Question Airflow on new build - - - Fans and AIO ?

[freakinhobo]

I am putting my new PC together and starting to have a brainfart as to how the airflow in this build should go. I have a Lian Li Vision case (glass on top) and Arctic AIO. I was planning on the the AIO on the side (only real place to put it), 1 fan on the back by the CPU and 3 fans on the bottom. They I have it installed right now is the AIO but its used as exhaust but should be. The bottom fans should be intake.. and rear fan exhaust. But if I have 6 fans intake and only one exhaust doesn't that create problems as well? I've seen these exact builds with the same case but don't wanna screw up something as simple as airflow.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Based on the images on the Lian Li product page, that case should be able to support two rear exhaust fans and that's the way I'd recommend doing it. AIO should be intake. Bottom fans should be intake. Then the two rear exhaust fans. I'd like it a heck of a lot better if they'd design these so that at least one exhaust fan could be used on top but they don't.

 

[thestryker]

The bottom on those cases isn't tall enough to solely rely on that for intake from everything I've seen (and I assume this case was chosen for looks so further elevating the base is probably off the table). So while I'd rather use the AIO as exhaust with the limited fan space on the case I think it'd be worse. If you feel inclined you could always just try it each way and see which temperatures are better with the typical system load.

 

[Darkbreeze]

See, somebody has been listening when I've been saying you can put fans in tempered glass. Too bad they haven't done this on the top of these cases to improve exhaust of stack effect heat.

https://gamersnexus.net/news-cases-...-glass-217-infinity-dan-b4-and-45-case-ft-ceo


But I think it could be done a lot better than that, like, with fans that are able to be mounted inside and are less visible and intrusive. Even just one top rear exhaust fan location would make a lot of difference I think.

 

[freakinhobo]

The bottom on those cases isn't tall enough to solely rely on that for intake from everything I've seen (and I assume this case was chosen for looks so further elevating the base is probably off the table). So while I'd rather use the AIO as exhaust with the limited fan space on the case I think it'd be worse. If you feel inclined you could always just try it each way and see which temperatures are better with the typical system load.

I built my wife's computer with the intake n the bottom. It's on a little elevated hard surface. 10850k with 3080 and temps stay about 55-60 at most. Radiator is at the top with 0 rear exhaust.

I'm going to move the MOBO down and put 2 exhaust with the AIO and bottom fans as intake. I should just be able to flip the fans around on the radiator to pull for intake corrrect?

 

[Darkbreeze]

I built my wife's computer with the intake n the bottom. It's on a little elevated hard surface. 10850k with 3080 and temps stay about 55-60 at most. Radiator is at the top with 0 rear exhaust.

I'm going to move the MOBO down and put 2 exhaust with the AIO and bottom fans as intake. I should just be able to flip the fans around on the radiator to pull for intake corrrect?

Yes, you should be able to just turn them around.

 

[thestryker]

I should just be able to flip the fans around on the radiator to pull for intake corrrect?

Yes you can, but be sure to test for additional fan noise across the RPM you plan on running. Sometimes the sound profile when reversed on a radiator changes.

 

[freakinhobo]

Everything seems be to working right now.. initial startup. I had an initial brainfart and thought I wasn't getting power at all but I totally forgot I have to hit the power button on the case and not just the PSU lol.

On initial powerup the AIO wasn't working. I used the EZ Conn 1 to 3 that came with the MOBO and plugged it into JAF_2 but no power. After about 10 seconds of being on I got a CPU overtemp alert and shut it down. Tried to reseat everything and AIO still didn't work. Plugged the AIO without the MSI connector and it work's fine. I have a hard time believing the CPU was 90+ degrees within 10 seconds.

Also, on the 2 exhaust fans.. they were backwards. Had to face the logo to the outside.

Arctic also suggests an "x" of thermal paste which I did and was very conservative. It still made a mess and would not do the X again. Cleaned it up as best as I could.

Otherwise seems ok. Sitting in BIOS with the case open temps are 39 degrees so I assume everything is flowing properly.