PWM Splitter or fan controller for cpu radiator fans, and other fan configuration questions.

[Aedris]

I have a lot to say and a few different questions, Ill give you as much info on the build as possible, but here is a quick rundown on what I'm looking for.

Questions:
1. Can I use noctua's industrial PPC PWM fans with NZXT Sentry 3
2. SHOULD I use Sentry 3 for radiator fan controlling, or use PWM splitter running to CPU_Fan
3. Should I use Noctua Industrial PPC fans for case fans, or something else(fractal AF fans)?
4. Will the configuration listed below produce positive pressure in my case.
5. If PWM splitting, suggestions for splitter configurations to best match my situation.

I want advice on how I should set up my fan controllers and my case cooling in general.

I'll go over the parts and configurations in more detail below, but I plan to use a hybrid gfx card and a 280mm AIO cpu cooler. As well as 1 intake and 3 exhaust case fans, with both the gfx card and the cpu cooler acting as intakes. I hope this configuration will lead to positive pressure in my case, helping to keep it dust free.

In this build, my case comes with a 3 speed, 3 fan, controller, and I already own a NZXT Sentry 3 5 fan controller.

You can find a list of parts I intend to utilize at the bottom of the post. Along with links to the manufacturer.

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I'm planning an update to my pc in the coming months based on EVGA's 1080 ti Hybrid, when it launches later this year (if it launches that is). And I need some clarification on which fan configuration will best match my needs.

I want my pc to be quiet, but I prioritize performance.

I also want to ensure the absolute best lifetime of my components, since I plan to carry them over for future builds.

Case: (mounting locations)--------

I Plan to use the Fractal Design Define R5 Blackout(with window) which has these mounts:
3 top 140mm
1 rear 140mm
2 front 140mm
2 bottom 140mm
1 bottom PSU fan slot

Intake fans:

Cpu 280mm rad: Push/pull front of the case
GPU 140mm rad: push in the middle slot on the bottom of the case
1 case fan in the front slot at the bottom of the case

Exhaust fans:
2x top rear and top middle
1x back of the case

I don't know how I should hook up my fans controllers to manage all of this.

My mobo has 4x 4-pin chassis connectors, 1x 4-pin cpu_fan and 1 x4-pin cpu_opt fan connector.

The case itself comes with 3 fan, 3 speed controller, and I already own a NZXT Sentry 3 5 fan controller, but it only has 3 pin connectors so I don't know if it works with 4 pin pwm headers.

I've read through several threads online and people don't suggest running a fan controller to control your radiator fans. Some people suggested something like this 8-1 PWM splitter for sending the control to the motherboard cpu connector.

http://

Questions:
1. Will the mobo run all the fans at the same speeds?, can that one 4 pin port power 4 2000rpm pwm fans?
2. Can that one port control all those fans, using a splitter similar to the one linked above?

I want to be able to run these fans at a relatively low rpm most of the time.

Is it worth using pwm splitters to let my computer control all my fans on a fan curve, or is it fine to just set them at a stable voltage using my fan controller?

I've thought about running the 4 fans for the cpu rad, and the 1 fan on the gpu rad on my NZXT Sentry 3. But if i start doing more intensive gaming, I would rather the system be able to slowly ramp up the fan speed, rather than my turning it up 20-40% at random using my fan controller whenever I feel it needs to happen.


Next question then. Should I use the same Noctua fans that I'm using on the radiators, for my 4 other case fans, or should I look at something else, like these fractal airflow fans.
http://

Money isn't a major issue, I care more about performance, but if those fractal fans will perform just as well as the Noctua ones, they're currently much much cheaper.

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Here's a list of the parts in the build: (links below)

Case: Fractal Design, Define R5 Blackout (with window)
PSU: Corsair RMx 750
MOBO: Asus Z97-A
CPU: Intel Core I7-4790k
GPU: EVGA 1080 ti Hybrid
Fan Controller: NZXT Sentry 3
Fans: 5x Noctua Industrial PPC 2000rpm 140mm
4x(something else? idk if its worth using the same noctua fans for case fans) suggestions?

Links:

Case: http://

PSU: http://

MOBO: http://

CPU: http://

GPU: not yet released, EVGA's Hybrid variant 1080 ti.

Fan Controller: http://

Fans: http://
http://

 

[the nerd 389]

The Noctua fans are good, but there are better options out there. The be quiet! Silent Wings 3 comes to mind.

I also notice that your fan controller is not designed for PWM fans, so keep that in mind when deciding how to put it together.

Regarding the placement of the GPU radiator, you might have trouble fitting it in the center of the bottom, as the PSU will be right next to the mounting area and may block the radiator.

Regarding the use of an 8-1 splitter, those fans draw too much power to use one of those safely. Use a 2-1 splitter at most.

If you're using PWM, and the fans are either on the same header or are using the same fan curve, the fans will run at the same speed +/- 10%.

In order to run those fans at reasonably low speeds, you'll need PWM control. 3-pin control won't allow them to run as slowly as with 4-pin PWM control. 3-pin control also has some problems with being able to read fan speeds, and that can cause weird bugs in the fan profile.

I would not consider using that fan controller for PWM fans at all. Get a proper PWM fan controller like the Corsair Link Commander Mini.

240mm AIO radiators do not benefit from using a push-pull setup. The 120mm radiator for the GPU might, but it might not. It depends on the specific model, and I'm not terribly familiar with the EVGA radiator.

Honestly, I would suggest running at least the 120mm radiator as an exhaust. It'll simplify the build significantly. If you need the extra 2-5C for the CPU, the front intake is the only place you can put it. Considering how small a difference it is, I normally advise putting that on the top as an exhaust as well, though. That also makes installation much easier than trying to mount it on the front.

Lastly, hybrid GPUs normally have serious issues keeping the VRM and memory modules cool. Only get a hybrid GPU cooler if you have a way to compensate for that.

 

[Aedris]

Thanks for the reply.

I have one more question, you said its not really worth to run push pull on the 280mm rad, the rad will be in the front of the case, which seems to have restricted airflow, and is behind a dust filter, would that not see any improvement from being in push/pull with the extra restriction from the filter and case?

Also thanks for the suggestions on running one or both of the rads on exhaust, but from some of the benchmarking I've seen, it seems like you can gain 5c or more temp drops by having the rads pull fresh air into the case, and since im running so many fans, I should have plenty of airflow to exhaust the hot air from the case. So I want to have the rads pulling as cool air as possible.

Thanks!

 

[the nerd 389]

The issue of using the radiators as exhausts isn't a matter of temperatures, it's a matter of the hoses being long enough to comfortably allow you to put the radiators in intake positions. Using them as exhausts saves you the trouble of figuring out whether the hoses are long enough as well as how to route them.

Regarding restricted airflow, you'll almost invariably be using those fans at lower than maximum speeds. Running them at 100% simply isn't necessary, and the noise you'd have to deal with makes 100% fan speed undesirable. That also means you have the 2-7% headroom necessary to compensate for those restrictions. You could run push-pull, but the cost of the fans isn't justifiable. You simply won't see enough improvement to make the extra fans worth it. Also worth mentioning is that the restriction from a 60% open-area perforated sheet is completely negligible. The variations between two fans of the same model will make more of a difference.

Regarding the extra 5C, if you are running an OC that 5 C makes the difference between stable and unstable, you're playing with fire. The CPU won't last long at all in that type of situation.