Fractal R5 - fan setup..

[quadrax]

Hi there. I figured out, i need more "Cooler" air in to my Case, but i am not sure which option would be the best. In my case i really want get cooler my VRM's on motherboard, because they are really getting hot fast.

Actually i am using this setup : 2x intake 140mm (original from R5) in front case, 1x 140mm rear - Bequiet Pure Wings Fan.

I am deciding about put 140mm / 2x 140mm as intake on TOP of case. So in final it would be (2x intake FRONT + 2x intake TOP and 1x REAR 140mm as outtake). Is this okay? It's possitive pressure, but i am not sure if this gonna work great.

My CPU cooling is Scythe Ninja 4, 2x HDD's, 1xSSD, iGPU at this moment and thats all. I´ve tried it figured by myself and trying to search ton of information, but i am really undecided how i should / resolve this.

Thanks for your suggestions / tips. Important for me is cooling VRMs (CPU is more than okay with temps).

 

[GhislainG]

Top intake is incorrect; hot air rises up and it should be exhausted. You should add 2 top exhaust fans. Fractal don't provide recommendations in the manual? Is the VRM getting much hotter than 100°C?

 

[zoltan.boese]

I am deciding about put 140mm / 2x 140mm as intake on TOP of case. So in final it would be (2x intake FRONT + 2x intake TOP and 1x REAR 140mm as outtake). Is this okay? It's possitive pressure, but i am not sure if this gonna work great.

Top intake is not the most effective way of doing it, but it won't do any harm either.

As long as the air is moving, the direction does not matter. Even if the air that touched your graphics card is 3-4°C warmer then ambient, it will just cool your VRM heatsinks well.

Have you considered replacing the heatsinks on your motherboard or the whole motherboard?

 

[geofelt]

What is your cpu/motherboard/graphics card?

Two 140mm front intake fans is about as good as it gets for supplying intake air.
Whatever comes in will exit somewhere, taking component heat with it.
The single 140mm rear exhaust is perfect, it directs the airflow past the motherboard and cooler.
As a plus, if the only intakes are filtered, your case will stay cleaner.

Adding top intakes will draw in unfiltered air from adjacent openings.
I would not bother.

Double check that your intakes are operating properly.
Dangle a tissue in front to check.

If you really need more airflow, replace the two front 140mm fans with higher 3000 rpm units at the cost of more noise.

To see if added cooling will help, take the case covers off and direct a house fan at the innards.
If that solves your problem, go ahead and look for case cooling solutions.

 

[quadrax]

To : GhislainG - Well, from my researches, hot rises up, thats right, but only if it's not pushed by air from fans, that means, it shouldn't matters at all (except negative pressure, which can have "Vacuum" effect for getting dust in to CASE easier way). Fractal just provides options how many fans could be installed, not the optimal Fans to use in case. It also depends on hardware, so it cannot be same for everyone. About VRM's, no they are not hitting 100°C, but also they are not high end, (mobo is Gigabyte AORUS Gaming K3, which is 4+2 Phase voltage delivery) with small heatsink on VRMs. I am getting even now, with ambient temp 22°C, about 75°C on VRMs and i am really concerned. For long term running. My motherboard is not the worst, but i had better expectations...

To : zolzan.boese - Replacing heatsinks is not great idea, if my motherboard is under warranty. Replacing motherboard could be an option.

When i tried remove one TOP modu vent cover, and put 120mm fan as intake to cooling VRMs, their temperatures went down for about 15°C, that's why i am trying to get proper cooling solution / fan positions / fan count in my case for best scenario cooling...

My complete rig is :

MB : Gigabyte AORUS Gaming K3
CPU : i5 8600k @ 4.5GHz @ 1.200v
CPU Cooler : Scythe Ninja 4
RAM : Corsair LPX Vengeance 3000MHz,CL15
SSD : Crucial M550, 128GB SATA,
HDD : 2x Seagate SATA, 1TB, 7200RPM
PSU : Seasonic M12II-620 EVO

 

[GhislainG]

75°C is cool for a VRM; they are designed to run much hooter than that. You are worried about a non-issue.

 

[quadrax]

Well okay. I am gonna try one thing, put one 120MM fan what i have from TOP, to Bottom as intake and if it make any difference. Otherwise (Offtopic) gonna wait for z390 mobo and then just replace with more robust cooling / vrms. It should be in few months.

