Front Mounted Radiator Cooling Question

[Cozmo555]

A lot of cases, such as the Crystal Series™ 460X RGB Compact ATX Mid-Tower Case, have front panels that cover the radiator. Will the front panel of cases like these impact cooling performance? 

[seba7661]

3 minutes ago, Cozmo555 said:

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nope. not one this one at least. you see those small wents on the side of the frontpanel? thats for the air to come in. if you take like the h500p there are bigger wents put there is a very very thin mesh on it so it is choking and therefor not to good for cooling

[Cozmo555]

6 minutes ago, seba7661 said:

nope. not one this one at least. you see those small wents on the side of the frontpanel? thats for the air to come in. if you take like the h500p there are bigger wents put there is a very very thin mesh on it so it is choking and therefor not to good for cooling

I would like to build a dual loop where front radiator would probably be for exhaust. I'm afraid that the air pressure would drop as it hits the panel and gets forced out the side. 

 

Am I wrong in thinking the front radiator is used for outtake?

[Dschijn]

Yes it will have an impact! Airflow with such cases suck, since the air can't be sucked straight into the fans.

[W-L]

56 minutes ago, Cozmo555 said:

I would like to build a dual loop where front radiator would probably be for exhaust. I'm afraid that the air pressure would drop as it hits the panel and gets forced out the side. 

 

Am I wrong in thinking the front radiator is used for outtake?

I would use it for intake still, the solid panel will have an impact more so than an open mesh but as mentioned the air passes by the side vents along the two edges. 

[Cozmo555]

10 minutes ago, W-L said:

I would use it for intake still, the solid panel will have an impact more so than an open mesh but as mentioned the air passes by the side vents along the two edges. 

Thank you. I'll probably keep looking for a case where both radiators will exhaust through a mesh vent.

 

If I were to put a radiator in the front like that, though, do you think the cooling performance would have any real noticeable impact? I see a lot of builders put one there, so it make me feel like it would not affect temperatures too much.

[W-L]

16 minutes ago, Cozmo555 said:

Thank you. I'll probably keep looking for a case where both radiators will exhaust through a mesh vent.

 

If I were to put a radiator in the front like that, though, do you think the cooling performance would have any real noticeable impact? I see a lot of builders put one there, so it make me feel like it would not affect temperatures too much.

Only way to determine it is to run a test, one with the panel in place and one without a panel at all. If the difference is something you find acceptable then all is good. In most cases your balance form over application, the worst I've seen with extremely restrictive cases raise temps of up to 10C, given that you have enough rad space and with a second rad even an excess it would be less of a concern. 

[Cozmo555]

2 minutes ago, W-L said:

Only way to determine it is to run a test, one with the panel in place and one without a panel at all. If the difference is something you find acceptable then all is good. In most cases your balance form over application, the worst I've seen with extremely restrictive cases raise temps of up to 10C, given that you have enough rad space and with a second rad even an excess it would be less of a concern. 

Thank you for the help.

[Mick Naughty]

You can check nexus gaming, they may have a real review of it. I hate them myself, always a large factor but some prefer the looks and let their hardware bake.