Fan-Radiator Distance

[For Science!]

Dear LinusTechTips Community,

 

This is going to be a more academically oriented question than a real "performance chaser" since the answer is probably going to be "it doesn't matter". I was wondering for fans that provide removable anti-vibration pads like Noctua NF-F12 series whether radiators would theoretically be cooled more efficiently if these were removed to achieve a tighter seal between the radiator and fan body (in the case of Noctuas, the anti-vibration mount introduces a small gap between the rad and fan). If this were true, I would be inclined to remove the anti-vibration pads on the rad side, but keep the pads on the side that contacts chassis.

 

Diagramatically shown below:

Case Scenario Top Exhaust in Pull

 

----Chassis Top-----

**                         ** <-- Anti-vibration component

[--------Fan----------]

|||||||||Radiator|||||||||

 

and rotate the above 90 degrees clockwise to achieve side intake in push for the same question.

 

Again, I'm fully aware that this will probably incur no real temperature difference, and I am interested from a purely academic perspective.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[Damascus]

Linus did a video about this ages ago, the fan that was duct taped did best if I remember correctly.  In that case, the anti-vibration pads would give a slight degradation of performance

[W-L]

1 minute ago, For Science! said:

-SNIP-

They do make foam seals for this reason but it's almost negligible since the fans are so tight to the rad already there will be very little air being vented in that direction especially since the Notcua pressure fan has vanes that direct the airflow straight out.   

[For Science!]

Just now, Damascus said:

Linus did a video about this ages ago, the fan that was duct taped did best if I remember correctly.  In that case, the anti-vibration pads would give a slight degradation of performance

I went looking for the video and was quite joyed to find that Linus used the words from an academic stand point!