Question How to keep system cooler after new GPU. Extra fans?

[NightHawkRMX]

Hello, I just added an RX480 to my system and I love the way it performs. I also love the way my system looks now, so I put it up on my desk. It used to sit on the floor next to my desk, which resulted in a ton of dust getting in it 🙁
System Specs: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/HwFZhy

https://imgur.com/sHHZZx0

View: https://imgur.com/sHHZZx0

https://imgur.com/a/poEmpbt

View: https://imgur.com/a/poEmpbt

I am currently using the stock top intake and rear exhaust fan. My PSU exhausts out to the bottom.
Under load, my GPU gets to 78c and I can feel a ton of heat coming from the front of the case where there are no fans. My 480 isnt overclocked and is dust free. I think the thermal paste may be dried up.
I feel a lot of heat from the rear of the case as well.

Should I also buy 2 really cheap case fans and mount them at the front for extra airflow. My motherboard has enough fan headers for 4 fans.
Also, I was considering getting LED fans rather than standard fans. I was thinking of red or white fans. Which do you think will look the best in my case? I may move the stock fans to the front so I can see the led ones in the rear.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Why isn't your top an exhaust?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Correction, the rear is an intake and top exhaust. I must have incorrectly remounted the fans when I took them off last.
How should I arrange them?

 

[Gmoney06ss]

Usually both rear and top spots will be for exhaust. Grabbing an extra fan or two for the front may be a good idea, and certainly won't hurt.

 

[USAFRet]

Correction, the rear is an intake and top exhaust. I must have incorrectly remounted the fans when I took them off last.
How should I arrange them?

IN the front/bottom, OUT the top/back.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I believe at stock both the fans were mounted top and back. Ill set both as exhaust.
Do you think adding 2 intake fans in the front will help? And would no led, red led, or white led fans look the best in my case?

 

[Gmoney06ss]

A couple intake fans would definitely help if you currently have zero. Red or no led gets my vote.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I made it so my top and rear fans are both exhausting air. I feel less hot air at the front of the case but temps are the same. I still may pick up some red fans like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HK5KWQY/ref=twister_B07R27SD77?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

 

[ElectrO_90]

I know you want to get cheap ones for your case, but cheap ones are generally noisy
Good quality 140mm fans are better than cheap 120mm fans
Personally, Noctua is super quiet and fast, but you also have to realise, do you have enough FAN HEADERS on your motherboard for more fans? If not you want to get a splitter. Also if you can't afford Noctua, make sure you get 140mm fans because it is more airflow in.

Cheap ones -

Amazon.com: 140mm Case Fan 2-Pack Computer Case Fan with Advanced Fluid Dynamic Bearing for Ultra Quietness and Silent Operation Standard 140 mm Case Fan 2 Pack with 3 Pin & Molex / LP4 Connectors: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: 140mm Case Fan 2-Pack Computer Case Fan with Advanced Fluid Dynamic Bearing for Ultra Quietness and Silent Operation Standard 140 mm Case Fan 2 Pack with 3 Pin & Molex / LP4 Connectors: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

Noctua -

Amazon.com: Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500 PWM, High Performance Cooling Fan, 4-Pin, 1500 RPM (140mm, Grey): Computers & Accessories

Buy Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500 PWM, High Performance Cooling Fan, 4-Pin, 1500 RPM (140mm, Grey): CPU Cooling Fans - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[NightHawkRMX]

My motherboard has 4 fan headers and 1 pump header. My case can mount 2x120mm and 2x140mm at the same time or 4x120mm at the same time.
Well, I can only fit 2 140mm fans at the front of my case, where I can't see them, So LEDs don't matter on them (I refuse to have brown/beige Noctuas but grey ones are fine).
Also, do you know that these come with screws? I need some.

Do you think the fans I originally linked were necessarily bad? They were sleeve bearing and not from a great brand, but isn't a fan, a fan, within reason? The 120mm was rated for lower DBA and higher CFM than the noctuas, which seems fishy.

 

[ElectrO_90]

Do you think the fans I originally linked were necessarily bad? They were sleeve bearing and not from a great brand, but isn't a fan, a fan, within reason? The 120mm was rated for lower DBA and higher CFM than the noctuas, which seems fishy.

