Fan cooling config

[Dawelio]

Hey guys,

I need some advice here, how would you advice on the configuration of the fans in this case?:

There's: 1 x 80 mm in the front, 2 x 120 slim in the bottom, 1 x 120 in the top and 1 x 92mm in the rear.

Now I have 2 different configs in mind, but not sure which one to go on:

1. Front and bottom fans as intakes, the top and rear as exhausts.

2. Front, bottom and top fan as intakes and only the rear as exhaust. Or may this be "overkill positive pressure"?.

Lastly, would you say a Corsair H100i would be suitable, if fitted inside the case? Or maybe go with an H60 in the top, or maybe get an air cooler for the cpu instead? And in that case, do you guys have any recommendation for a solid air cooler, that would fit inside the case?.

And if air cooled, would 1 or 2 x 120's on the hinged small side panel as intakes, make a difference or not in general? Or would they just potentially just add more noise to the system?.

A lot of questions here, but hoping that I could get some input and advice on this. Since it's a rather small and compact case.

My specs are these as well:

7700K (non-overclocked, IF possible, might want to try and get an 4.5 GHz, just to achieve my first overclock so to speak.)
MSI Z270I Gaming Carbon AC
Corsair Vengeance 32GB 3200MHz
ASUS 1080 Strix (Non overclocked as well)
Corsair SF600
Samsung 960 EVO 1TB

Thanks,
Chrazey

 

[Wraith]

Front and rear as intakes, roof as an exhaust as well as the 2x 120mm fans in the floor due to heat escape from the GPU.

 

[Dawelio]

Front and rear as intakes, roof as an exhaust as well as the 2x 120mm fans in the floor due to heat escape from the GPU.

But won't that create a negative pressure though?... Since it's basically 3 x 120's exhausting and just 2 x 80/92 that are intakes.

 

[Avet]

I would run front and bottom as intakes, rear and top as exhaust. That way you get clean air to your gpu, case, and hot air gets exhausted top, and rear due to natural airflow and cpu cooler position. And you will have positive pressure.

 

[Bartacus]

I'd go option 2 IMO. All intake except for rear exhaust.

 

[Wraith]

But won't that create a negative pressure though?... Since it's basically 3 x 120's exhausting and just 2 x 80/92 that are intakes.

Honestly there is little in it, just make sure you have few gaps for air to be pulled in and filters of high enough quality. Had you got a founders edition I would have gone with the floor as an intake but with the way AIBs work they expel heat from the card rather than pulling it in and forcing it out the rear.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

With a case as small as that you will be better served testing yourself. Whenever I've asked system builders about unique configurations like this, the response is always, "There's only one way to find out!" It's a bit of a nuisance swapping fans around in such a cramped chassis, but it will be the best way to test which is the most efficient configuration.

Don't worry about negative pressure. Dust buildup is a thing, yes, but in such a small case all you need to do is once a month blow compressed air onto the components from a distance and catch the dislodged dust with a vacuum cleaner—just don't touch the components with the vacuum. Dust buildup occurs even in positive pressure builds with filters. Cleaning will always be necessary. You may as well just embrace it if temperatures are improved. I'd rather knock 5°C off my CPU than have to clean a few less times a year.

So like I said, you can try and think your way through your questions, but the best way to find the answers is to experiment. From my perspective, exhausting hot air out the top and bottom could be a problem because it's such a cramped enclosure and air could easily become trapped like in the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv. But there is no way to be sure of that unless you test it out.

 

[Dawelio]

What would you guys say about the CPU cooler though? An H100i V2 or maybe an H60?...

 

[AngryGoldfish]

Considering overclocking a huge amount in such a small case will not be the wisest thing to do, a H60 will be better value for money.

 

[Dawelio]

Considering overclocking a huge amount in such a small case will not be the wisest thing to do, a H60 will be better value for money.

Won't be overclocking really, maybe a small one to 4.5 GHz. But most likely not at all, just keep my 7700K at stock.

