Proper airflow in a Fractal Design Define S?

[ImpGuard]

Hey, looking for some advice or help on getting proper cooling set up in my new build. Here's the build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($324.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($150.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($66.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($157.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Superclocked Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card ($649.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 107.4 CFM 140mm Fan ($34.43 @ Amazon) x 4
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 71.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($30.88 @ OutletPC) x 2
Total: $1899.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-05 04:45 EDT-0400

I'm going for a quiet build and a black/white color scheme, and I'm currently planning to do:

• 
  ■ Two A14 intake in the front
  ■ One A14 intake on the bottom
  ■ One A14 exhaust at the back
  ■ The h100i with the F12's on the top
  ■ Getting some Noctua white chromax fan mounts

Here are my questions.

■ Is this airflow configuration good?
■ Are there different fans I should go with that can keep the color scheme and perform the same?
■ As far as I know, I'm buying the IPPC's for just the color, since running them at low RPM's makes them essentially equivalent to the consumer versions. Is this correct?

 

[Isokolon]

there's no need to get the A14 industrial for airflow into your case. the industrials don't go below 800RPM, the normal fans go down to 300rpm
the consumer A14 will do just fine at half the noise level
the Phanteks if it has to be black

the Define S comes with 1 140mm fan front and 1 140mm fan at the back
both are relatively good quality and will do fine
again if you need black fans, go with the Phanteks.
with your board you don't even need PWM fans it can control 3 PIN fans just as nicely, you only need 5mins initially to set up a fan curve

I'd go with intake: 1 front, 1 bottom
two front if you thing it's neccessary
exhaust: 1 rear + radiator top

 

[bitwright]

You are going for a quiet build, yet you are buying 6 fans - expensive fans at that - and putting all of them in your case...

Your case and your cooler both come with 2 fans each, they are all the fans you will need. The cooler's fans are high CFM fans, which will help keep your system cool. If you are worried about the noise those fans will make, you can sacrifice some cooling and buy quieter 120mm fans, but at 29.7dbA, those Noctua fans you picked aren't quiet.

My suggestion, mount your cooler up top with the fans exhausting air. Then take the rear fan included with the case and install it in the front as an intake.

An alternate option would be to install the cooler up front with the fans set up as intakes, either leave the included front fan where it is or move it to the bottom as an intake, and leave the included rear fan where it is as an exhaust.

Keep to only the stock fans at the moment. I don't suggest you buy replacement fans up front. Run your PC for a while and only replace/add fans if you feel your rig is running either too loud or too hot.

 

[ImpGuard]

You are going for a quiet build, yet you are buying 6 fans - expensive fans at that - and putting all of them in your case...

Your case and your cooler both come with 2 fans each, they are all the fans you will need. The cooler's fans are high CFM fans, which will help keep your system cool. If you are worried about the noise those fans will make, you can sacrifice some cooling and buy quieter 120mm fans, but at 29.7dbA, those Noctua fans you picked aren't quiet.

My suggestion, mount your cooler up top with the fans exhausting air. Then take the rear fan included with the case and install it in the front as an intake.

An alternate option would be to install the cooler up front with the fans set up as intakes, either leave the included front fan where it is or move it to the bottom as an intake, and leave the included rear fan where it is as an exhaust.

Keep to only the stock fans at the moment. I don't suggest you buy replacement fans up front. Run your PC for a while and only replace/add fans if you feel your rig is running either too loud or too hot.

Haha yea, at max volts they aren't. Was planning to wind them back down in RPM to consumer Noctua fan levels. Picked these since they were black and I've read that I can wind them down via settings/bios.

I've kept stock fans in previous cases in the past and they always felt too loud to me. That's why I wanted to try rewiring the fans up front this time around. I'm a cable freak so I'm worried I might do some fancy wiring to hide the fan cables only to need to redo a bunch if I swap the fans out afterwards (I'm also lazy).

Though, you do make a good point. I'll take a closer look.

 

[ImpGuard]

there's no need to get the A14 industrial for airflow into your case. the industrials don't go below 800RPM, the normal fans go down to 300rpm
the consumer A14 will do just fine at half the noise level
the Phanteks if it has to be black

the Define S comes with 1 140mm fan front and 1 140mm fan at the back
both are relatively good quality and will do fine
again if you need black fans, go with the Phanteks.
with your board you don't even need PWM fans it can control 3 PIN fans just as nicely, you only need 5mins initially to set up a fan curve

I'd go with intake: 1 front, 1 bottom
two front if you thing it's neccessary
exhaust: 1 rear + radiator top

I hear you. I'll try just one up front to begin with. Are Phanteks the one you would suggest in general or is it from experience. I've seen so much hearsay recommending this or that fan for either performance or sound or both I'm not sure what's correct. I went with the Noctuas since the overall sentiment seems to point that they are, at the very least, pretty solid in terms of general feedback.

From other sites/manufacturer's notes these Noctuas can go down to 300rpm. I was planning to tone them down significantly anyways and the only reason I'm going with these over the consume grade ones is, as you noted, I'm trying to keep to the black and white theme. Seeing as how you suggested the consumer grade ones I presume you just disagree with this point but not necessarily with the fan?

 

[bitwright]

Haha yea, at max volts they aren't. Was planning to wind them back down in RPM to consumer Noctua fan levels. Picked these since they were black and I've read that I can wind them down via settings/bios.

I've kept stock fans in previous cases in the past and they always felt too loud to me. That's why I wanted to try rewiring the fans up front this time around. I'm a cable freak so I'm worried I might do some fancy wiring to hide the fan cables only to need to redo a bunch if I swap the fans out afterwards (I'm also lazy).

Though, you do make a good point. I'll take a closer look.

If you do plan to replace the stock fans, you would be better suited buying PWM fans designed around running silent than fans designed around pushing air. Here's what I got from a quick search on newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA68V46Y1205&cm_re=140mm_silent_pwm_fan-_-9SIA68V46Y1205-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200068&cm_re=120mm_silent_pwm_fan-_-35-200-068-_-Product

 

[Isokolon]

I got a Phanteks fan myself as side intake. It's a great fan. The noctuas (got an Af14flx as Well) come with plenty adapters and cable extensions though, which is not necessary but still nice.


The Industrial noctuas cant possibly go down to 300rpm that would be a range of 2700rpm
I disagree mostly with noise and price. I like overspending on a good fan but I would never pay 30$ for a fan just because it's black. There ate plenty black fans out there with good performance

Also I don't see PWM as a requirement for case fans since any good board can control 3 pin fans just as good today as a 4 pin, you just have to draw the fan curve manually once which takes like 5 mins for 5 fans

 

[ImpGuard]

I got a Phanteks fan myself as side intake. It's a great fan. The noctuas (got an Af14flx as Well) come with plenty adapters and cable extensions though, which is not necessary but still nice.


The Industrial noctuas cant possibly go down to 300rpm that would be a range of 2700rpm
I disagree mostly with noise and price. I like overspending on a good fan but I would never pay 30$ for a fan just because it's black. There ate plenty black fans out there with good performance

Also I don't see PWM as a requirement for case fans since any good board can control 3 pin fans just as good today as a 4 pin, you just have to draw the fan curve manually once which takes like 5 mins for 5 fans

Yea, I see the PWM argument. I'll consider that.

And I don't think I selected the 3000 RPM version of the industrial Noctuas, I selected the 2000 RPM version. I'll take a closer look at those Phanteks for sure though. Thank you!