Case Fan Layout, and Hardware Ideas! Let me know your thoughts!

[BStoltman]

I have recently build a new computer from scratch. The computer spec wise that I own thus far is:

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 74.3 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII EXTREME EATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2666 Memory
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX Video Card
Case: Inwin 707 BLACK ATX Full Tower Case
Power Supply: Corsair 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM (64-bit)

So I have quite a few questions going from hardware I intend to purchase over the next year, and fan Push vs Pull placement. I don't generally mind spending money as long as the outcome is decently beneficial.

So hardware purchases I intend are:
Liquid Cooler - Swiftech H220x2 (Red liquid)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2666 Memory
M2.2 - 512 GB (Bootable)
SSD - Samsung 1TB (Steam & Render Drive)
Noctua Fans - 120(qty 2) & 140 (qty 6)
Graphics Card - Asus GTX 980 TI Strix OC
Light - NZXT Hue Plus (Purple & Red)
Capture Card - Elgato HD60 Pro
Power Supply Braided Cables - Corsair Red edition
Keyboard - Corsair K95 RGB
Mouse - Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum

Now when I am done the design for fan layout I am thinking will be as such: hope the image is clear enough!

Also any other opinions and ideas are the hardware choices I am curious of opinions, this is a very open ended question.

Thanks,

 

[pepslight]

Hey there, sweet build.

I built from scratch almost the same build as you , i was having problem with the cpu fan, because I opted for a mAtx mobo and all the optimal fans where to tall for my case. I than opted for a AIO water cooling corsair h100i, because I had time I looked at 1000 test to be sure which is the best cpu cooler, and tbh I would recommend you to go with the noctua NH-d15 itead of the Swiftech H220x2 if it fits your csse. The temperature difference is not price performance worth and THERE IS a risk if leaking and it could fry all your stuff. For example, with the corsair h100i you would have almost the same performance but would be paying 50$ less and be risk free of any possible deffect and liquid leakage.

I as well don't understand why you want to put an ssd and a m.2 500gb hardrive ( Samsung 950 pro I guess). Would you explain please ? I mean the 950 pro is ultra fast than you would have another high storage 3.5" Mechanical hardrive and an SSD taking holidays around ? :lol:

Im thinking about your airflow idea, I think you pretty right I need to do some research and I post my opinion cheers,

 

[lodders]

You probably know this, but just in case:-
You don't need to water-cool your CPU unless you go for a big overclock. (Skylake runs cooler than Haswell) The high voltages required for a big overclock will reduce the life of your CPU.

 

[BStoltman]

Hey there, sweet build.

I built from scratch almost the same build as you , i was having problem with the cpu fan, because I opted for a mAtx mobo and all the optimal fans where to tall for my case. I than opted for a AIO water cooling corsair h100i, because I had time I looked at 1000 test to be sure which is the best cpu cooler, and tbh I would recommend you to go with the noctua NH-d15 itead of the Swiftech H220x2 if it fits your csse. The temperature difference is not price performance worth and THERE IS a risk if leaking and it could fry all your stuff. For example, with the corsair h100i you would have almost the same performance but would be paying 50$ less and be risk free of any possible deffect and liquid leakage.

I as well don't understand why you want to put an ssd and a m.2 500gb hardrive ( Samsung 950 pro I guess). Would you explain please ? I mean the 950 pro is ultra fast than you would have another high storage 3.5" Mechanical hardrive and an SSD taking holidays around ? :lol:

Im thinking about your airflow idea, I think you pretty right I need to do some research and I post my opinion cheers,

I built my PC primarily for rendering as I make youtube videos using the latest sfx, and greenscreening. According the the reviews having SSD's makes a huge difference especially having one being the source and the other being a output drive that are seperate. The motherboard supports m2.2 natively so i figure use that as a boot drive, and get an ssd for rendering to, which will also hold my steam games for a slight load boost.

 

[pepslight]

Yea as a i tough the rear fan should actually be an exhaust and not intake.

I found on toms hardware a good airflow scenario http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1755422/optimal-case-fan-configuration-cpu-water-cooler.html

the graphic card you draw as it is exhausting air down, but in reality is taking and pushing top and the rear

edit: Achsooo 😀 that explaing everything thank you. yes indeed the ssd is a god idea

Here I made a quick paint just for thinking on the air flow

 

[BStoltman]

You probably know this, but just in case:-
You don't need to water-cool your CPU unless you go for a big overclock. (Skylake runs cooler than Haswell) The high voltages required for a big overclock will reduce the life of your CPU.

Yes I am aware of this. I do intend to to overclock as able for rendering purposes, and the liquid cooler is ascetically pleasing to me. It is partly narcissistic. Being the motherboard I am using is meant for overclocking I am interested in using such feature to its potential. I have considered the noctua cooler, but I hate the huge heat sink involved. I know it does similarly well, but again slightly narcissistic not gonna lie! =)

 

[BStoltman]

Yea as a i tough the rear fan should actually be an exhaust and not intake.

I found on toms hardware a good airflow scenario http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1755422/optimal-case-fan-configuration-cpu-water-cooler.html

the graphic card you draw as it is exhausting air down, but in reality is taking and pushing top and the rear

edit: Achsooo 😀 that explaing everything thank you. yes indeed the ssd is a god idea

However if i switch the back fan to exhaust. I only have 1 intake for the whole case. That doesn't sound like it will produce enough positive or neutral air flow thru the case especially since it is a side fin front, and the intake is passing over the harddrives. Perhaps I am wrong?

 

[pepslight]

Yea as a i tough the rear fan should actually be an exhaust and not intake.

