CPU Cooler Placement

Vegetable · May 21, 2015

Currently using an "Antec Performance Max CPU Cooler" to cool my CPU. It does fine, about as well as a Hyper T4. Currently I have it facing vertical (the internal fan blowing up and out of my case) with 2x120mm fans above it, and 1x120mm front intake and 1x200mm side intake feeding air to it. If it turn it horizontal (internal fan facing rear exhaust 120mm) would the temps change at all? If so would the increase or decrease and by how much?

Extra note - I had to borrow some mx2 (I know its terrible but it works) when I assembled this. I now have some Antec formula 7 thermal compound. Would simply reapplying the paste do more help than the position of the cooler itself?

blackadder · May 21, 2015

Paste i think would help more. You're in the best spot to tell. I don't think temps will decrease more than 2c if you can the fan around.

LogicalDrm · May 22, 2015

Orientation has as little effect on temps as push or pull config for fan. You may get better results by rethinking whole airflow setup. Like remove side fan and make top fan intake too. That would feed more cool air straight to CPU if thats the one needing it most. Side fans usually feed air more towards GPUs.

(On side note, difference between horizontal and vertical is 3C in favour of horizontal. U14S)