[SOLVED] Fan orientation question

[Art123]

So I just built my first AIO based system in the Be Quiet Pure Base 500 Window with the Silent loop 2. The AIO is cooling a R5 3600 and I have a Zotac Amp Extreme 980ti (it's massive).

Which way round should I have my AIO fans? Currently they are intaking air from inside the case, pushing it through the rad and then into the front case panel vents.

Problem is, because my GPU is so massive, the 2nd AIO fan is like half an inch away from the end of the GPU heatsink. Also, the tempered glass side panel is warming up during gaming, not so it's hot to touch, but it's warm. All the CPU and GPU temps are fine.

My other fans have 2 intakes on the top and 1 out take at the back. Would it be better to have the AIO fans intake from the front of the case and then push all the hot air into the case and out of the back. Although then the second fan would be pushing hot air directly on to the GPU heatsink...

Any help is appreciated!

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

i would set it up with the 3x 120mm radiator fans as intake pushing through the radiator.
with both top-rear and rear exhaust fans.
possibly also add a bottom mounted intake to help with drawing in cooler air.

the 2nd AIO fan is like half an inch away from the end of the GPU heatsink

have the fans installed inside of the front panel with the mounting points between the fans & radiator to give you more clearance inside.

Any help is appreciated!

your best option, while not the easiest, would really be to either;
return the 360mm AIO and get a 280mm instead that can be mounted in the top.
return the Pure Base 500 and get something like the Silent Base 802 that can fit your 360mm in the top.

but you should get decent temperatures with the front mounted option.
i had the similar Dark Base 700 setup with front mounted 280mm AIO as intake due to the top not having adequate vents for a top mounted radiator.
that with a 140mm bottom intake, 140mm rear exhaust, and a 140mm top-rear exhaust everything stayed well enough cooled though not what i really like to see.

Pure Base 500:

 

[Art123]

i would set it up with the 3x 120mm radiator fans as intake pushing through the radiator.
with both top-rear and rear exhaust fans.
possibly also add a bottom mounted intake to help with drawing in cooler air.

have the fans installed inside of the front panel with the mounting points between the fans & radiator to give you more clearance inside.

your best option, while not the easiest, would really be to either;
return the 360mm AIO and get a 280mm instead that can be mounted in the top.
return the Pure Base 500 and get something like the Silent Base 802 that can fit your 360mm in the top.

but you should get decent temperatures with the front mounted option.
i had the similar Dark Base 700 setup with front mounted 280mm AIO as intake due to the top not having adequate vents for a top mounted radiator.
that with a 140mm bottom intake, 140mm rear exhaust, and a 140mm top-rear exhaust everything stayed well enough cooled though not what i really like to see.

Pure Base 500:

I actually have the 240mm rad version, so in theory I could fit it at the top. Or shall I put the fans first and then the rad at the front? That would mean the GPU's heatsink being about half an inch away from the rad.

 

[CountMike]

I actually have the 240mm rad version, so in theory I could fit it at the top. Or shall I put the fans first and then the rad at the front? That would mean the GPU's heatsink being about half an inch away from the rad.

If you put the fans first and then the rad at the front make sure they blow thru radiator. That's best way for CPU cooling. You also need to match those 2 fans with like fans for exhaust at back and top..

 

[Art123]

If you put the fans first and then the rad at the front make sure they blow thru radiator. That's best way for CPU cooling. You also need to match those 2 fans with like fans for exhaust at back and top..

Ah ok cool, I will do that then

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

I actually have the 240mm rad version, so in theory I could fit it at the top. Or shall I put the fans first and then the rad at the front?

with the 240mm version the best option is to have it in the top with the fans exhausting out through it.

then have 2x 140mm fans as front intake and a rear 140mm fan as exhaust.

 

[Art123]

with the 240mm version the best option is to have it in the top with the fans exhausting out through it.

then have 2x 140mm fans as front intake and a rear 140mm fan as exhaust.

Maybe it is, but I am not prepared to redo my system for the 3rd time ahahha, temps are nice and low with this set up (fans first, intaking through the front of the case and into the rad) and I have a positive pressure now.

 

[Art123]

So I changed the fan orientation to fans in front of the rad, with them pushing air from the front through the rad. Got a 10C difference! Definitely worth doing, thanks everyone!