Question Nzxt h5 flow, i7 13700k aio config

[Jaky7SVK]

Hello, i am going to build a new pc. Here are the specs: CASE: NZXT H5 Flow MB: ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI soc 1700 DDR5 Z790 ATX 90 CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K CPU cooler: NZXT Kraken X53 RGB or NZXT Kraken X63 RGB? GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 16GB OC Edition RAM: Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 64GB kit 5600MHz CL40 2x32GB Black PSU: MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W SSD: 2x Samsung 980 PRO 2 TB

Here is my question, as i am worried about the i7 13700k temps, i dont know if it would be better to either, buy the nzxt kraken x63 aio (which is 280mm) front mount it and use 2x 120mm nzxt fans on top and 1x 120mm nzxt fan on the back of the case, or buy kraken x53 aio (which is 240mm), mount it on top of the case and front mount 2x 140mm nzxt fans and mount 1x nzxt 120mm fan on the back of the case. The fans that i will be using are nzxt f rgb fans.
I previously already bought and installed the 140mm fans in the front of the case, for the top mount radiator config as i thought that would be better option, but afterwatching some videos i am concerned.
Thanks

 

[Phaaze88]

Hi, @Jaky7SVK
The differences may or may not be minor(depends on how the hardware's used and the surrounding environment), but there's a tradeoff regardless of which orientation you go with. Front mount favors cpu thermals at the cost of gpu, top does the opposite.
The H5 Flow being limited to 240mm at the top is... well, limiting. Better to have the option to use the larger coolers when going with top mounts.
They are not going to get as much of the cooler room air that a front mounted one would get. Then there's the sloppy seconds from an active gpu.

UNFORTUNATELY: Asus TUF RTX 4080 is 348mm long, and the H5 Flow has a max gpu clearance of up to 365mm, for a difference of 17mm.
Only low profile(15mm thick) case fans could be used at the front of that case with that card.

That's not including the side clearance issue with the 16pin adapters, as you'll need to avoid pinch points and sharp bends.
The TUF 4080 is 150mm wide, and since the gpu clearance is about the same as the case's cpu air cooler clearance(165mm)... 15mm left over is a real squeeze for the normal adapters. Likely need one of those custom right-angle adapters.


The issue may be more that the planned gpu model is too chunky for the H5 Flow.
To be able to use standard 25mm thick case fans in the front, you would need to look at 4080s that are 339*mm long or less.
For the Kraken rad + fan, you're then looking at 309*mm or less, and only the Founder's Edition 4080 would fit in there.
[I erred 1mm on the safe side.]

 

[Jaky7SVK]

Thanks for your reply, i understand what you mean, but the gpu clearance is measured from the cage that the front fans sits in, and the fans go inside the cage not behind it so they wont interfere with the gpu.
Here is the picture of the cage and the picture that has tuf 4080 installed in nzxt h5flow.
https://ibb.co/fXZ5Gr9

https://ibb.co/GQ6Vw8W

 

[Phaaze88]

Thanks for your reply, i understand what you mean, but the gpu clearance is measured from the cage that the front fans sits in, and the fans go inside the cage not behind it so they wont interfere with the gpu.
Here is the picture of the cage and the picture that has tuf 4080 installed in nzxt h5flow.
https://ibb.co/fXZ5Gr9

https://ibb.co/GQ6Vw8W

I see this detail that the tech specs on the webpage didn't tell me, but a 240/280mm radiator still won't fit in the front, so there's no choice but to do top radiator...
which is limited to 240mm... [240mm AIO/CLCs aren't much better than big air, and in some configurations are worse than the latter.]
which, IMO, isn't great(but not exactly terrible); larger is better for top mount. You can get away with smaller units at the front, because they can get the freshest air.