Exactly, they were better than Noctua, do you really believe that?
As for colour, meh - brown/beige is quite awful but when hidden, no one knows 😀

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Yea, I'll probably stray away from those red fans. They look great, but they even have conflicting info in their own description. It says sleeve bearing one place and fluid dynamic later down. I'm sure its sleeve bearing judging by the price.

Are the ARCTIC F14-140mm fans any good?
I have always thought of Arctic as a good brand and I can buy 2 of these fans for less than one Noctua and a similar price to the Rosewill 2.
These would look better than the Rosewill or Noctua, these have a fluid dynamic bearing, and these spin faster than Rosewill but less than Noctua.
https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-F14-140-Standard-Configuration-Possible/dp/B01I6H5HHO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CN72VKSC5R53&keywords=140mm+case+fan&qid=1559524882&s=gateway&sprefix=140mm+,aps,142&sr=8-1

 

[ElectrO_90]

Web says they are half decent

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Well, I think ill replace one of my stock NZXT fans as well since I broke 2 of its blades off a year ago. My RGB controller is right above it and when I went to press the button, I missed and snap. I super glued them back on and surprisingly it doesn't wobble and isn't noisy or anything, but it spins 200rpm slower than the other one. I think one year is enough for this fan to suffer.

I was going to grab 2 Arctic 140mm F14 fans for the front and 1 Arctic F12 120mm to replace the broken stock fan, however, through Amazon this would leave me with like $23 in the cart, not enough for free shipping. Shipping was an extra $7 which is the same price as a fan. If I buy another 120mm I don't have to pay for shipping so its the same price as 3 fans.
What do you think about this setup?
2x Arctic F12 PWM 120mm
2x Arctic F14 PWM 140mm
Around $29.

Do I need PWM or PST?

 

[boju]

Keep in mind also coldest air is near the floor. Being higher up on the desk is going to suck in warmer air and your lovely body heat ;P

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I have a vent right below me and the PC, so it blows cold in summer and warm in winter. Right now the AC is on, so the temps would be higher in winter when the heat is on.
Even with cool blowing ac, my GPU gets up to 80c in games.

 

[boju]

Hmm im wondering if cold air is coming down from above could be enough to push hot air back into the case?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

No, the air conditioning vent is on the floor blowing up. It's really about 2-3 feet from the pc.
Both fans are doing their job and exhausting rather hot air.

 

[boju]

Ohh ok i was thinking of the evaporative kind vents in the ceiling.

Ill slowly walk away now 😊

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Haha np.
It's odd. My GPU temps seem to be random. Over 2 minutes in one map of Beam.NG my GPU temps went from 79c to 80c, stayed there for a while, and then slowly dropped off to 73c. The GPU was at 100% the entirety of this 2min.
This game is demanding, but I have one video of when my GPU is at 100%, the game is using nearly 6.5gb vram, and temps are at 71c. Another time on a different map my GPU is at 100%, less than 2gb vram used, and temps are at 80c.

 

[boju]

80c is pretty much normal for a video card. Don't let usage levels confuse or try to figure out where temps should be at certain times, temps wont rise if there was a reason.

What you could try do (which you've probly thought of) is set a custom curve and run the fans faster.

 

[ElectrO_90]

Hmm im wondering if cold air is coming down from above could be enough to push hot air back into the case?

You're over thinking this

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Ok, i wont worry too much. I did buy the fans, so my case will be stocked. 2 140mm fans and 2 120mm fans.
I have messed with fan settings. Not really sure what im doing but my gpu gets really lout with max fan speed. My cpu fan used to be at full speed aswell.

 

[boju]

You're over thinking this

Lol yeah i know, thought they had above cooling vents.

 

[boju]

Ok, i wont worry too much. I did buy the fans, so my case will be stocked. 2 140mm fans and 2 120mm fans.
I have messed with fan settings. Not really sure what im doing but my gpu gets really lout with max fan speed. My cpu fan used to be at full speed aswell.

Let us know how you go after you install them