[SOLVED] Fans: Quality or Quantity

[schooltime7634]

I'm building a dual system rig in one of those big cases. I know for a fact that it's going to heat up like crazy. The case supports around 15-20 fans. I'm wondering whether I should just add as many fans as possible (and maybe a radiator or water cooling loop), or just get some good quality fans. I'm most likely going to use Thermaltake's Riing Plus fans, both 120 mm and 140 mm... All feedback is greatly appreciated

 

[10tacle]

As a long time (20+ years) air cool overclock PC builder, I'll give my input.

First, more fans does not mean better cooling. In fact, it can do more harm than good with interior turbulence causing a lower CFM front to back/top out.

Second and related to the first, the best airflow is ensuring you have good intake to exhaust flow through the case. Limited obstructions like HDD cages also helps. You want as smooth an airflow as possible from the front of your case to the rear to create a negative air pressure inside to move the air out (classic Bernoulli's principle).

Third and finally, quality of the fan is mostly dependent on how high of a quality the fan bearing is. Noctua makes among the best, but you also pay for that and their color choices are less than aesthetic. For water cooling a CPU, internal air flow is not so critical over a CPU air cooler, but airflow is still important if you are air cooling your GPU.

 

[schooltime7634]

Ok. Are thermaltake riing fans good enough quality? I've already considered Noctua...

 

[10tacle]

Absolutely! I know of at least one who uses them and is more than pleased from a raw performance perspective (especially considering the lower price). They are a little noiser however than the Noctuas if that means anything according to user opinions.

 

[schooltime7634]

Absolutely! I know of at least one who uses them and is more than pleased from a raw performance perspective (especially considering the lower price). They are a little noiser however than the Noctuas if that means anything according to user opinions.

As long as the fans aren't as loud as turbines, they should be perfect. But what's your opinion on water cooling loops or AIO's? I'm thinking of adding a radiator and I want to know whether or not water cooling is worth it?