Case Air Cooling Solution

[chirag.rh]

Hey guys,

 

I recently bought the Cosmos 2 case and wanted to replace the stock fans so I get better airflow in my case. I live in India so it gets pretty hot out here, I am currently using 2 top exhausts (Stock 120mm fans), 1 200mm front intake (Stock) and a H80i Cooler in the back in Push-Pull configuration for my CPU... I don's mind extra noise but I require good cooling for my Graphics card, I'm running a Quadro K4000 card and it gets pretty hot during 3D rendering tasks.... I have very few options in terms of Fan Availability, I can get Bitfenix Spectre Pro's, Corsair SP or AF series, Noctua NF-F12's are not available here... So could you help me in picking out an optimal solution for keeping my components nice and cool... If possible I would like the fans to have LED lights just because it looks cool. Performance and reliability are very important for me.... 

 

Thanks guys....  

[TideRower]

I do not think the performance difference between the Bitfenix Spectre and the Corsair SP is that big. However the Bitfenix fans should be quiter and they also have some options for LEDs. If you want better performance and reliability you should get Noiseblocker or be quite fans (if they are available).

[Kuzma]

If you can't get the NF-F12s then get the AF120s.

[ANIMAL_ORIGIN]

Can you mount a fan onto the drive cage so it blows air over the length of the graphics card and out of the case?

If you don't mind the noise get yourself a Sanyo Denki San Ace 120 and have it blow air over the length of the card and out of the case. It's loud though, very, very loud but I've not come across a fan that creates so much pressure.

[chirag.rh]

I do not think the performance difference between the Bitfenix Spectre and the Corsair SP is that big. However the Bitfenix fans should be quiter and they also have some options for LEDs. If you want better performance and reliability you should get Noiseblocker or be quite fans (if they are available).

Ok ok, Noiseblocker and Be Quiet fans are not available according to my knowledge, I'll have another look at a few more stores and see if I can get them.... Thanks a lot for the reply....

 

If you can't get the NF-F12s then get the AF120s.

AF 120's huh? Ok ok, How much of a difference can I expect from the Spectre Pro fans? I wanted to ask because those LED lights would look awesome! Thanks a lot for the reply...

 

Can you mount a fan onto the drive cage so it blows air over the length of the graphics card and out of the case?

If you don't mind the noise get yourself a Sanyo Denki San Ace 120 and have it blow air over the length of the card and out of the case. It's loud though, very, very loud but I've not come across a fan that creates so much pressure.

Yes I can mount a fan onto the drive cage... Although I only have 1 HDD right now so was planning to remove the cage completely and place my HDD in the lower drive cage so there will be direct airflow to the card without any interference... I don't think that fan is available here, will have a look and see if it's available... If it's too loud, I might not prefer it... Moderate loudness is ok with me... Still will have a look at that particular fan... Thanks a lot for the reply...

[Kuzma]

Ok ok, Noiseblocker and Be Quiet fans are not available according to my knowledge, I'll have another look at a few more stores and see if I can get them.... Thanks a lot for the reply....

 

AF 120's huh? Ok ok, How much of a difference can I expect from the Spectre Pro fans? I wanted to ask because those LED lights would look awesome! Thanks a lot for the reply...

 

Yes I can mount a fan onto the drive cage... Although I only have 1 HDD right now so was planning to remove the cage completely and place my HDD in the lower drive cage so there will be direct airflow to the card without any interference... I don't think that fan is available here, will have a look and see if it's available... If it's too loud, I might not prefer it... Moderate loudness is ok with me... Still will have a look at that particular fan... Thanks a lot for the reply...

The difference wouldn't be that noticeable to be honest both of them are more aesthetic based fans anyway so you could always go for the Spectre Pros if you want ^_^

[chirag.rh]

The difference wouldn't be that noticeable to be honest both of them are more aesthetic based fans anyway so you could always go for the Spectre Pros if you want ^_^

Ha ha ha ha cool, although would be able to perform well in terms of cooling my components well right?? 

[Kuzma]

Ha ha ha ha cool, although would be able to perform well in terms of cooling my components well right?? 

Not very far from the AF120s

[chirag.rh]

Not very far from the AF120s

Ok got it, any other fans you might recommend? Also how many do I put, I was planning on 3 120mm fans for intake on the front and 3 120mm fans for exhaust on top... What do you think?

