I have rethought my use of an AIO water cooler in my new build and have now chosen to use air cooling instead: a Noctua NH-D15 in a fairly small case, a Corsair 300R, to cool an Intel i7-9700K that will be overclocked. Yet I am confused about how the cooler's exhaust air should best exit the case.
Of the two 150mm fans that are part of the large NH-D15, the one that exhausts and sits right over the RAM will be very close to the two,140mm, side-by-side holes in the top of the case. With a third, nearly identical Noctua fan installed on the inside of the case, the photos I have seen show maybe three inches of distance between the outside of the case fan and the outside of the exhaust fan on the cooler. Thus, at most, there are four inches between the NH-D15 and the case exhaust hole.
Here are my questions:
1. In my office, with my computer cart, a straight-up exhaust would hit me right in the face(!). Would a 90-deg., 140mm inside-diameter fitting on the outside be helpful? Suggestions for a vendor? Would I be better off making something for this purpose? (Alas, few such skills here.)
2. Since there are two, side-by-side, 140mm holes in the top exhaust, would somehow blowing through both be superior, with or without a case fan or two? Again, suggestions how it might best be done and for a vendor?
3. The importance of a case fan here vs. a very short pipe or some other way of directing the air out of the case?
4. If a case fan (or two case fans, side-by-side) are used, how should their speed be determined, both for performance and noise?
Of the two 150mm fans that are part of the large NH-D15, the one that exhausts and sits right over the RAM will be very close to the two,140mm, side-by-side holes in the top of the case. With a third, nearly identical Noctua fan installed on the inside of the case, the photos I have seen show maybe three inches of distance between the outside of the case fan and the outside of the exhaust fan on the cooler. Thus, at most, there are four inches between the NH-D15 and the case exhaust hole.
Here are my questions:
1. In my office, with my computer cart, a straight-up exhaust would hit me right in the face(!). Would a 90-deg., 140mm inside-diameter fitting on the outside be helpful? Suggestions for a vendor? Would I be better off making something for this purpose? (Alas, few such skills here.)
2. Since there are two, side-by-side, 140mm holes in the top exhaust, would somehow blowing through both be superior, with or without a case fan or two? Again, suggestions how it might best be done and for a vendor?
3. The importance of a case fan here vs. a very short pipe or some other way of directing the air out of the case?
4. If a case fan (or two case fans, side-by-side) are used, how should their speed be determined, both for performance and noise?