Fan / Radiator orientation?

[Electrolyzed]

I've sent my GTX 770 back to EVGA for an upgrade to a GTX 970 with their Step-Up program. I also bought additional cooling accessories for my new GTX 970 once it arrives. I bought a NZXT Kraken G10 which is a mounting bracket that allows AIO CPU liquid coolers to be mounted to a GPU. I decided to combine this with a Corsair H50.

Assuming this will be mounted on the rear of the case, which one would be the best option? This is my first AIO liquid cooler purchase and I'm not too familiar with radiators.

 

[jimthenagual]

The top left option would be the most common (blowing exhaust out of your case), assuming you have intake in the front of your case.

 

[Ijack]

It shouldn't really matter which side of the radiator you mount the fan, but I prefer to have it pulling air through the radiator. I have no particular logic for this preference.

As to whether the radiator should be pulling air into the case or blowing air out, logic dictates that you pull air in. Assuming that the other components are adequately cooled, and that you have fans expelling air from the case, you want the coldest air possible to be drawn over the radiator. This will be air from the outside.

So I would go for the top right configuration.

 

[20salmon]

Fan - Radiator - Fan (also known as push-pull), configured so the warm air coming through the radiator leaves the case (exhaust) should be the best set up.

The post above recommends having the radiator over an inntake fan, which is fine, but will heat the air inside the case. I would agree if this was a CPU you were cooling, but since it is a GPU and likely requires less cooling, I would choose a cool case over a marginally cooler GPU.

 

[Ijack]

I did say "assuming that the other components are adequately cooled". If they are not, then perhaps water cooling of the GPU is not the best option.

You will see many posts on the Internet on this subject, seemingly split 50/50 between the two options. I chose my solution 1. because logic dictated it, and 2. because the manufacturer of my cooling system recommended it. I work on the principle that they have probably tested more setups than I can.

In the final analysis there is one, and only one, way of determining the most efficient setup. Forget theory and try the various options, monitor temperatures, and see which works best for your particular configuration. It's not that difficult to alter the configuration.