[Kuzma]

Ok got it, any other fans you might recommend? Also how many do I put, I was planning on 3 120mm fans for intake on the front and 3 120mm fans for exhaust on top... What do you think?

Sounds like a pretty good airflow config; the only fans I really recommend are NF-F12s (which aren't available), AF120s and that's pretty much it :p they cover quite a wide range of performance.

[helping]

Ok got it, any other fans you might recommend? Also how many do I put, I was planning on 3 120mm fans for intake on the front and 3 120mm fans for exhaust on top... What do you think?

You might want to consider having the H80 in the rear as intake to achieve net positive case air pressure to passively resist dust buildup. I assume the front intakes are filtered, add a 120mm Silverstone filter to the back, or some other 120mm filter. Since Noctuas aren't available in your area, consider using Silverstone Air penetrators for the H80. I believe they will have higher static pressure and lower noise, but lower air flow. You should be ok with the AF120's though. Personally I use the NF-F12's but the AP121's would be my next choice.

 

 

You could go also mount your H80 more towards the front on the top of your case and leaving a single 120mm as a rear intake and all of the fans on the top as exhaust. This would result in more airflow over your motherboard VRM.

[chirag.rh]

Sounds like a pretty good airflow config; the only fans I really recommend are NF-F12s (which aren't available), AF120s and that's pretty much it :P they cover quite a wide range of performance.

Cool, ya I have heard good things about Noctua NF-F12's .... Too bad it's not available... Ok thanks for the advice... Sorry for the late response.

[Kuzma]

Cool, ya I have heard good things about Noctua NF-F12's .... Too bad it's not available... Ok thanks for the advice... Sorry for the late response.

It's fine; mark this as solved if you're done ^_^

[chirag.rh]

You might want to consider having the H80 in the rear as intake to achieve net positive case air pressure to passively resist dust buildup. I assume the front intakes are filtered, add a 120mm Silverstone filter to the back, or some other 120mm filter. Since Noctuas aren't available in your area, consider using Silverstone Air penetrators for the H80. I believe they will have higher static pressure and lower noise, but lower air flow. You should be ok with the AF120's though. Personally I use the NF-F12's but the AP121's would be my next choice.

 

 

You could go also mount your H80 more towards the front on the top of your case and leaving a single 120mm as a rear intake and all of the fans on the top as exhaust. This would result in more airflow over your motherboard VRM.

I have already mounted my H80i as rear intake, I'm fairly happy with the stock fans for now, and besides the Silverstone Air Penetrators are also not available... I will still have a look and see if I can get Noctua NF-F12's or Silverstone Air Penetrators but I seriously doubt it... My H80i is performing well enough on Stock fans for now so I'm not bothered much about it, maybe in a few months I might change them to better fans, but for now I need more airflow towards my Graphics Card and my Motherboard.... I will be removing the top drive cage since I only have one HDD and will be placing it in the lower drive cage for better airflow... My front intakes are filtered so no issues.... Ok I got what you were saying.... I will most probably put keep the H80i in it's current position as rear intake, put 3 120mm Bitfenix Spectre Pro's/Corsair AF-120's as exhaust at the top and put fans as the intake in the front with the same type of fans... it should be fine then... Thanks a lot for the advice and reply.... 

[chirag.rh]

It's fine; mark this as solved if you're done ^_^

Ya cool, almost done, 1 last question, in the front should 1 put a 200mm/140mm/120mm fan and remove the drive cage or do I keep the drive cage, and add an extra 120mm fan on the cage itself with a 200mm front fan? Which would be better? 

[Kuzma]

Ya cool, almost done, 1 last question, in the front should 1 put a 200mm/140mm/120mm fan and remove the drive cage or do I keep the drive cage, and add an extra 120mm fan on the cage itself with a 200mm front fan? Which would be better? 

If you have no use for the drive cage then get rid of it; otherwise go for the latter

[chirag.rh]

If you have no use for the drive cage then get rid of it; otherwise go for the latter

I have no use for it, I shall get rid of it then... Oh ya which fan do I put in the front, 200mm/140mm/120mm?

[Kuzma]

I have no use for it, I shall get rid of it then... Oh ya which fan do I put in the front, 200mm/140mm/120mm?

200mm, you can run it at a lower rpm and still get the same amount of air flow.

[chirag.rh]

200mm, you can run it at a lower rpm and still get the same amount of air flow.

Cool, done... Thanks a lot for your help... Cheers ...