And I'm just wondering considering maybe my H100i V2 may not fit inside and then having an H60 in the roof would be ideal.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

Won't be overclocking really, maybe a small one to 4.5 GHz. But most likely not at all, just keep my 7700K at stock.

And I'm just wondering considering maybe my H100i V2 may not fit inside and then having an H60 in the roof would be ideal.

A H100i will be overkill for a stock 7700K, though with only one fan installed performance will drop a lot. If you already own the H100i then obviously use it, but I wouldn't recommend a 240mm radiator for such a low TDP part. Even the flat mounted air coolers will be fine. TTL compares a few here, though the best in that graph won't fit your case according to Cougar's website specifications:

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/cpu_air_cooler_mega_test/39

The Noctua NH-L12 should fit, but a H60 would perform better. AIO's are best suited for high TDP cooling and small form factor builds.

 

[AlienALX]

The H60 is crap. It may not even be any better than the cooler you have ATM.

http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=597&area=en

If you can get one

 

[Dawelio]

A H100i will be overkill for a stock 7700K, though with only one fan installed performance will drop a lot. If you already own the H100i then obviously use it, but I wouldn't recommend a 240mm radiator for such a low TDP part. Even the flat mounted air coolers will be fine. TTL compares a few here, though the best in that graph won't fit your case according to Cougar's website specifications:

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/cpu_air_cooler_mega_test/39

The Noctua NH-L12 should fit, but a H60 would perform better. AIO's are best suited for high TDP cooling and small form factor builds.

The H60 is crap. It may not even be any better than the cooler you have ATM.

http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=597&area=en

If you can get one

Yeah, obviously my H100i V2 would be ideal to use, but the thing is I'm not entirely sure it will actually fit. And therefore this thread and asking for advice on other coolers, ie if maybe an H60 would be a good cooler for my 7700K in that case?.

And no Alien, I do know and understand that. I'm not particularly looking for something that will be better than what I have, only something that will be "more than suitable" for the CPU I have and will actually fit inside the case I have gotten.
Thererfore asking about the H60, which the rad would fit in the top with a single fan.

But after looking at the link which Goldfish linked above, I am also thinking of the Silverstone NT06-PRO?. But again, not entirely sure what to go for, since airflow will be quite minimal, as I'm rather interested in doing a window mod, such as this guy right here: https://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=295973

Although what CPU cooler he is using, I can't quite tell as I'm not that into air coolers really. Not by any stretch of that of AIO's anyway.

Plus the fact that I can't find it specified in the OP or so.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

Yeah, obviously my H100i V2 would be ideal to use, but the thing is I'm not entirely sure it will actually fit. And therefore this thread and asking for advice on other coolers, ie if maybe an H60 would be a good cooler for my 7700K in that case?.

And no Alien, I do know and understand that. I'm not particularly looking for something that will be better than what I have, only something that will be "more than suitable" for the CPU I have and will actually fit inside the case I have gotten.
Thererfore asking about the H60, which the rad would fit in the top with a single fan.

But after looking at the link which Goldfish linked above, I am also thinking of the Silverstone NT06-PRO?. But again, not entirely sure what to go for, since airflow will be quite minimal, as I'm rather interested in doing a window mod, such as this guy right here: https://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=295973

Although what CPU cooler he is using, I can't quite tell as I'm not that into air coolers really. Not by any stretch of that of AIO's anyway.

Plus the fact that I can't find it specified in the OP or so.

A H60 is a perfectly fine cooler. There aren't that many better choices for that form factor. There might be a couple of other 120mm AIO's that perform slightly better or have more robust components, but it's not a huge deal.

If you go for a top-down CPU air cooler, maybe you could have two fans blowing in over that from the... flap... thing. I know you want to add a window, but those extra two fans could theoretically add quite a bit of extra air. It's hard to say though.

But you know, I really like that mod. It's a great idea. If I had modding skills, I'd probably choose that option over an AIO.