[SOLVED] NZXT H710i and RTX 3090 Cooling Problem

[mrfahrenheit2k]

So, I have an NZXT H710i with stock cooling solution: 3 intake fans, one rear exhaust fan. I also have an NZXT Kraken X72 mounted on top in exhaust position. It was all fine and dandy when I still had my 180W GTX 1080. However, since I upgraded to Palit RTX 3090 (yes, it's for work, not just games), the conditions inside the case became quite hellish. RAM is hitting 58-60C under load, becuase the third graphics card fan is blowing directly at it. After an hour of gaming I have liquid temperature at 50-52C, CPU at 75-80C, GPU at 80-82C. It's not that bad, but not good either. I know NZXT cases are not known for their great airflow. And so before I'm gonna think about switching the case, I want to ask more knowledgeable people, is it possible to do anything to improve the thermals? Or should I just go and switch to a case with maximum airflow without even attempting to fix anything? Thanks!

 

[Karadjgne]

It's not the case imho. You have an RTX3090 with an upwards blowing fan directly underneath the ram. You could increase airflow and you'd still get a major source of heat blowing straight up from the area of the gpu at the motherboard. It's been a concern of many professional reviewers having that fan right there, especially on a large output gpu like the 3090.

Most AIB gpus pull air from underneath then shove it towards the side panel, staying pretty much well away from the mobo, the heat traveling to the top of the case up the side.

Instead, a simple idea is to temporarily use a piece of heavy card-stock or cardboard the width of the gpu, fold the sides down (so it's tapered and looks like an old hot-rod hood scoop) and stuff it over the top of the upwards facing fan, making a wind-break to re-direct the vertical exhaust from the gpu more outwards.

If that works as intended and alleviates the ram thermal issues, you could then fashion something more permanent out of plastic/abs that would not only look better, but fit better.

Dell has been doing stuff like that for years, especially with cpus, using a tunnel on top of the cooler to redirect the exhaust out the back of the case directly by the cpu fan, bypassing the need for a rear exhaust.

 

[Phaaze88]

Looks like the FE 3090 would've been better in this setup...

The reported thermals are still safe, even though they appear to be out of your comfort zone. ¯\(ツ)/¯

If you don't mind experimenting a little:
A)Move the X72 to pull intake - not push - at the front of the chassis
B)Move the chassis fans to top exhaust

 

[mrfahrenheit2k]

Hey, thanks for the comprehensive replies! I'll try what you both suggesting and report the results some time later (when my work schedule will allow me). I'd love to have a FE, but getting it, especially in my country, is virtually impossible. Palit is the most accessible manufaturer for me right now and MSI and ASUS are overpriced as hell.

 

[Phaaze88]

Understandable - gotta work with what you got now.

 

[Karadjgne]

The Palit uses a reference board, reference clocks etc. For all intents and purposes it really Is an FE, just has a different set of fans, backplate, look and rgb than a FE. But the outputs are the same as far as power/heat goes. Whether it'll output more waste heat due to better cooling and airflow, allowing better boost clocks and temps, I dunno, which might improve performance over the FE slightly, but at heart it's an FE, so you didn't make a bad or wrong choice.