Sinlge exhaust is enough and top slots are more when you are using bigger cooler or AIO. Sidefans are 50-50. Difference between having fan or not can be up to 10C with hot GPUs.

^^^^ That's my post ^^^^
<-- This is me --- That's your scrollbar -->
vvvv Who's there? vvvv

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Pros of Silencio: Noise reduction, removable HDD cage (better airflow), black interior. Con: CPU cooler limits.

Pros of Elite: More drive bays (if you need those), more fan options, better CPU cooler compatibility. Cons: Inside color (personal preference), size and placement of fans, no movable or removable HDD cage.

So if we look at cooling options only. CPU cooler limits can be avoided, and not really a thing with non-K CPU. Silencio has fewer fans but it has them right were they should be. You can have 2x140mm fans at front and single 120mm at rear. Not like in Elite where its only 1x120mm at front and you will need to use side or bottom slots to get more cooling for GPU. Also side vents don't come with dustfilters, if you'd like to use them as intake. Plus the fact that HDD cage aren't removable. Really limiting on front intake. Good thing that the cage is correct way so good HDD placement will be alright (1-2 slots between drives).

Its personal preference, but I wouldn't pick single intake fan (unless its like my 200mm) over 2 of them. Sinlge exhaust is enough and top slots are more when you are using bigger cooler or AIO. Sidefans are 50-50. Difference between having fan or not can be up to 10C with hot GPUs.

 

Considering that I am only going to use 1 HDD and not overclocking, it definitely seems like the Silencio is better option, right?

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Considering that I am only going to use 1 HDD and not overclocking, it definitely seems like the Silencio is better option, right?

Yeah, it seems very good case for basic use.

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As long no cables ect. are in the Way, you will be fine.

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