Hello, been a lurker for a long while, but this is my first post.
I have recently upgraded my home PC (specs in my sig) and will be looking to OC, so good airflow is quite important. I have the excellent Fractal Design Define R3 case and have purchased lots of fans to maximise airflow.
I have an NZXT Sentry Mesh fan controller fitted, which has five sliders on to control fan speed, along with some fan splitters to allow me to run multiple fans on one controller, if needed.
My current setup (negative pressure) is:
*Front [INTAKE]: 2x Zalman ZM-F3 120mm fans (@12v and shared on one controller)
*Bottom [INTAKE]: 1x FD Silent 140mm fan (set to low)
*Top [EXHAUST]: 2x FD Silent 140mm fans (front set on low, rear higher)
*Rear [EXHAUST]: 1x Xilence RedWing 120mm fan (set on high-ish setting)
*CPU: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO (PWM-controlled 120mm fan blowing straight out the rear - PWM set to 0.75 in BIOS)
I haven't mounted a side fan (space for a 120/140mm), because the graphics card with the Twin Turbo mounted is so wide that a fan would be pressed up against it.
So my questions are three-fold:
1) Should I change my rear fan to one using the PWM header on the mobo to sync with the CPU cooler?
2) Would it be better to ditch the bottom fan and so have 2x intake vs 3x exhaust?
3) Have I gone overboard with the number of fans in my case?!?
I have recently upgraded my home PC (specs in my sig) and will be looking to OC, so good airflow is quite important. I have the excellent Fractal Design Define R3 case and have purchased lots of fans to maximise airflow.
I have an NZXT Sentry Mesh fan controller fitted, which has five sliders on to control fan speed, along with some fan splitters to allow me to run multiple fans on one controller, if needed.
My current setup (negative pressure) is:
*Front [INTAKE]: 2x Zalman ZM-F3 120mm fans (@12v and shared on one controller)
*Bottom [INTAKE]: 1x FD Silent 140mm fan (set to low)
*Top [EXHAUST]: 2x FD Silent 140mm fans (front set on low, rear higher)
*Rear [EXHAUST]: 1x Xilence RedWing 120mm fan (set on high-ish setting)
*CPU: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO (PWM-controlled 120mm fan blowing straight out the rear - PWM set to 0.75 in BIOS)
I haven't mounted a side fan (space for a 120/140mm), because the graphics card with the Twin Turbo mounted is so wide that a fan would be pressed up against it.
So my questions are three-fold:
1) Should I change my rear fan to one using the PWM header on the mobo to sync with the CPU cooler?
2) Would it be better to ditch the bottom fan and so have 2x intake vs 3x exhaust?
3) Have I gone overboard with the number of fans in my case?!?