Custom case cooling question

Vinnems · December 13, 2020

I have a client who originally wanted me to build him one of those 'invisible' type PC desks, where you can't tell there's a computer in it and don't see many wires; basically, it looks like a normal table. He gave me the list of the larger components he had and I told him that would not be possible:

Asus RTX 3070 TUF (360mm radiator with 3X fans)

EVGA AIO CPU cooler (360mm radiator with 3x fans)

Gigabyte 850W PSU

Asus X570 Motherboard

So he gets that (luckily), and still wants it built into a table, but make it as invisible as possible and still maintain the table size of 30 x 66". The concept I came up with is to build it all in a small, compact box that goes under the back middle of the table. This way, you'd have to get low to be able to see it under there, and with the height I'm aiming for, tuck his legs in without hitting the thing.

I'm still concerned through with cooling. Here is the concept I have come up with:

https://imgur.com/a/OF8Kf2a

Each box on the graph is 1"x1", and the box height would be 6" max. 'Top' of the image would be the rear of the desk.

The GPU and CPU fans would pull cool air from outside across the radiators. So that's six 120MM fans on the intake. But for exhaust, the only thing I have room left for are two 92mm fans above the ports on the MB, and a 120MM on the right side. Will that be enough to remove the hot air? I can put another 120mm fan to the left and facing down of the one that's already in there, but I don't know how well exhaust works in that direction.

Comments would be greatly appreciated. I plan on building this box out of plywood first as a proof of concept and run some benchmarks on it before building the real thing, which will be integrated into the table itself and made of solid walnut.

Senzelian · December 13, 2020

What about the PSU? Is that exhausting air out of the "case" too?

Vinnems · December 14, 2020

Yes, the fan faces downward and vents out the rear.

Vinnems · December 14, 2020

Been talking with folks on other forums. How does this design vibe instead:

https://imgur.com/gHw3Gn1

The GPU and CPU Coolers would face the bottom of the desk and have cut outs around them so the fans would pull cold air up, and then six 92mm fans or seven 80mm fans would pull the hot air out. In this case, would I need fans to the left of the GPU and right of the CPU Cooler to 'push' the hot air off them towards the center of the case to exhaust better?

This would make the insides much narrower and let me make the whole desk that 'thick' so the only sign there is something in there would be fans along the underside, and the rear but it would be near against a wall.