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Update: Changed the poll to reflect current things Hey all! I have some questions on how to configure fans/airflow in my PC. Maybe also what fans to get! So I'm in the process of upgrading my CM Storm Trooper-cased PC. Basically I set it together many years ago without knowing anything about building computers other than what I learned from working at an IT team for a short time. I'm an enthusiast, but with limited funds - I only upgrade when there's a reason to, and I always futureproof as much as I can with minimum maintenance needs. Right now, my case is very improperly configured. What I need to do is upgrade my cooling and fan configuration. For reference, here's my current build: Case: CM Storm Trooper (Full Tower) Motherboard: ASUS Rampage V Extreme CPU: Intel i7 5820K (Cooler: Corsair H100 with 2x 120mm radiator, default fans) GPU: 2x GTX 690 EVGA Signature in Quad SLI PSU: OCZ ZX 1250W 80+ Gold PSU Soon arriving: http://www.demcifilter.com/p0131/CM-Storm-Trooper-Dust-Filter-Kit.aspx Pictures I took when it was built: http://imgur.com/a/dvBpl Basically, I've not made much modification to the case's default layout. I've removed the big case-top fan and put the H100 radiator there. I plan to exchange my GPUs with a 980 Ti Waterforce once I can, maybe Feb-March. My silly current fan setup: It's configured so that the radiator is up against the case ceiling, and the fans are below it, pulling air downwards *into* the case. The fan in the back? Exhausts out of the case. The two HDD fans? Exhausts out of the case. In other words, I discovered that my setup is keeping the warm air in and trying to lead it out through the bottom. *facepalm* I sleep in the same room as my PC, so basically.. A noisy PC is a bad PC. The current problems I face are: Something in there (GPU fans maybe?) is loud at all times, never changes no matter what my PC is up to. No high pitch, just "VVVVV" sound, kinda loud. high temperature readings at all times Hurt pride I'd like to make my PC more silent. And powerful, which is why I'm thinking of buying a 980 Ti Waterforce for all my streaming, editing and gaming needs, putting the radiator in the back as exhaust? After watching a few videos by Linus and a few others on this subject, here's what I'm thinking of doing. Current Plan: Changing some fans into the best of the best (Silent + powerful) fans. Installing the Demciflex magnetic fan filters on all air intake/exhausts for maximum dust protection (Already ordered on ebay) Buying the 980 Ti Waterforce in a few months and using that to replace the back exhaust (Or elsewhere, if you guys recommend that) Making the H100 radiator fans exhaust up-top. Placing the radiator *below* the fans, meaning the fans are "pull" upwards? - so that it's easier to clean the radiator according to Linus' video (in the sources below), using CO2 spraybox upwards Letting the rear fan remain an exhaust, so that warm air always escapes up top, because warm air rises anyway. No need to stall it for less performance? Mount a fan in the bottom of the case for intake, preferrably as big/powerful as I can fit. Buy all the fans as PWM so I can turn down the noise when I sleep, and let them regulate naturally when I'm actually using the PC (SpeedFan?) Maybe rotate the 2x HDD fans to be front-intake. But isn't the airflow 90% restricted due to the closed-off bays? Is this inefficient? Can I 'open' them up somehow? Last resort: If not enough already, install 2 additional fans on the inside of the side-door itself. I hope I can avoid this if the alternative above is decent enough, I don't wanna tug/rip wires when opening the case. I'm hoping that letting warm air escape in the top parts (as warm air rises) should put less demand on the fan RPM to do that job, meaning quieter while remaining efficient. I'm thinking a positive air pressure might be optimal, if I can manage to draw in enough cold air from the bottom and front/side of the case. This would mean efficient cooling and less dust? And my questions are thus: Since the warm air rises, does this put less demand on pressure-optimized fans to do the Pull on top? Should I use F12, P12 or S12A? Or something else? What fans are gonna be loud, and should be replaced with Noctua (or some other brand) fans? What fans should I actually buy for these different parts? Do dust filters reduce performance/increase noise? Are static pressure better for this? etc. And lastly.. Are LinusTechTips-themed Noctua fans of the kind I need, still available for Norway? I'm hoping they don't break my bank if they are <.< I read that NF-F12 is best for static pressure, S12A is best for free airflow and P12 is basically the middle man. But here's where I get confused. I keep hearing that F12, while good for static pressure in Push configurations, may actually be less powerful for Pull configurations than the P12, or other fans that are designed for Pull on radiator. Is this accurate? I also heard that while P12 is supposed to be in the middle noise-levels, F12 seems to actually be more silent if you don't crank it up to max, despite what the specs say. People say there are "sweet spots" for every fan, and that some fans can get noisy at for example 700 RPM, but if you crank them to 900 RPM, the noise lessens. Any experiences here? I've also heard other fans are good, like Corsair SP120 and Silverstone's fans, but I have no idea. Whatever's good without costing needlessly much, is fine. I hate the colors on Noctua, but if the alternative is being broke or a louder PC, I'll take the bad colors any day - performance and function is more important than eyegasms, but if I can get both for a similar price, that's great. I'm also worried that placing a fan against the grille may induce extra noise, like Silverstone's video demonstrates. I'd like to avoid that horrible noise (Video in the sources below) at all cost. When it comes to price, I'm willing to pay "that little extra" for fans that are less noisy, if that means I have an easier time sleeping in the same room. But since PWM is a thing, I'm not sure how much it'll matter. I have very little experience with this, and since my PC is currently a constant noise generator, I don't really know how it's like to have silent fans. I'd love to sleep in a silent room. My case has a built-in fan adjustment button on the front, it adjusts the two side-fans in the chassis. Perhaps combining this with all the other fans is possible? That'd be cool. UPDATE: I've now ordered 2x Silverstone AP123 120mm PWM fans for top radiator, planning eloop B14-BS (PWM) for the back. I unfortunately realized Ap123 are not PWM after ordering, but I think there are ways to compensate for this. If my motherboard supports control for 3-pin, maybe SpeedFan can control it too? Reason I bought the AP123 is that it's going near a grille and radiator, and online it seems the others may get problems with turbulence. The german one I thought of because it's the only similar 140mm alternative, the AP141 is not engineered as well and this one has the notches on the blades + other optimizations. I just also ordered 3x Silverstone 140mm dust filter (magnetic, airflow/turbulence optimized) to put on the bottom and back of my case, might replace the case filters or even put them on in addition if this won't block airflow to much, to minimize dust. Might need them elsewhere too. Sources: Really useful Linus' video on radiators and fans (Fan cleaning) Silverstone does something others don't, reducing grille noise? (Air Penetrator video) JayzTwoCents Airflow Talk CM Storm Trooper Review (14 min 4 sec: Door fans) Pressure Discussion Read just a sentence from here: "Ideally, you will want a NF-F12 PWM on your heatsink or radiator, a NF-P12 PWM as a front intake fan in front of your hard drive cage, and a NF-S12B as a rear or top exhaust fan."

i wanna know if pc part picker watt calculator is accurate and if it says 1026 watt will a 1250 watt PSU 80+ gold do the job?