Airflow in Fractal Node 804

[SenatorBiscuit]

I've been playing with a couple different airflow setups but I'm not sure route I want to go.

Currently have the AIO fans in a push out the front (won't fit in the top as the RAM is not low profile), a rear exhaust, and an intake in the bottom which blows straight up at the GPU.

Thermals seem to do decently in this config but I've noticed under heavy sustained loads, the front panel gets quite warm with the AIO radiator exhaust blowing straight at it. Was considering changing that to an intake instead, though that would largely hide the LEDs and/or show the uglier back side of the fans.

 

What are your thoughts?
I'm open to ideas, very curious to see what you think may be better.

[Dedayog]

You have the front AIO as exhaust?

 

I would do AIO intake, bottom intake.. rear exhaust.  

 

Maybe even remove the bottom as while it blows partially on the GPU... it may detour the front bottom intake fan from blowing THRU the GPU.

 

May have to test the configs.

[SenatorBiscuit]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

You have the front AIO as exhaust?

 

I would do AIO intake, bottom intake.. rear exhaust.  

 

Maybe even remove the bottom as while it blows partially on the GPU... it may detour the front bottom intake fan from blowing THRU the GPU.

 

May have to test the configs.

Yeah that decision was made more for the aesthetics of seeing the better side of the fans than it was for the functional aspect of it. But I think you're right. I also just noticed that the bottom fan seems to be bringing in a lot of dust as well, all the more reason to try that.

Maybe I'll put my non-RGB fans on the radiator, then run the RGB ones in the rear and maybe one on the top as well.

[SenatorBiscuit]

Update: I moved the Corsair RGB fans off the radiator and onto the case, one in the back, and one in the top. That way, the RGB isn't wasted, and the back side of the fan isn't exposed. I then moved the Fractal Design fans onto the radiator, in a push intake config. 

The compromise here though is that the RGB fans were four-pin, and the fan controller on the back of the case was only two-pin, so I had to modify the connector on the plugs so that they accepted the fans. That's fine, but the case fans are only three-pin, and as such, they aren't able to be controlled by iCue anymore. Thankfully they're quiet fans, but overall the system is louder now. However, where I was idling at 50 degrees, I'm now somewhere between 36 and 42, as it jumps all over there. 

[Jeppes]

Easy fix for gpu temps is to put two intakes on bottom slots. Not that 2060 needs it but if you throw in a 200-250W card it might make it easier to drop dB-levels.

[SenatorBiscuit]

20 minutes ago, Jeppes said:

Easy fix for gpu temps is to put two intakes on bottom slots. Not that 2060 needs it but if you throw in a 200-250W card it might make it easier to drop dB-levels.

Surprisingly, this case doesn't actually have any mounting points for fans in the bottom. I was able to squeeze one in by running two screws in the perforations in the bottom but I could only make that happen in the front unfortunately. Haven't tried gaming in the new setup yet but I have a feeling I'll see about the same temps for the GPU, which I want to say was somewhere around 75C? 

[Dedayog]

Impressive CPU temps with no fans on the radiator.  Well done.

 

Honestly I'd leave it like it is now then, or maybe get a couple RGB fans as intake and the back and top as exhaust.  Done.

[SenatorBiscuit]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Impressive CPU temps with no fans on the radiator.  Well done.

 

Honestly I'd leave it like it is now then, or maybe get a couple RGB fans as intake and the back and top as exhaust.  Done.

Apologies if I wasn't very clear. I put the stock case fans on the radiator, they're just hiding on the other side of it. I wanted to hide the back side of the fans, just for aesthetic purposes. But I do plan on getting some more RGB fans to match the two I already have that came with the rad.