Air flow straighteners for 2 fan stacks.

[Akida]

I've been looking at saxon airflow straighteners http://www.saxonpc.com/120mm-airflow-straighte120.html. Seems like it would be a viable option to go in the middle of a 2 fan stack.

Has anyone seen any detailed reviews of these or the like?

I want to use a pullpull 120mm rad with both fans on the outside of the case to save room inside.

 

[synphul]

I don't think there's much to gain by stacking two fans one on top of the other (both on the same side) of a radiator. A single fan should work just fine.

 

[Akida]

I don't think there's much to gain by stacking two fans one on top of the other (both on the same side) of a radiator. A single fan should work just fine.

If i were to use one fan then I might as well keep the stock cooler (gfx). It's clear that having a push pull arrangement works because the air is straightened through the radiator. I am guessing that if you could straighten the air in between fans you would get the same (or similar) effect providing you sealed the fans to each other and to the rad effectively..

The issue here however is that while I can find a definitive answer that stacking 2 fans rotating the same direction without straightening is bad, I can't find a definitive answer on stacking fans with straightening in between. If I could buy a Noctua 120mm fan that rotates the other way I'd just do that.

I'm sure we have all seen the 40x fan on a rad video (hilariously ridiculous) but if the principal of straitening the air is correct then if you really wanted to get the most out of your rad, it might prove viable to have a push push rad pull pull scenario, or even more. It might even encourage extremely dense rad designs.

So is anyone able to find or is willing to put together a detailed review of the use of straighteners? It's pretty clear that they are used (and loved) at industry level. Heck, you can even buy fans with straighteners built in http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=257&area=en

 

[synphul]

You're talking about a 120mm rad and most aren't that thick unless it's a custom radiator (not aio). I'm not sure what stock cooler you're referring to. Most radiators just aren't thick enough, it becomes more of a novelty than anything. Could someone modify a pickup truck for triple drive axles in tandem? I'm sure if they really wanted to, though to what benefit?

Push/pull is used for thicker rads where the air is more restricted, for more standard thinner rads (common 120mm) it's not overly effective. Much like push/pull on a 212 evo. It only drops temps a couple degrees because the tower/cooling fins on a 212evo just aren't that thick to begin with. Unlike a larger cooler like an nh-d14 with two fans pushing air through dual heatsink towers (similar to thicker radiators).

Given that fans and the straighteners don't seem all that expensive it might be fun if nothing else to pick them up and try it out. Configure them how you think they'll work and do some thermal testing monitoring your ambient temps and load temps. Then try the aio with a single fan and see what improvement there was (if any) running two fans on the same side in pull/pull.

 

[Akida]

You're talking about a 120mm rad and most aren't that thick unless it's a custom radiator (not aio).

I'm talking about a h80i GT or something similar that is already dual fan.

I'm not sure what stock cooler you're referring to.

Probably something like the stock cooler on a 980, I haven't bought it or the water cooling unit yet so I can't say exactly what I would be comparing.

Could someone modify a pickup truck for triple drive axles in tandem? I'm sure if they really wanted to, though to what benefit?

I'd probably just upgrade the axle, suspension, wheels, tyres, brakes, bearings, and the tail lights while I'm at it, just for that one time that I want to carry a 3 tonne load of rock. I wouldn't want to wear out the tyres in a tri axle setup.

Unlike a larger cooler like an nh-d14 with two fans pushing air through dual heatsink towers (similar to thicker radiators).

I plan to use a d14 which is why I'd have to put the fans on the outside. I may be able to put just the pull fan on the outside and use a push, but I like to plan for eventualities that might never come about. Just chalk it up to curiosity.

Given that fans and the straighteners don't seem all that expensive it might be fun if nothing else to pick them up and try it out. Configure them how you think they'll work and do some thermal testing monitoring your ambient temps and load temps. Then try the aio with a single fan and see what improvement there was (if any) running two fans on the same side in pull/pull.

I would love to! I just don't have the parts yet. If no one else does it I might, but that wont be for a good few months. I don't really have the experience to write up something proper though.