Comparative thermal testing of intake on top of PSU shroud vs at case bottom w/o shroud?

[mesadisco]

This picture is for reference only and doesn't quite illustrate case B) because in that case, there would be no PSU shroud.

Has anyone done comparative thermal testing of having an:

A) 140mm intake fan on top of the PSU shroud located anterior and superior to the PSU 

compared to a 

B) 140mm fan in the same anterior position, but at the bottom of the case with PSU shroud removed?

 

https://hardware-helden.de/der-perfekte-airflow/?showall=&start=2 This is the best I could find, but they only tested intake at the bottom of the case.

 

Frustratingly, they did test cases in separate articles that support fan mounting atop the PSU shroud, but they did not place fans there: https://hardware-helden.de/be-quiet-pure-base-500-optimales-lueftersetup/
https://hardware-helden.de/fractal-define-7-airflow-guide-das-optimale-lueftersetup/
https://hardware-helden.de/fractal-define-7-compact-airflow-das-optimale-lueftersetup/

 

One drawback I could see to mounting on top of the PSU shroud is potentially losing a PCIE slot. Another is that the fan might not be located optimally to have clear airflow over the anterior end of the PSU; i.e. it may overlap horizontally somewhat with the top of the PSU.

 

I know that front-to-back airflow works fine, but in the detailed testing above, 1 bottom intake, 1 rear exhaust, and 2 top exhaust was superior, and I suspect also quieter (as the fans are physically further away if the tower is sitting on a desk).

 

Additionally, I am aware of cases like the Corsair 540, but that particular one has a bunch of janky plastic so it's a hard pass. And I am also aware of cases like the Lian Li O11 XL, but I don't want any glass in my case (pets, kids). Also the Lian Li glass panels have a nasty habit of coming unglued and falling off.

[thrasher_565]

4 hours ago, mesadisco said:

This picture is for reference only and doesn't quite illustrate case B) because in that case, there would be no PSU shroud.

Has anyone done comparative thermal testing of having an:

A) 140mm intake fan on top of the PSU shroud located anterior and superior to the PSU 

compared to a 

B) 140mm fan in the same anterior position, but at the bottom of the case with PSU shroud removed?

 

https://hardware-helden.de/der-perfekte-airflow/?showall=&start=2 This is the best I could find, but they only tested intake at the bottom of the case.

 

Frustratingly, they did test cases in separate articles that support fan mounting atop the PSU shroud, but they did not place fans there: https://hardware-helden.de/be-quiet-pure-base-500-optimales-lueftersetup/
https://hardware-helden.de/fractal-define-7-airflow-guide-das-optimale-lueftersetup/
https://hardware-helden.de/fractal-define-7-compact-airflow-das-optimale-lueftersetup/

 

One drawback I could see to mounting on top of the PSU shroud is potentially losing a PCIE slot. Another is that the fan might not be located optimally to have clear airflow over the anterior end of the PSU; i.e. it may overlap horizontally somewhat with the top of the PSU.

 

I know that front-to-back airflow works fine, but in the detailed testing above, 1 bottom intake, 1 rear exhaust, and 2 top exhaust was superior, and I suspect also quieter (as the fans are physically further away if the tower is sitting on a desk).

 

Additionally, I am aware of cases like the Corsair 540, but that particular one has a bunch of janky plastic so it's a hard pass. And I am also aware of cases like the Lian Li O11 XL, but I don't want any glass in my case (pets, kids). Also the Lian Li glass panels have a nasty habit of coming unglued and falling off.

all psus intake air and out  the back (most psu fan hardly spin if at all)  so only really way to use the psu is to top mount it. having fans at the bottem of the case  and no psu will benefit your gpu big time. but for some reason people like it on the bottom. the antec 120 Cristal is like this.

 

now there are case like the lian li LANCOOL II that has an half window and an pus shroud and you can mount fan on the top of it and it can get air form the sides. this is the best compromise case i seen.

Edited April 26, 2021 by thrasher_565

[thrasher_565]

On 4/25/2021 at 2:45 PM, mesadisco said:

I know that front-to-back airflow works fine, but in the detailed testing above, 1 bottom intake, 1 rear exhaust, and 2 top exhaust was superior, and I suspect also quieter (as the fans are physically further away if the tower is sitting on a desk).

 

Additionally, I am aware of cases like the Corsair 540, but that particular one has a bunch of janky plastic so it's a hard pass. And I am also aware of cases like the Lian Li O11 XL, but I don't want any glass in my case (pets, kids). Also the Lian Li glass panels have a nasty habit of coming unglued and falling off.

it really depends on lots of factors. mesh, fans, ambient temp, hardware, cpu cooler, gpu. each time the air has to do anything from strati it reduces its performance.  meaning front fans on the lian li 011 wont cool as well as fans in the front of the case with good mesh in front. but the 011 will be beat say a case that dose not have bottom intake for the gpu.

 

most cpu coolers intake from the front and out the back so taking from the bottom and out the top for this cpu heat sink is not ideal thow you should get better vrm temps.

 

having air from the bottom of the case only is best for gpu temps but not so much for cpu temps as it be taking the hot air from the gpu and sucking that thow the cpu cooler.

 

having front fans 1 or 2 for the cpu and 1 or 2 fans on the bottom for the gpu is ideal

 

how ever if you somehow got a cpu heat sink that can go bottom to top and can move the gpu els were this would be the best as it be good for the ram(even tho ran dose not need to be cooled) better for vrm cooling and out the top.

Edited April 27, 2021 by thrasher_565