Effectively cooling my PC (Case Fans+Radiator)

ayb88

Honorable
Jan 2, 2013
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Hi guys,

I'm a bit confused regarding the whole pc cooling thing. It used to be fairly straight forward, have 2 intakes and one exhaust. But things have changed a bit. I bought a Corsair H80i CPU cooler. As you may or may not know, the H80i comes with a radiator, and 2 fans for push/pull configuration. Now, the instructions and many other youtube video's, including corsair's install guide recommend to install the radiator like an intake fan (fresh air). But in the guide, they install the radiator in a push pull configuration on the back of the case (normally where an exhaust fan goes). This confuses me a bit. Currently, I have 2 Corsair SP120's in the front of my computer (in take). I don't have a fan on top, but do have a place where I could install it, but just haven't yet, because i'm no expert in thermodynamics. I've tried to see if the H80i would fit if I were to install it at the front of my desk, in place of the sp120's, but the hoses would not reach all the way to the PC. So my question is, where do I install the H80i? Which fan hole should I use for exhaust?

I'm asking this because I need exceptional cooling, considering I bought a second gtx670 to run sli and want to keep it cool. No overclocking planned.

Here are my specs:

-i7 4790k (stock)
-Cooler Master Strom Enforcer
-Asus Sabertooth Mark II mobo
-Corsair Vengence 2x8GB
-EVGA GTX 670 4GB SC (soon to be 2 of these)
-2x 128GB Samsung 840 EVO
-1 WD Green 1TB
-Corsair 800W PSU
-Corsair H80i (Not installed, don't know where to mount)

 
Solution
If it will fit on top, that's where I've seen most of these things mounted. Then leave an exhaust 120mm in the back. Hot air rises and all that...the rear exhaust would be my 2nd choice.

I'd also recommend an additional 120mm intake fan on the side, if it will fit. As that will help make up for the lack of air cooling to the other mobo components, plus it will help cool the SLI.
If it will fit on top, that's where I've seen most of these things mounted. Then leave an exhaust 120mm in the back. Hot air rises and all that...the rear exhaust would be my 2nd choice.

I'd also recommend an additional 120mm intake fan on the side, if it will fit. As that will help make up for the lack of air cooling to the other mobo components, plus it will help cool the SLI.
 
Solution
The radiator would not fit on top, and I don't have a mounting place on my case to mount an additional fan on the side.

So that leaves me with using the rear with the radiator and use fresh air into the radiator/case and install a exhaust fan on top.

So then i'll have fresh air from 2x 120mm SP120's from the front, fresh air through the radiator from the back, and exhaust on top.

If that sounds good, would 2x120 SP120's be a better solution for top ventilation, or 1 large 200 mm fan?
 
I would NOT mount the rear fan as an intake. I'm no thermodynamics engineer, but I'd think that would restrict airflow to a little tunnel, coming in the back and going straight out the top, and a unmoving pocket everywhere else. Just mount the rear as an exhaust if you can.

That case said it supports a 120mm side-fan, when I checked the description. Did I mis-read?

Usually one big fan is a better choice than 2 smaller fans. The larger the fan, the less it has to work to move air, and the less noise you should have from the case.
 



Thank you for your response. Negative to the side fan. It does not have a spot to mount a fan on the side.

Good point about the 1 large fan compared to the 2 smaller fans.

Thank you