Case Fans and Cooling

[scottgeorge-harrison]

Hey, hopefully this is the best place for advice.

So I am looking to buy more fans for my case (2x120mm) but im wondering is it better to intake air or exhaust it. my case is this:
http://www.gamemax.uk/products_162_106.html

I have a GTX 1080ti and a Maximus Formula IX with a Corsair H60 Hydro Cooler for cpu.

I know my GPU and watercooler exhaust the air and the 2 fans in front of the case intake. so would it be better to shove more cool air in?

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Sedivy]

You want balance with intake and exhaust. For the front you have space for 2x140mm fans. Bigger is better in this case so get 140s for the front definitely. In the back is going to be your corsair h60. You can add one up top for a balanced 2 in and 2 out airflow.
Here's a nice video about optimal numbers of fans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmkmluAYAQ (can skip to 11:52 conclusion if you don't want to watch the whole thing).

 

[assasin32]

Front intake, rear exhaust, top exhaust (remove dust filter as it's a bit pointless dust will be blowing out of the case not in and the filter reduces airflow), and keep the filters in the intakes and bottom vent.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

Thanks!

I currently have 2x120mm fans in the front that came with the case, but I feel and worry that Im not getting enough cool air in.
My GPU is the FE so i know they are bad on cooling compared to third party versions.
What fans would you recommend putting in the top? and how would i know if they intake or exahust? And also would using a Y splitter do damage to the board at all?

Sorry im new to this pc stuff

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

You want balance with intake and exhaust. For the front you have space for 2x140mm fans. Bigger is better in this case so get 140s for the front definitely. In the back is going to be your corsair h60. You can add one up top for a balanced 2 in and 2 out airflow.
Here's a nice video about optimal numbers of fans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmkmluAYAQ (can skip to 11:52 conclusion if you don't want to watch the whole thing).

Thanks!

I currently have 2x120mm fans in the front that came with the case, but I feel and worry that Im not getting enough cool air in.
My GPU is the FE so i know they are bad on cooling compared to third party versions.
What fans would you recommend putting in the top? and how would i know if they intake or exahust? And also would using a Y splitter do damage to the board at all?

Sorry im new to this pc stuff

 

[Sedivy]

No problem. If front came with 2x120 then just leave them. You'll have the h60 in the back so just can (but don't have to) add one more 1x120 to top back. How far back will be determined by the width of h60. For intake or exhaust, you can just plug your psu in (without plugging any other wires in, and then plug your fan into it directly. It'll spin at its highest speed, but it'll show you which way the direction of air is. Typically, the front face of the very middle of the fan will have some sort of logo, and it's the side where the air is coming in. That top back fan you should set to exhaust so that logo face will be looking into the inside of the case.
Y splitter will depend on the amperage of your fan, and the max amperage the fan headers on your mobo can support. Typically you can add two without issues. Some newer fans, for example some corsair's fans can have amperage of 0.4-0.6. Considering fan headers typically support 1A, adding two of those may be problematic. Most of the other fans are at 0.1-0.2 ampers in which case there's no issue adding two. So I guess my answer is write out the model of your fans, and the model of your mobo for any further info.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

No problem. If front came with 2x120 then just leave them. You'll have the h60 in the back so just can (but don't have to) add one more 1x120 to top back. How far back will be determined by the width of h60. For intake or exhaust, you can just plug your psu in (without plugging any other wires in, and then plug your fan into it directly. It'll spin at its highest speed, but it'll show you which way the direction of air is. Typically, the front face of the very middle of the fan will have some sort of logo, and it's the side where the air is coming in. That top back fan you should set to exhaust so that logo face will be looking into the inside of the case.
Y splitter will depend on the amperage of your fan, and the max amperage the fan headers on your mobo can support. Typically you can add two without issues. Some newer fans, for example some corsair's fans can have amperage of 0.4-0.6. Considering fan headers typically support 1A, adding two of those may be problematic. Most of the other fans are at 0.1-0.2 ampers in which case there's no issue adding two. So I guess my answer is write out the model of your fans, and the model of your mobo for any further info.

