NZXT Phantom Case Fan Configuration?

[Ben Dills]

So I recently purchased an NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT Full Tower Case and was wondering about if anyone had any recommendations on fan configurations. I read in a previous thread that it was a good idea to fill out the top 200mm and the front 140mm and to buy the NZXT brand fans, lest you find yourself having trouble fitting the fans when installing them.

So the question is, does anyone have any advice otherwise, and/ or regarding what should be intake/ exhaust? Airflow isn't exactly my strong suit, though I'm trying to educate myself in its ways.

Here's a link to the case link on Newegg for reference:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=IGNEFL112814&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL112814&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL112814-_-EMC-112814-Index-_-ComputerCases-_-11146067-S2A4B

 

[markwp]

NZXT's stock config is really pretty good out of the box. If you can provide more details on the system you will be installing, a more complete answer can be given.

As far as "filling" up all the fan slots, unless you are building a full tilt gaming/rendering machine, it's probably not necessary. As far as buying only NZXT fans, again it's not necessary - just check the outer dimensions of other fans to make sure they clear the case area - the screw patterns are an industry standard.

Mark

 

[Ben Dills]

I'm transferring my current rig from my smaller mid tower case into a full tower to better support the GPU I just bought - my temps were astronomical already without the GPU, I didn't want to burn anything up when I added it in. (I've on occasion hard-locked, I was definitely due for an upgrade on my cooling.) I'm running an i5 3570k, 8GB (2x4GB) of DDR3 1600, and just purchased a Gigabyte GTX 970 G1. I've currently got a 120GB Kingston SSD (OS) and three 1TB HDDs (two currently installed, will be adding back in the third when I move the hardware into the new case). The i5's running a stock cooler currently which I might upgrade, I was considering trying to OC it. Definitely want to play with overclocking the 970.

 

[markwp]

The stock arrangement should be fine, however, if you plan to oc both the cpu and gpu, I would install an additional 200mm on the case side and definitely get an aftermarket cpu cooler such as a Hyper 212. Set the new side fan as intake to blow across the gpu and be sure the top 200 is set as an exhaust.

Mark

 

[Ben Dills]

The stock arrangement should be fine, however, if you plan to oc both the cpu and gpu, I would install an additional 200mm on the case side and definitely get an aftermarket cpu cooler such as a Hyper 212. Set the new side fan as intake to blow across the gpu and be sure the top 200 is set as an exhaust.

Mark

I'm not trying to say I know what the heck I'm talking about, because as I said I don't really know about cooling or airflow - but I was once told that side fans are better for exhaust and top fans are better for intake. Is that not the case with this well... Case?

Seriously that pun was unintentional. Please don't hate me.

 

[markwp]

Hot air rises, thus top fan for exhaust. Side fan draws in cooler outside air to push across hot components. The real trick is to keep positive pressure in the case (more intake than exhaust), thus "forcing" hot air out. If you were using water cooling with a top mounted radiator, then top as intake would be true and the side would pull out the warmer air the radiator has created.

Mark

 

[Ben Dills]

Hot air rises, thus top fan for exhaust. Side fan draws in cooler outside air to push across hot components. The real trick is to keep positive pressure in the case (more intake than exhaust), thus "forcing" hot air out. If you were using water cooling with a top mounted radiator, then top as intake would be true and the side would pull out the warmer air the radiator has created.

Mark

When trying to achieve the positive air pressure, would it be worth it to get a front 140mm for intake or no?

 

[markwp]

Probably not needed with the position of the two side 120's, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

[Moonstick2]

As far as buying only NZXT fans, again it's not necessary - just check the outer dimensions of other fans to make sure they clear the case area - the screw patterns are an industry standard.

NZXT apparently have a bit of a reputation for using non-standard patterns. A couple of the Amazon reviews for this case say that only the NZXT 200 mm fans will fit, not other makes.

 

[gqlhonourbv]

he i5's running a stock cooler currently which I might upgrade, I was considering trying to OC it. Definitely want to play with overclocking the 970.

 

[markwp]

As far as buying only NZXT fans, again it's not necessary - just check the outer dimensions of other fans to make sure they clear the case area - the screw patterns are an industry standard.

NZXT apparently have a bit of a reputation for using non-standard patterns. A couple of the Amazon reviews for this case say that only the NZXT 200 mm fans will fit, not other makes.

The bolt pattern on NZXT 200's is 154mm which is the "standard". Aerocool, BitPhenix etc use that pattern as well.

 

[-Lone-]

I got the NZXT Phantom 820 case and I bought it because of how it looks and have LED lights, lol. But I replaced all of my NZXT fans with Cooler Master LED fans that I bought.