Question Fan setup for systrem with AIOs on GPU and CPU

[RedDragon87]

Hi all, I recently built a new PC and for the first time had the opportunity to splash out on water cooling.
Build details

CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB 48.8 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard	Gigabyte X670E AORUS MASTER (rev. 1.0) EATX AM5 Motherboard
Memory	CORSAIR Vengeance RGB DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 6000 (PC5-48000) C30 1.4V Intel XMP Memory - Black
Storage	Crucial P5 Plus 2TB CT2000P5PSSD8 M.2 PCIe4 NVMe SSD
GPU	MSI SUPRIM LIQUID X GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB Video Card
Case	Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW ATX Mid Tower Case
PSU	Corsair HX1000i (2022) 1000 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
OS	MSoft Windows 11 Home

Full system image

In the image below I have the following setup:

- GPU in dark blue cooled by an AIO connected to the light blue radiator pushing air out through the front of the case
- radiator for CPU is in purple and also pushing air out through the top of the case
- three 120mm fans in orange pulling air into the system (connected via corsair lightning hub)

I was hoping for some guidance on how to set the curve for the three 120mm fans. The fans on the gpu radiator are mostly idle except when gaming, with the CPU radiator fans running all the time. The three 120mm fans seem to rev up and down for no discernible reason and I would ideally like them to align with the CPU radiator most of the time, only increasing when the GPU radiator kicks in.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

What "guidance" is provided by the applicable documentation for the coolers, case, fans, etc.?

Is there some conflict?

Very good that you included an image to help explain the fan/cooling layout.

However it is likely to be more helpful if the image shows all installed components as well.

The empty case not being "real world".

Details matter.

 

[RedDragon87]

Post updated with system specs and build picture.
The documentation doesn't provide information that I am looking for. Eg the Arctic cooler shows how to install the device onto your cpu plate, different orientations for the radiator etc. The same applies to the 4090.

What I am hoping for is some wisdom from others with more experience so that I can help ensure the three 120mm fans are pulling in enough fresh air relative to how hard the AIOs are working for the CPU and GPU.

 

[Phaaze88]

Full system image

The fans on the Freezer are facing the wrong direction - ALTHOUGH, the current facing would be OK if the side panel ventilation is intake.
I can't tell what model the fans at the side are, but I do know that Corsair has a series of fans which has vanes on both sides, making it tricky to tell the flow orientation. For fans with vanes on one side, that's typically the exit.

 

[RedDragon87]

The fans on the Freezer are facing the wrong direction - ALTHOUGH, the current facing would be OK if the side panel ventilation is intake.
I can't tell what model the fans at the side are, but I do know that Corsair has a series of fans which has vanes on both sides, making it tricky to tell the flow orientation. For fans with vanes on one side, that's typically the exit.

That's odd because I watched a few videos to make sure I was doing the install correctly and they all had the Arctic radiator installed the same way. The three fans represented by orange squares in the second image are corsair 120mm fans and they are setup as intake fans with both the Arctic and Suprim fans pushing air through their radiators and out of the case.

 

[Phaaze88]

That's odd because I watched a few videos to make sure I was doing the install correctly and they all had the Arctic radiator installed the same way.

The fans. I don't have anything against the radiator.
But the setup still works in your situation, since the side fans are feeding the Freezer and the Suprim - the Suprim probably gets air from the space at the back of the case too, as a bonus.

 

[Eximo]

Typical documentation will tell you to set up radiators with intakes fans from the outside. This is ideal for coolant temperatures. However, they are not anticipating you having two radiators.

I think they way you have it is acceptable. CPU is exhausting out the front, but has three intake fans feeding it.

Your GPU is also set up as exhaust, which is also good. GPU puts out a lot more heat than the CPU and you don't want that feeding anything else.

They are both fighting for intake air, but I think that is unavoidable with this chassis.


You could reverse the CPU to be intake as well at the risk of adding some heat to the GPU radiator, but I wouldn't.

Reverse the rear fan to be intake is a potential option to help the GPU a little.

 

[RedDragon87]

Typical documentation will tell you to set up radiators with intakes fans from the outside. This is ideal for coolant temperatures. However, they are not anticipating you having two radiators.

I think they way you have it is acceptable. CPU is exhausting out the front, but has three intake fans feeding it.

Your GPU is also set up as exhaust, which is also good. GPU puts out a lot more heat than the CPU and you don't want that feeding anything else.

They are both fighting for intake air, but I think that is unavoidable with this chassis.


You could reverse the CPU to be intake as well at the risk of adding some heat to the GPU radiator, but I wouldn't.

Reverse the rear fan to be intake is a potential option to help the GPU a little.

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Just to clarify your last point "Reverse the rear fan to be intake is a potential option to help the GPU a little." Are you talking about reversing one of the fans on the GPU radiator? So one is pushing and one is pulling? Or reversing the whole radiator?

 

[Phaaze88]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Just to clarify your last point "Reverse the rear fan to be intake is a potential option to help the GPU a little." Are you talking about reversing one of the fans on the GPU radiator? So one is pushing and one is pulling? Or reversing the whole radiator?

I believe Eximo is saying, IF you were to add a fan at the rear, to make it an intake.
I would also add along that advice, to install a filter there with it, like one of the following, or DIY your own:

https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Technology-SST-FF121-Filter-Cooling/dp/B0036WTDHK/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=120mm+fan+filter&qid=1691705770&sr=8-5

 

[RedDragon87]

Ah that makes sense. Thanks everyone for the help.