Corsair 900D Fan Setup Question

Katrar · March 4, 2015

Hi all,

I have a Corsair 900D that I'm planning, long term, to water cool & SLI (hell, maybe even tri-SLI if I rob a liquor store or two lol) ... but for now will be purely air cooled. I say this because I'm fully aware this is a water-cooling oriented box. I consider what I'm putting together "a good start".

At this point it will be a fairly simple gaming rig:

FX-8350 (intending a moderate OC) cooled by a Noctua NH-D15

Single GTX 980

The 900D's stock cooling is probably sufficient but I have 2 x Noctua NF-A14 140mm fans and 1 x NF-S12A 120mm fan to complement the 3 x 120mm intakes and 1 x 140mm exhaust out of the box.

How would you guys recommend I use the additional 3 fans? I was thinking the 140's as additional intake (case side-bottom) and the 120 as extra top mounted exhaust. This would result in:

Intake: 2 x 140mm (side-bottom), 3 x 120mm (front)

Exhaust: 1 x 140mm (top), 1 x 120mm (top rear)

An alternative is:

Intake: 1 x 140mm (side-bottom), 3 x 120mm (front)

Exhaust: 2 x 140mm (top rear, top)

Mid, directing air at GPU: 1 x 120mm (mid-case)

Thoughts? And thanks! =)

HappyChubbs · March 4, 2015

Hello,

The slots on the bottom of the 900D are mostly for water cooling. So adding fans there will only push air across the bottom.

My suggestion,

Intake: 3 x 120mm (front) - 1 x 140mm (rear) *All depends on the orientation of the CPU heatsink.*

Exhaust: 2 x 140mm (top) - 1 x 140mm (rear) *All depends on the orientation of the CPU heatsink.*

Leaves one fan left over.

I have a 900D also, not much is left for the imagination when it comes to air cooling.

KaminKevCrew · March 4, 2015

I agree with HappyChubs. I think that would be the best setup you could do at the moment with the 900d

Katrar · March 6, 2015

Makes perfect sense, and I was concerned about the bottom fans either being ineffective or interfering with the straight flow provided by the stock 120s so I'll leave that lower compartment alone until I can use it properly.

With regards to CPU heatsink orientation, I have intended to push air horizontally, mostly because I think the D15 may interfere with PCIe slot 1 oriented vertically. Would the 140s up top negatively effect the CPU cooler if they were (very closely) pulling perpendicular to its airflow?

Also thanks very much for the guidance.