Best fan configuration with Noctua NH-D14

[shotosan]

I have a new sandy bridge system. My case is an Antec P180B.

Right now I have no case fans accept the Noctua heat sink fans (and PSU fan). The Noctuas seamed really noisy at first (compared to my old Nexus D12SL-12 fans). So I put the ULNA voltage adapters on them and they got quieter.

Ultimately I'm looking for a really quiet machine. I don't do a lot of high intensity stuff on this machine but when I do I would like it to stay cool.

I'm thinking of several fan configurations:

1) Leaving it the way it is now. No case fan but both Noctua fans on low voltage NH-D14.

2) Removing the outside Noctua NH-D14 120MM fan from the heat sink (and leaving 140 MM in the middle of the heat sink).

3) Removing the outside Noctua NH-D14 120MM fan from the heat sink, leaving 140 MM in the middle of the heat sink). Plus adding a Nexus D12 (120mm) mounted to the case but right next to the heat sink.

Any suggestions might be best? Check out the picutres to see what it looks like with just the Noctua.

 

[Grizzly]

It depends, if you're overclocking you want to try and have all 3 fans installed, 2 on the noctua one on the case as a channel fan. If not then one on the noctua and one on the case should give you OK temperatures.

P.S. What pictures ?

 

[tinytomlogan]

I always run them both and just change the fans speeds according to the specific rig, and I have used them on man many different rigs and set ups now.

 

[shotosan]

It depends, if you're overclocking you want to try and have all 3 fans installed, 2 on the noctua one on the case as a channel fan. If not then one on the noctua and one on the case should give you OK temperatures.

P.S. What pictures ?

Whoops. Forgot the attachment. I've uploaded it. As you can see the Noctua takes up a lot of room in the case and there almost isn't enough room for the rear channel fan mounted to the case. I was almost thinking of removing the outside noctua and adding a Nexus mounted to the case instead. Thoughts?

 

[Grizzly]

Did you know you can swap the clips around on the rear fan and have one fan on the front and middle of the heatsink as opposed to middle and back, that would give you plenty of room for your 3rd fan.

 

[uchihas]

You could use Noctua's ULNA adapters and make the Noctuas run slower, just like they're doing with the White Rigs this year.

 

[jonowee]

If I'm seeing the OP photo right. It seems you're running a push-push fan setup, but you're intaking (<-maybe?) air from the rear of the case. I see a a kind of feedback loop, with the CPU heatsink throwing hot air into the big space in the front of the case, then have the GPU suck in the warm air in the case out to the rear to be sucked in slightly again by the Noctua fans.

I'm not sure whether you're running the fans off the the PSU, motherboard headers or fan controller. I used to use the LNA (~900RPM) off the PSU, now I just use the splitter and get a quiet 700-800RPM off the CPU fan header.

I'll second Grizzly's idea of reversing the position of the CPU heat sink fans to give you enough space for a rear case fan, even though from the picture I feel there is still space to screw in a rear case fan now.

 

[SnW]

Just wondering is 3x push pull a option or lets say has anyone tried this and was it better ?

i know i have 2 of the D14 coolers but not in the position to stop them...

So just wondering if someone has tried this