Fan setup with AiO

[martward]

Hi all,

 

I'll be installing an AiO with a 240 mm radiator soon. I would like a little advice on how I should set up my case fans.

In my case I currently have:

2x 140mm fan in the front

1x 140mm fan in the back

PSU that takes air from the case and exhausts from the back.

 

Basically I will be adding the radiator with two 120mm fans so I can either:

- Put one of the 140mm fans as an intake in the bottom of the case, the radiator as intake in the front and two 140mm fans as an exhaust.

- Move the exhaust in the back to an intake in the bottom and put the radiator as an exhaust in the top of the case

 

I prefer a positive pressure so I am biased towards the second option, any reason why I should do the first or a completely different option?

 

Thanks 

[For Science!]

Not entirely sure if I understand the reasons for the configuration you suggest. however I would recommend you maintain directional airflow therefore:

 

two intakes in the front (unobstructed) 140x2

 

radiator and two 120mm exhaust on the top 

 

one 140mm exhaust out of the rear.

 

it's important to note that case pressure cannot be calculated by the number of fans alone. since the radiators will restrict the airflow for the 120mm, you can still easily maintain positive case pressure in this setup

 

one consideration to have the radiator as intake is if you have an open shroud GPU and this may affect your CPU temps in the config I described above.

[H0R53]

It's easier for us to help you if you take a picture of your case and post it so we know where things go.

[H0R53]

49 minutes ago, martward said:

Hi all,

 

I'll be installing an AiO with a 240 mm radiator soon. I would like a little advice on how I should set up my case fans.

In my case I currently have:

2x 140mm fan in the front

1x 140mm fan in the back

PSU that takes air from the case and exhausts from the back.

 

Basically I will be adding the radiator with two 120mm fans so I can either:

- Put one of the 140mm fans as an intake in the bottom of the case, the radiator as intake in the front and two 140mm fans as an exhaust.

- Move the exhaust in the back to an intake in the bottom and put the radiator as an exhaust in the top of the case

 

I prefer a positive pressure so I am biased towards the second option, any reason why I should do the first or a completely different option?

 

Thanks 

It's easier for us to help you if you take a picture of your case and post it so we know where things go.

 

[martward]

41 minutes ago, For Science! said:

Not entirely sure if I understand the reasons for the configuration you suggest. however I would recommend you maintain directional airflow therefore:

 

two intakes in the front (unobstructed) 140x2

 

radiator and two 120mm exhaust on the top 

 

one 140mm exhaust out of the rear.

 

it's important to note that case pressure cannot be calculated by the number of fans alone. since the radiators will restrict the airflow for the 120mm, you can still easily maintain positive case pressure in this setup

 

one consideration to have the radiator as intake is if you have an open shroud GPU and this may affect your CPU temps in the config I described above.

I have an open air 1060. If I put the radiator in the top with exhaust fans that would mean that my CPU will probably get hotter, if I put the radiator in the front with  intake fans that would probably mean my GPU gets hotter right?

I think in that case it might be better to put the radiator in the top with exhaust fans, since the GPU temps are (relatively) higher than the CPU temps usually.

 

36 minutes ago, H0R53 said:

It's easier for us to help you if you take a picture of your case and post it so we know where things go.

It's a Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 with the middle 3.5" bays removed. 

[For Science!]

1 minute ago, martward said:

 

sounds good. so two intake fans and 3 exhaust fans. you should be fine with case pressure as long as you don't set the unobstructed exhaust to crazy.

[martward]

Just now, For Science! said:

sounds good. so two intake fans and 3 exhaust fans. you should be fine with case pressure as long as you don't set the unobstructed exhaust to crazy.

I can always add an extra intake on the bottom, that way I have three unobstrocted intakes and an unobstructed plus two obstructed exhausts. The airflow would then go from the front and bottom to the back and top.

[For Science!]

Up to You I find even with a dust filter bottom intakes do more dust intake than I'd like. but he's you will for sure get very positive pressure with this setup 

[martward]

Just now, For Science! said:

Up to You I find even with a dust filter bottom intakes do more dust intake than I'd like. but he's you will for sure get very positive pressure with this setup 

Thanks for the advice 

 

[H0R53]

14 minutes ago, martward said:

I have an open air 1060. If I put the radiator in the top with exhaust fans that would mean that my CPU will probably get hotter, if I put the radiator in the front with  intake fans that would probably mean my GPU gets hotter right?

I think in that case it might be better to put the radiator in the top with exhaust fans, since the GPU temps are (relatively) higher than the CPU temps usually.

 

It's a Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 with the middle 3.5" bays removed. 

Radiator placement means absolutely nothing, JayzTwoCents did a video on it.

 

As for how I'd do it, I'd put the radiator up top. two fans up front, and one fan in the back. That's how I have it on mine and it works great.

[martward]

@H0R53 I will do it like that too, thanks

 

[H0R53]

1 minute ago, martward said:

@H0R53 I will do it like that too, thanks

 

My case has built in fabric mesh dust filters in front and up top. If I had enough reason to I'd do push-pull, but my temps are fine without it. There's also one on the PSU.

 

You don't need to put your PSU in upside down, having it intake air from below the case is fine, especially with your 140mm fans.

 

Nice specs, btw. I'd invest in a 1050ti if I were you, it's a freaking great card for $150. I've got a 950 FTW below mine (cause the Xeon doesn't have an iGPU) and it's nice to have a fallback).

[martward]

1 minute ago, H0R53 said:

My case has built in fabric mesh dust filters in front and up top. If I had enough reason to I'd do push-pull, but my temps are fine without it. There's also one on the PSU.

 

You don't need to put your PSU in upside down, having it intake air from below the case is fine, especially with your 140mm fans.

 

Nice specs, btw. I'd invest in a 1050ti if I were you, it's a freaking great card for $150. I've got a 950 FTW below mine (cause the Xeon doesn't have an iGPU) and it's nice to have a fallback).

My PC is placed on a low carpet, that's why I have the PSU getting air from inside the case. 

Oh I see I have forgotten to update my specs, I have a 1060 6GB (bought it before the 1050Ti came out). I have a gtx460 as a back up card, although I am lending it to a friend until I have convinced him to buy a 1050Ti ^^.

[H0R53]

12 minutes ago, martward said:

gtx460

Great card, I approve.