Concerns on RTX 3XXX Coolers for SFF/Vertical GPU builds

[Wolfca]

Hey guys,

 

I'll be trying my hand on a SFF build later this year, and I've kickstarted the Thor Zone Mjolnir ITX case. That should line up nicely with the new gen of Nvidia GPUs/AMD CPUs, but I'm concerned about GPU cooling.

 

Given that there's going to be GPU exhaust through the "back" of at least the FE cards, won't it be dangerous to leverage that in any ITX case with a seperate GPU chamber (or, similarly, any vertical GPU mount) that would essentially block the exhaust?

 

I guess AIBs might have more traditional cooling solutions but the thermals have me REAL worried. Thanks for the thoughts!

[Tristerin]

All axial coolers draw air in and push it towards the PCB of the GPU.  The best example to use is triple fan cards been doing this forever, heres a pic I made for another forum post today - cards like this have been blowing air like that for a long while:

 

PCB length in blue, that third fan is (I have 2 of those particular cards) blowing air through a heat sink with nothing to stop it.

 

[BobVonBob]

Back exhaust probably isn't going to work well with SFF cases like you described, but images are already out there of more traditional cooling from multiple manufacturers for the 3070 and 3080.

[Sorenson]

I'm concerned about the 3080 in my NCase M1. Its 320w and will blow straight into my air cooler. I think I might need to switch to an AIO. 

[Fasauceome]

15 minutes ago, Wolfca said:

Given that there's going to be GPU exhaust through the "back" of at least the FE cards, won't it be dangerous to leverage that in any ITX case with a seperate GPU chamber (or, similarly, any vertical GPU mount) that would essentially block the exhaust?

what ITX cases have rear I/O covers that block all airflow? Typically I've seen plenty of ventilation for air to blow out the back, looks kinda the same on the Mjolnir.

[Wolfca]

Clarify - I'm referring to it pushing air towards the backplate. "back" is relative, maybe "through" is a better word.

[Sorenson]

35 minutes ago, Wolfca said:

Clarify - I'm referring to it pushing air towards the backplate. "back" is relative, maybe "through" is a better word.

I would probably go for a partner card in sandwich style/dual chamber SFF cases. Also, the 3070 will not push air through the back and has a much lower TDP.