1 v 2 v 3 Front Intake Fans: Air-Cooled Thermal Testing

[Ralfi]

Hey there. The curiosity got to me again (following on from here), & after noticing a few people here asking similar questions, I wanted to know the difference of impact between using 1, 2 & 3 front intake fans, if any/many, on my 5600x, 6700XT & Motherboard temps (Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro AX). Plus any noise level difference from seating position (roughly 1.2m from case). 

So following my prior testing, I determined this fan orientation to be the most efficient…

 

Here are the IDLE temps in relation to Ambient temp + fan speeds & their noise level, as reference…

("System 6 Pump" are the Front Intake Fan/s, "CPU" are the CPU, Rear Exhaust & Top-Rear Exhaust Fans, "System 3" is the Top-Front Intake Fan)...

 

IDLE CPU Temp over Ambient: +13.2°

IDLE GPU Temp over Ambient: +11.5°

IDLE GPU (Hot Spot) Temp over Ambient: +13.5°

IDLE Noise: 27dB

 

—————
Here are the results for 1 x front fan, after 30 minutes of running both FurMark GPU (1440p, highest settings) & CPU Stress Tests…

LOAD CPU Temp over Ambient: +47.6° 

LOAD GPU Temp over Ambient: +56.2° 

LOAD GPU (Hot Spot) Temp over Ambient: +68.2° 

LOAD Noise: 37dB

—————

 

Here are the results for 2 x front fans…

LOAD CPU Temp over Ambient: +47.1° 

LOAD GPU Temp over Ambient: +56.1° 

LOAD GPU (Hot Spot) Temp over Ambient: +66.1° 

LOAD Noise: 36dB
 

—————

 

& here are the results for 3 x front fans…

LOAD CPU Temp over Ambient: +46.5° 

LOAD GPU Temp over Ambient: +54.4° 

LOAD GPU (Hot Spot) Temp over Ambient: +64.4° 

LOAD Noise: 36dB

So, not a huge difference in temps nor noise. 
CPU: -0.5° from 1 to 2 fans. -0.9° from 1 to 3 fans.

GPU: No difference from 1 to 2 fans. Just under -2° from 1 to 3 fans.

GPU Hot Spot: -2° from 1 to 2 fans. Just under -4° from 1 to 3 fans.

Only -1dB difference from 1 fan to 2&3 fans.

 

Although fan speeds decreased as more fans were added, so RPM efficiency slightly improved. I guess depending on your fans, noise may have increased more/less. My fronts decreased by ~100RPM when going from 1&2 fans to 3 fans.

 

As for my motherboard temps, 

 

1 Front Fan - 2 Front Fans - 3 Front Fans

PCH: 43° - 41° - 37°… = -6° (From 1 to 3 fans)
PCIEX16: 47° - 46° - 44°… = -3°
PCIEX4: 43° - 41° - 38°…  = -5°
System 1: 41° - 38° - 35°… = -6°
System 2: 43° - 41° - 38°… = -5°
VRM MOS: 51° - 48° - 48°… = -3°
 

So a fair difference when going from 1 to 3 fans (averaging ~ -5° across the motherboard). Even 2 to 3 fans made an average difference of -2.5° across the motherboard.

 

Even the CPU/GPU/GPU Hot Spot temps decreased about 2° when going from 2 to 3 fans… 

 

 

In conclusion, if you have spots for 3 x 120mm, use them all.

 

 

[freeagent]

I have 529cfm coming in from 4 intake fans, using no exhaust, and I have 267cfm of fans hanging off of my CPU cooler. I have 2x 140s and a 120 in the front, and a 140 at the top front. It is very effective. Can be a bit loud if you don't keep them on a short leash though.. Last time I checked it was something like 62db at full speed

[Ralfi]

3 minutes ago, freeagent said:

I have 529cfm coming in from 4 intake fans, using no exhaust, and I have 267cfm of fans hanging off of my CPU cooler. I have 2x 140s and a 120 in the front, and a 140 at the top front. It is very effective. Can be a bit loud if you don't keep them on a short leash though.. Last time I checked it was something like 62db at full speed

Woo making your presence felt with those dB's . You're on top of it though by the sounds of it

[freeagent]

10 minutes ago, Ralfi said:

Woo making your presence felt with those dB's . You're on top of it though by the sounds of it

Oh yeah..

 

I don't mind the noise, I am used to it, sort of.. but my family on the other hand, mainly her.. does not like it too much when I am benching or testing

 

So I keep it in the basement. I have a regular computer upstairs that is nice and quiet.. and a bit boring.

[NorKris]

23 minutes ago, freeagent said:

I have 529cfm coming in from 4 intake fans, using no exhaust, and I have 267cfm of fans hanging off of my CPU cooler. I have 2x 140s and a 120 in the front, and a 140 at the top front. It is very effective. Can be a bit loud if you don't keep them on a short leash though.. Last time I checked it was something like 62db at full speed

ur turn to test the same xD 

[airman]

What software are you using for monitoring and benchmarking?

[Ralfi]

7 hours ago, airman said:

What software are you using for monitoring and benchmarking?

Hey, I was using "FurMark GPU (1440p, highest settings) & CPU Stress Tests" for benchmarking & monitoring using Gigabyte's Hardware Monitor (motherboard software) & AMD's stock Adrenaline software.