MicroAtx Case Airflow

jokudolo · October 1, 2014

Hello all!

So i just finished putting my case together with the exception of the GPU and a 5.25" LED controller which are coming in the mail.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.98 @ DirectCanada)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.79 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: ASRock Z97M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($150.50 @ Vuugo)

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($91.86 @ DirectCanada)

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.79 @ DirectCanada)

Storage: Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($78.79 @ DirectCanada)

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($409.99 @ Memory Express)

Case: Xigmatek Aquila MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ NCIX)

Monitor: Asus MX239H 23.0" Monitor ($247.95 @ Vuugo)

Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre Pro 148.7 CFM 200mm Fan ($16.99 @ Memory Express)

Other: NZXT Hue 3 RGB Color Changing LED Controller ($39.99)

Total: $1640.61

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/y393WZ

A couple of things are bothering me:

1. This case is awesome, the PSU was a bit of a squeeze, (had to return the RM750 for a 650 to fit it in) but considering the GPU im putting in is an axial type GPU not a reference blower, the fan will be directly facing the window. I've read that MSI cards are notorious for putting a lot of heat into a case so im wonderinf if the fact that its facing a window increase the GPU temperatures by a lot to the point of throttling because I don't want that.

2. Is there any point to having the spectre pro 200mm fan in? the case comes with 1 200m fan as an intake already on the outside so i thought putting another fan in the same place on the inside would pull more air into the case but I read somewhere that stacking fans isnt really that good?

3. If It turns out that having the window heats up the GPU too much how would i go about drilling holes into the window so its not so restrictive? Is it even possible without cracking the glass?

Cheers