 

[GhislainG]

A lot of people would be happy with such a cool VRM; even a CPU would be fine running at 75°C for more than 10 years of continuous operation.

 

[quadrax]

Thanks for answers. Do you think VRMs could lasts at least 2 years with these temperatures? Let's say about / or more than 75°C (but keep in mind, it's just 4+2 Phase).

 

[Sedivy]

But what was the temp with only top vent cover removed and no fan? Or just one top fan set to exhaust? Compare the scenarios before you decide. You have two intakes, you can afford to have a second exhaust.

 

[quadrax]

Thats one of option, but fractal R5 doesn't have dust filter on top. I am probably need Top dost filter from demciflex for using TOP fans. Bad thing is, Demciflex version of top dust filter is for 2 and 3 slots, so i should take 2 slot version of dust filter and use it. In that case i think best would be to use 2x140MM fan as intake, otherwise one position with just no fan will be bad.

 

[GhislainG]

Thanks for answers. Do you think VRMs could lasts at least 2 years with these temperatures? Let's say about / or more than 75°C (but keep in mind, it's just 4+2 Phase).

You'll upgrade the system way before the VRM fails.

 

[quadrax]

Hello again, sorry for reviving old thread, but i want to ask... what do you recommend as replace R5 stock fans for something else, with more cooling performance? I want only 140mm versions of fans. 3pin versions preffered. I have some candidates, is anyone good of them?

1) ARCTIC F14
2) Corsair Air Series AF140
3) Fractal Design Venturi HF-14
4) NZXT FZ 140mm

These would be as Intake fans from front of case. 2 of them. What you would choose ?

Thanks for help

 

[Sedivy]

I'd probably go for pwm version and a static pressure fan as you're pulling through a grille and a filter, but otherwise, any of those are ok. And from this chart, https://us.hardware.info/reviews/7186/4/high-static-pressure-case-fans-test-the-best-120mm-and-140mm-fans-for-your-radiator-or-cpu-cooler-test-results-static-efficiency-140mm-fans I'd probably go for nxzt's fz 140.
If you don't care about static pressure, corsair's af140 have good rep.

 

[GhislainG]

Hello again, sorry for reviving old thread, but i want to ask... what do you recommend as replace R5 stock fans for something else, with more cooling performance? I want only 140mm versions of fans. 3pin versions preffered. I have some candidates, is anyone good of them?

1) ARCTIC F14
2) Corsair Air Series AF140
3) Fractal Design Venturi HF-14
4) NZXT FZ 140mm

These would be as Intake fans from front of case. 2 of them. What you would choose ?

Thanks for help

 

[GhislainG]

Hello again, sorry for reviving old thread, but i want to ask... what do you recommend as replace R5 stock fans for something else, with more cooling performance? I want only 140mm versions of fans. 3pin versions preffered. I have some candidates, is anyone good of them?

1) ARCTIC F14
2) Corsair Air Series AF140
3) Fractal Design Venturi HF-14
4) NZXT FZ 140mm

These would be as Intake fans from front of case. 2 of them. What you would choose ?

Thanks for help

On your list I'd select the Corsair Air Series AF140.

 

[quadrax]

Thanks for your opinions! Will take a closer look on a Corsair and NZXT and choose one of them.

 

[geofelt]

Most 140mm fans come in a range of 900-1200 rpm.
The airflow you get is primarily determined by the rpm of the fan.
If you want more intake, buy a pair of stronger front 140mm fans.
I suggest the Noctua NF-A14 3000 rpm fans.
The main drawback will be added noise, but you can always reduce speed, but not increase it.
Noctua makes some of the highest quality fans around.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608048

 

[GhislainG]

Why buy a quiet case and then install loud fans?

 

[quadrax]

@GhislainG - My choose of FD R5 was because build quality, massive construction and great layout and possibilities. On my first place is cooling performance. Not saying i need 4000rpm all fans, but stilll want make reallly cool air in my case. I had before SilentiumPC RG2W case, and man, u want this sh*t throw out of the window. Horrible installation, lightweight, its just a poor ... Then i decided to buy R5. About 1500RPM it's not problem, because i am alone in my room and also i am using headphones.

 

[GhislainG]

I understand your point; most buyers get the R5 because it's quiet and they wouldn't consider adding noisy fans. Personally I'd still consider the Corsair Air Series AF140 over the Noctua NF-A14 only because of their color (not an issue if you have the R5 Black).