I only have one space for a fan at the back as i cant see anymore room for another, and thats where all the hot air gets exhausted to anyway. But what good fan makes are there? the fans on the front are just standard fans that came with the case like i mentioned and i think they are crap even on the highest settings

 

[Sedivy]

In the back will be your h60 which will come with its own fan. If your case came with a fan in the back, just take that one, and install it up top. That way you don't have to purchase anything really.
As for fan quality that's a matter of preference. Before you go on buying different kinds of fans, try it with the fans you've got, but get a utility that usually your motherboard manufacturer provides which allows you to adjust fan speed with various temperatures. That way you can adjust speeds of both front and back/top fans into a temp/rpm curve. This means your fans will be completely quiet when your pc is idle, and will get louder as you load more intensive programs. How loud will be up to you really. You can get something like hwmonitor and keep an eye on your cpu, gpu and motherboard temperatures. If they're not to your liking, you increase the speed of your fans for certain temperatures, and it gets cooler (but louder) and vice versa.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

In the back will be your h60 which will come with its own fan. If your case came with a fan in the back, just take that one, and install it up top. That way you don't have to purchase anything really.
As for fan quality that's a matter of preference. Before you go on buying different kinds of fans, try it with the fans you've got, but get a utility that usually your motherboard manufacturer provides which allows you to adjust fan speed with various temperatures. That way you can adjust speeds of both front and back/top fans into a temp/rpm curve. This means your fans will be completely quiet when your pc is idle, and will get louder as you load more intensive programs. How loud will be up to you really. You can get something like hwmonitor and keep an eye on your cpu, gpu and motherboard temperatures. If they're not to your liking, you increase the speed of your fans for certain temperatures, and it gets cooler (but louder) and vice versa.

It didn't come with any extra fans, but thanks for the help, i think my Mobo does support more fans, it should support 3 i read and an extra 1+amp fan slot but not too sure what that is. Thanks for the advice though thank you.

Do you think my front two fans will be slotted into my motherboard at all because the case has some fan switched on top to change the speed from high,mid,low but even on high they arent much better

 

[Sedivy]

Ohhh your case comes with a fan controller switch? Well that makes it easier. They don't plug into mobo at all. They plug into psu and you're basically limiting their voltage (and therefore their speed) with a manual switch from low (on idle) to medium (browsing, watching videos, working) to high (gaming) that you can adjust yourself.

The h60 will go into the cpu_fan slot on your mobo, and if you've got 3 fan headers for your system fan, it'll more than fit your one fan up top. Or you can add that top fan to the same splitter your front fans are using (hopefully there are empty slots for extra fans to be added to it), and control it with that switch as well.

The 1+ amp fan is usually a fan header that tolerates higher voltage (typically 2A) that's there in case you use custom liquid cooling pump and need to plug it into a header that supports its slightly higher current draw. If you don't have a custom liquid cooling system, this is a good fan header to put multiple fans on when you're using a splitter. But it doesn't sound like you need that at all since you've already got one built into the case.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

Ohhh your case comes with a fan controller switch? Well that makes it easier. They don't plug into mobo at all. They plug into psu and you're basically limiting their voltage (and therefore their speed) with a manual switch from low (on idle) to medium (browsing, watching videos, working) to high (gaming) that you can adjust yourself.

The h60 will go into the cpu_fan slot on your mobo, and if you've got 3 fan headers for your system fan, it'll more than fit your one fan up top. Or you can add that top fan to the same splitter your front fans are using (hopefully there are empty slots for extra fans to be added to it), and control it with that switch as well.

The 1+ amp fan is usually a fan header that tolerates higher voltage (typically 2A) that's there in case you use custom liquid cooling pump and need to plug it into a header that supports its slightly higher current draw. If you don't have a custom liquid cooling system, this is a good fan header to put multiple fans on when you're using a splitter. But it doesn't sound like you need that at all since you've already got one built into the case.

Ahh thats good to know they with front fans then. so i could just add an extra fan to the front fans but place it on top?
If i was to get 2 extra fans for the top to intake would they work in the 1+amp header fine? or would they need to run at high speeds to keep it above the amp needed for that slot if you understand what im trying to say?
but is it good that all the hot air gets exhausted to the back of the case and out so that none of my other fans are sucking in the hot air?

