Airflow Optimization, Corsair 750D

[AManWithPlan]

Dear Linus Forum,

 

The 750D case from Corsair has some excellent airflow and radiator space; so naturally, I was toying with some options on how to set up my rig and came up with the following. Please note that some fans are missing from the picture:

 

http://imgur.com/cluPkhE

 

All of the orange arrows represent air flow intakes, while red arrows represent exhaust. The red arrow in push-pull by the hard drive trays is cooling the 120mm radiator for the graphics card and the case has a grated opening below that setup to allow air to flow out. The CPU is cooled by a dual 140mm rad along with 2x 140mm fans.

 

The orange arrow at the back of the case is an intake which currently has a fan but is not pictured.

 

The green box represents where my hard drives (NAS) currently sit, the pink box represents empty space but where I can theoretically hang hard drives.

 

I have two optimization concerns:

1) I am currently blowing air from the front intake across 3-4 hard drives (at 37C-43C each) which becomes the primary air source for the gpu rad in push-pull. I can lift 3 hard drives into the pink space which will alleviate this, but then I will be blowing the warmer air directly into the blower fan of my graphics card (which makes it feel like a catch-22).

2) Alternatively, I can install my push-pull gpu rad in the pink space and replace the current exhaust with an intake fan. However, this would be putting a 120mm fan in a 140mm allotment, wasting the 20mm of potential airflow.

 

What are your thoughts?

[Senzelian]

What are your thoughts?

Literally: "WTF, why do people care so much about a few degrees"

I would simply put that graphics card cooler at the back as an outtake and use the bottom as an intake.

One of your intakes will always bring warm air inside your case.

[AManWithPlan]

Literally: "WTF, why do people care so much about a few degrees"

I would simply put that graphics card cooler at the back as an outtake and use the bottom as an intake.

One of your intakes will always bring warm air inside your case.

 

Your brazerny aside, this is a good idea except the dual fan (push-pull) does not have enough clearance with the ram slots in order to exhaust out of the back of the case. Because it is only 120mm, I need to keep the push-pull.

[Senzelian]

Your brazerny aside, this is a good idea except the dual fan (push-pull) does not have enough clearance with the ram slots in order to exhaust out of the back of the case. Because it is only 120mm, I need to keep the push-pull.

No, you don't need push pull.

The graphics card will not overheat without the second fan.

You could maybe even put that 280 more to the right into the drive bay (worked on my 760T) and put the 120mm rad next to it. Maybe screw it threw the mesh and have it sitting there. Then you would have even more space for another intake And all the hot air would simply go out the top.

[Juan Remes]

i would use that gpu rad in push, and place it in the back taking hot air outside the case the difference in temperature using a pull fan at the same time is negligible, aside from that your setup looks good to me.

[AManWithPlan]

i would use that gpu rad in push, and place it in the back taking hot air outside the case the difference in temperature using a pull fan at the same time is negligible, aside from that your setup looks good to me.

 

I agree with you, when not overclocking the GPU. When overclocking starts, every extra bit counts. In additon, Linus's testing disagrees with you (that it is negligible). See:

[AManWithPlan]

No, you don't need push pull.

The graphics card will not overheat without the second fan.

You could maybe even put that 280 more to the right into the drive bay (worked on my 760T) and put the 120mm rad next to it. Maybe screw it threw the mesh and have it sitting there. Then you would have even more space for another intake And all the hot air would simply go out the top.

 

I agree I don't "need" it in the sense that I cannot reach a max TDP of 100C+ without overvolting the card out of control, but I already have the fans so I mind as well optimize as they cause no noise whatsoever.

 

Your suggestions to do dual 140mm in the top along with a single 120mm is interesting, I hadn't considered that. I'll see if it makes sense and may reconfigure my setup.

Thanks.