I found on toms hardware a good airflow scenario http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1755422/optimal-case-fan-configuration-cpu-water-cooler.html

the graphic card you draw as it is exhausting air down, but in reality is taking and pushing top and the rear

edit: Achsooo 😀 that explaing everything thank you. yes indeed the ssd is a god idea

However if i switch the back fan to exhaust. I only have 1 intake for the whole case. That doesn't sound like it will produce enough positive or neutral air flow thru the case especially since it is a side fin front, and the intake is passing over the harddrives. Perhaps I am wrong?

I was editing my earlier awnser. here is update



Edit: You should try to have always 50/50 of positive and negative pressure inside your case. I found the other day this video from youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12aDCxrcts I used for having the best airflow possible inside my case. and now I have exactly the same amound of air getting in and out

It worked better than I thinked it would 😉.

And doesn't´t matter how much we break our head here it wil always act different for each person so its kind of pointless 😀

 

[BStoltman]

Yea as a i tough the rear fan should actually be an exhaust and not intake.

I found on toms hardware a good airflow scenario http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1755422/optimal-case-fan-configuration-cpu-water-cooler.html

the graphic card you draw as it is exhausting air down, but in reality is taking and pushing top and the rear

edit: Achsooo 😀 that explaing everything thank you. yes indeed the ssd is a god idea

However if i switch the back fan to exhaust. I only have 1 intake for the whole case. That doesn't sound like it will produce enough positive or neutral air flow thru the case especially since it is a side fin front, and the intake is passing over the harddrives. Perhaps I am wrong?

I was editing my earlier awnser. here is update



Edit: You should try to have always 50/50 of positive and negative pressure inside your case. I found the other day this video from youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12aDCxrcts I used for having the best airflow possible inside my case. and now I have exactly the same amound of air getting in and out

I agree with your drawing, however by having the power supply pushing air up it exposes it to if there is a possible leak it could go into the power supply. The GPU is generally safe since it has a back plate, assuming it starts as a drip and now a pour scenario. Not sure the watercooler supports a push method due to the reservoir position, it is in a natural pull design. I do like the idea of your design, guess i need more info of compatibility.

 

[USAFRet]

I agree with your drawing, however by having the power supply pushing air up it exposes it to if there is a possible leak it could go into the power supply. The GPU is generally safe since it has a back plate, assuming it starts as a drip and now a pour scenario. Not sure the watercooler supports a push method due to the reservoir position, it is in a natural pull design. I do like the idea of your design, guess i need more info of compatibility.

Where the PSU fan is...that is sucking in. They ALL blow out the back.
Have the fan to the bottom of the case, sucking in air from the outside.

 

[BStoltman]

I also should mention since my office is a recording studio as well, silence it generally a goal. I have heard the corsair pump is kind of loud, and would interfere with my boom mic. Hence why all fans I am using are PWM, allowing the motherboard to literally turn most of them off unless the temp reaches a certain thrush-hold.

 

[pepslight]

Actually the psu taking is only a normal thin. The psu fans are always taking air from the big fan and it push on the back, that why my drawing. If you switch the psu making the fan pointing the gpu it will fight with the gpu for air and it will unbalance the air flow

 

[BStoltman]

I agree with your drawing, however by having the power supply pushing air up it exposes it to if there is a possible leak it could go into the power supply. The GPU is generally safe since it has a back plate, assuming it starts as a drip and now a pour scenario. Not sure the watercooler supports a push method due to the reservoir position, it is in a natural pull design. I do like the idea of your design, guess i need more info of compatibility.

Where the PSU fan is...that is sucking in. They ALL blow out the back.
Have the fan to the bottom of the case, sucking in air from the outside.

So it is sucking from underneath, and blowing out the back. If your description is correct.So i am not being requested to flip it. The fan doesn't even turn on unless I am using 400+ watts

 

[USAFRet]

So it is sucking from underneath, and blowing out the back. If your description is correct.So i am not being requested to flip it. The fan doesn't even turn on unless I am using 400+ watts

Yes, that is correct. In your original drawing, the PSU arrow should be drawn in the other direction...UP.
That is what it is currently doing.

 

[pepslight]

That's cool. Yes you got it rigjt. For total silence I would use a bunch of noctua fans not the water cooling

There is 3 types of noctua fans:
http://noctua.at/en/which_fan_is_right_for_me

If you don't have much grills blocking airflow on the case and you want total silence take the nf-s12A 120mm if you have some resistance you will need some extra static pressure so take the mid one NF-p12 and the normal 140mm pwm version

 

[BStoltman]

So it is sucking from underneath, and blowing out the back. If your description is correct.So i am not being requested to flip it. The fan doesn't even turn on unless I am using 400+ watts

Yes, that is correct. In your original drawing, the PSU arrow should be drawn in the other direction...UP.
That is what it is currently doing.

I like your design assuming I can use the Cooler in a push method and not a pull method. I know I can flip the fans to do this, but do you think sending the hot air back in the case with will be better then just pulling it out directly?

 

[pepslight]

If you water cool than yea it would be better to pull out with a push pull setting the problem is that you have than 2 intake 1 rear exhaust 4 top exhaust (pull push) you need more intake otherwise you will have negative pressure and that sucks it will transform your pc in a hoover for dustland

Edit: The solution it could work (if you don't have to much dust) is to add 2 intake fans on the button, if you don't have any cables or extra stuff bloking. the water cooling although is pretty it will take to much precious space that you don't have 2 intake front 2 intake bottom (if not many cables blocking ) 1 exhaust rear 2 exhaust (push pull top) may work good.

Edit: if you really want water cooling I would recommend a different case : the air 540 I have the 250 smaller brother and boy they are good .