 

[Sedivy]

I don't know if you can add it. That depends on what kind of wiring they've got when connecting the two front fans to the psu. If they supplied a y splitter for only two fans, you'd have to replace it to a Y splitter for 3 fans and plug your top fan into the third slot. If they already supplied a y splitter with extra slots for fans, then yes you can just add your top fan there. Basically open your case, and find and follow the wiring running from your two front fans into the psu.

Top fans on intake aren't a great idea. Sure they'd run on the 1+ amp header fine but heat rises. Top is where a lot of your heat coming off of your gpu is going to be exhausting. If you now add in two intake fans up top, then you're pushing all that air in and it'll be squeezing hot air out the back. You can easily test this out since switching fan orientation is pretty easy. Watch the temps under load yourself and see what you get.

Fans will have amperage range. For example here's a fan I have:
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/case-fan/masterfan-pro-140-ap/
When you click on specs and look, you'll see its highest rates amperage is 0.25A. Meaning I could easily put two on even a regular fan header, and especially on a pump rated fan header.
So if you decide to go with third party fans, look up what their range is. Otherwise look up the amperage of the fans your case manufacturer uses.

 

[madmatt30]

What do you currently have fitted in there ?? & where exactly ??

I'll assume you have the 2 front 120 mm fans that came with the case in the front & you've fitted the h60 aio as a rear exhausting air out ??

If this is correct then what I would do is remove those 2 front led fans & refit them in the top of the case as exhausts.

Then buy 2 decent 140mm fans for the front of the case as intakes.

You have a twin fan controller on that case capable of powering 6 fans so motherboard headers are a complete non issue.

What fans you buy will be entirely dependant on

1. Whether you still want LED's on them
2. How much you want to spend

 

[madmatt30]

@sedify - the case has 2 basic fan controllers (5/7/12v) with 3 x fan headers on each

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

What do you currently have fitted in there ?? & where exactly ??

I'll assume you have the 2 front 120 mm fans that came with the case in the front & you've fitted the h60 aio as a rear exhausting air out ??

If this is correct then what I would do is remove those 2 front led fans & refit them in the top of the case as exhausts.

Then buy 2 decent 140mm fans for the front of the case as intakes.

You have a twin fan controller on that case capable of powering 6 fans so motherboard headers are a complete non issue.

What fans you buy will be entirely dependant on

1. Whether you still want LED's on them
2. How much you want to spend

Thanks! so my case can have 6 fans without touching the mobo for power at all? what cables would i need to do this?

what fans would you recommend? price isnt much of a problem but around the £20 mark would be nice not including cables. LEDs are optional but i would like some but if not its not a big deal.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

I don't know if you can add it. That depends on what kind of wiring they've got when connecting the two front fans to the psu. If they supplied a y splitter for only two fans, you'd have to replace it to a Y splitter for 3 fans and plug your top fan into the third slot. If they already supplied a y splitter with extra slots for fans, then yes you can just add your top fan there. Basically open your case, and find and follow the wiring running from your two front fans into the psu.

Top fans on intake aren't a great idea. Sure they'd run on the 1+ amp header fine but heat rises. Top is where a lot of your heat coming off of your gpu is going to be exhausting. If you now add in two intake fans up top, then you're pushing all that air in and it'll be squeezing hot air out the back. You can easily test this out since switching fan orientation is pretty easy. Watch the temps under load yourself and see what you get.

Fans will have amperage range. For example here's a fan I have:
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/case-fan/masterfan-pro-140-ap/
When you click on specs and look, you'll see its highest rates amperage is 0.25A. Meaning I could easily put two on even a regular fan header, and especially on a pump rated fan header.
So if you decide to go with third party fans, look up what their range is. Otherwise look up the amperage of the fans your case manufacturer uses.

all the air is getting pushed out to at the back anyway so would it not just push all the cool air down onto the GPU improving how fast it cools? My h60 and GPU exhaust the hot air out of the back together if you get me?

