CPU Radiators’ Fan Suppose To Be Intake Or Exhaust

[mayuree.winner]

The title explained the situation

 

[Mattp2017]

Intake....... the air outside of your computer is going to be cooler than inside.

 

[guanyu210379]

In general:
CPU radiator as intake: cooler on cpu but warmer on other components
CPU radiator as outttake: warmer on cpu but cooler on other components

More important,
Best options depending on radiator location:
Radiator top of case: best as outtake/exhaust --> blowing out of the case
Radiator in front of the case: best as intake --> blowing into the case

 

[mayuree.winner]

.

 

[mayuree.winner]

In general:
CPU radiator as intake: cooler on cpu but warmer on other components
CPU radiator as outttake: warmer on cpu but cooler on other components

More important,
Best options depending on radiator location:
Radiator top of case: best as outtake/exhaust --> blowing out of the case
Radiator in front of the case: best as intake --> blowing into the case

Thank You

 

[mayuree.winner]

In general:
CPU radiator as intake: cooler on cpu but warmer on other components
CPU radiator as outttake: warmer on cpu but cooler on other components

More important,
Best options depending on radiator location:
Radiator top of case: best as outtake/exhaust --> blowing out of the case
Radiator in front of the case: best as intake --> blowing into the case

Which CPU cooler placement do you recommend

 

[Karadjgne]

With radiators fan position depends on 2 things, location and usage. If you top mount the rad, fans should be exhaust, if you front or bottom mount then fans should be intake.

As for usage, that depends on fan speeds and fitment. If you primarily use fans that spin under @1300rpm, fans set to pull are more effective, if fan speeds are more than 1500, fans are better set as push.

Generally top mount sees better overall case temps as radiator exhaust is shoved directly out the case. Low speed fans set on top, pulling air through the radiator. High speed fans set underneath and pushing air through the radiator.

Things can change, such as if the motherboard is obstructed by the rad, or if using RGB fans etc.

 

[guanyu210379]

In general:
CPU radiator as intake: cooler on cpu but warmer on other components
CPU radiator as outttake: warmer on cpu but cooler on other components

More important,
Best options depending on radiator location:
Radiator top of case: best as outtake/exhaust --> blowing out of the case
Radiator in front of the case: best as intake --> blowing into the case

Which CPU cooler placement do you recommend

It depends on your case and the AIO watercooler.
The most problematic issue is more on the case layout, mobo clearance to case, etc.
If you do not have any issue with layouts or anything blocking, I would pick on the top of the case.
The temp inside the case should be lower this way. You have more things to keep cool inside than only the proc.

 

[guanyu210379]

actually about the same.
"Generally top mount sees better overall case temps as radiator exhaust is shoved directly out the case. Low speed fans set on top, pulling air through the radiator. High speed fans set underneath and pushing air through the radiator. "
and
"If you do not have any issue with layouts or anything blocking, I would pick on the top of the case.
The temp inside the case should be lower this way. You have more things to keep cool inside than only the proc."

Fan on top of the case (blowing out/exhaust): better/lower case temp
Low speed intake on top combined with high speed in front/bottom: higher air pressure in the case, hence less dust

 

[Karadjgne]

No. There's simply too many leak spots like edges, the fans themselves, slots in back, unused ports etc and pc fans do not have the capability to increase 'pressure' to much degree.

If at sea-level, air pressure is 14.7 lbs/in-Sq. Inside a 'positive pressure' pc with fans at a constant rpm, you might see 14.71. In a 'negative pressure' pc, you'd be lucky to see 14.69. Seriously not much difference. The only thing this really affects is the micro-particulate dust that's approximate to the case. Positive pressure blowing enough air out of the cracks to move the dust, negative pressure pulling it in unfiltered.

But trying to maximize this by opposing fans with intakes on top and bottom and front creates hotspots as air is now no longer flowing in-out, but circulating inside the case

Front - intake
Bottom - intake
Rear - exhaust
Top - exhaust.

Unless otherwise directed by case design.

You have a gpu exhausting hot air, that's climbing the side of the panel. The rear wants to take that heated air, bend it 90° and shove it out. You also have a top fan blowing air in, confusing the heated air from the gpu and circulating it around the case.

While immediate temps might look good, try heavy gaming for an hour and shoving increasingly warmer air back at the gpu....