Thanks

 

[madmatt30]

@scottgeorge - sedivy is 100% right here

General case airflow is always

Front & bottom - Intakes
Top & rear - exhaust

There may be some instances in some oddly designed cases where this isn't the case but with yours it 100% is

Anyway , with you having the fan controllers in that case its an incredibly easy recommendation

Corsair CO-9050036-WW Air Series SP140 LED 140mm Low Noise High Pressure LED Fan Dual Pack, Blue https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L64N9JI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Yzo7zb6A8VP1W

No cables required , you already have everything you need in the case already

 

[Sedivy]

@sedify - the case has 2 basic fan controllers (5/7/12v) with 3 x fan headers on each

Ahhh ok.

all the air is getting pushed out to at the back anyway so would it not just push all the cool air down onto the GPU improving how fast it cools? My h60 and GPU exhaust the hot air out of the back together if you get me?

This is something for you to test out. Typically you want an even flow ie. one direction of air usually from front bottom to top back. If you start adding in air from multiple directions, especially from top since heat rises, it may give you a turbulent flow rather than a clean front in->carry heat out the back top. But it really is simple to put fans in different directions and install hwmonitor and see for yourself what you get in terms of temps in each orientation

As for fan recommendations, get a voltage controlled fan (not a pwm) and I'd go for a brand name that's within your price range. Like:
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/case-fan/#s=140&p=0

edit: I second that sp140 recommendation. It's a very solid fan.

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

@scottgeorge - sedivy is 100% right here

General case airflow is always

Front & bottom - Intakes
Top & rear - exhaust

There may be some instances in some oddly designed cases where this isn't the case but with yours it 100% is

Anyway , with you having the fan controllers in that case its an incredibly easy recommendation

Corsair CO-9050036-WW Air Series SP140 LED 140mm Low Noise High Pressure LED Fan Dual Pack, Blue https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L64N9JI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Yzo7zb6A8VP1W

No cables required , you already have everything you need in the case already

So if i put them two fans in the front it should improve quality greatly? also i am worried about having exhaust fans on the top because wouldn't it take away the air for the cpu fan to suck in if its getting pulled in another direction? if you get me? but thanks for the advice i will most likely upgrade the two front fans, would the voltage/amps matter on the two front fans since it isnt connected to the motherboard at all?

Thanks

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

@sedify - the case has 2 basic fan controllers (5/7/12v) with 3 x fan headers on each

Ahhh ok.

all the air is getting pushed out to at the back anyway so would it not just push all the cool air down onto the GPU improving how fast it cools? My h60 and GPU exhaust the hot air out of the back together if you get me?

This is something for you to test out. Typically you want an even flow ie. one direction of air usually from front bottom to top back. If you start adding in air from multiple directions, especially from top since heat rises, it may give you a turbulent flow rather than a clean front in->carry heat out the back top. But it really is simple to put fans in different directions and install hwmonitor and see for yourself what you get in terms of temps in each orientation

As for fan recommendations, get a voltage controlled fan (not a pwm) and I'd go for a brand name that's within your price range. Like:
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/case-fan/#s=140&p=0

edit: I second that sp140 recommendation. It's a very solid fan.

yeah i understand now, but as i said with madmatt30 im worried about the top exhaust taking away airflow from the cpu and dragging it out before the cpu fan drags the air through

but i will defiantly download a hwmonitor and try things out when i get the fans

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

https://www.arctic.ac/uk_en/bionix-f140.html

are these fans any good?

 

[Sedivy]

That's why at the top you'd have only one fan. So you have two fans on intake and two fans on exhaust, for even flow. Adding second fan on exhaust up top won't help your temps, and it would creative negative pressure inside the case.
Amps won't matter at all since they're going straight to PSU.

 

[Sedivy]

Not that one since it's pwm fan. You want a voltage controlled fan as you're manually controlling with a voltage switch.
If you like arctic, something like this one:
https://www.arctic.ac/worldwide_en/f14.html

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

That's why at the top you'd have only one fan. So you have two fans on intake and two fans on exhaust, for even flow. Adding second fan on exhaust up top won't help your temps, and it would creative negative pressure inside the case.
Amps won't matter at all since they're going straight to PSU.

where should i position the fan up top? because doesnt my gpu class as a exhaust fan as well?

 

[scottgeorge-harrison]

Not that one since it's pwm fan. You want a voltage controlled fan as you're manually controlling with a voltage switch.
If you like arctic, something like this one:
https://www.arctic.ac/worldwide_en/f14.html

will it need to be 4 or 3 pin then?