Should I mount Fan or Radiator first?

[HOonix]

I recently got a 120mm liquid cooler. I'm confused on whether I should mount the fan first or the radiator on the back of my case.

Thanks.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Usually radiator goes first and then you attach fan (in correct orientation to support desired airflow).

If you're mounting radiator on the back of your case, then airflow has to be directed as exhaust.
Check arrow symbol on the fan attached to radiator.

 

[raisonjohn]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

 

[HOonix]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

Which would you recommend?

 

[raisonjohn]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

Which would you recommend?

I would personally go fan first then rad (unless your fans have LED).

But, it depends on the design of the fan you have, your interior-motif/looks, and, as I mentioned, space restriction in your case. I have used both setups at the same time (in different PCs) due to the aforementioned factors.

I had the Deepcool Captain 120 (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Corsair Carbide Spec-03. I liked the look of the red fan/blades and black frame and wanted to install the rad before the fan (to show off such fan for my black/red interior theme), unfortunately, the 120mm-sized radiator is hindered by the chassis' frame such that I cannot entirely mount the 4 screws of the rad flat against the case frame (only 2 screws on top can be installed). So, given that situation, I had to install the 120mm fan first (which fits perfectly in the case) before the 120mm rad.

On my other build, I had the Deepcool Maelstrom 120T (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Raidmax Hyperion case. With a Blue/Black theme, the 120mm fan of the AIO cooler is great to show off with its blue LED lighting. I could mount the rad/fan either way, but, given the situation, I wanted to install the 120mm rad first before the LED fan.

Both setups do not have a significant difference in temperature on both cases, what I noticed is that, due to our dusty environment, I had to make extra effort to clean-up the Maelstrom (removing the fans) than the Captain.

 

[HOonix]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

Which would you recommend?

I would personally go fan first then rad (unless your fans have LED).

But, it depends on the design of the fan you have, your interior-motif/looks, and, as I mentioned, space restriction in your case. I have used both setups at the same time (in different PCs) due to the aforementioned factors.

I had the Deepcool Captain 120 (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Corsair Carbide Spec-03. I liked the look of the red fan/blades and black frame and wanted to install the rad before the fan (to show off such fan for my black/red interior theme), unfortunately, the 120mm-sized radiator is hindered by the chassis' frame such that I cannot entirely mount the 4 screws of the rad flat against the case frame (only 2 screws on top can be installed). So, given that situation, I had to install the 120mm fan first (which fits perfectly in the case) before the 120mm rad.

On my other build, I had the Deepcool Maelstrom 120T (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Raidmax Hyperion case. With a Blue/Black theme, the 120mm fan of the AIO cooler is great to show off with its blue LED lighting. I could mount the rad/fan either way, but, given the situation, I wanted to install the 120mm rad first before the LED fan.

Both setups do not have a significant difference in temperature on both cases, what I noticed is that, due to our dusty environment, I had to make extra effort to clean-up the Maelstrom (removing the fans) than the Captain.

Thanks!
Should I mount the fan as an intake or an exhaust?

 

[TechUnited]

https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjc77TroY3UAhVHNo8KHcSIDrMQtwIIJDAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUyC3lZ5WFMk&usg=AFQjCNEJfWt3duFdZUzDRA3JqP8pUAaszg

not the best answer but, its what i know.

 

[TechUnited]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

Which would you recommend?

I would personally go fan first then rad (unless your fans have LED).

But, it depends on the design of the fan you have, your interior-motif/looks, and, as I mentioned, space restriction in your case. I have used both setups at the same time (in different PCs) due to the aforementioned factors.

I had the Deepcool Captain 120 (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Corsair Carbide Spec-03. I liked the look of the red fan/blades and black frame and wanted to install the rad before the fan (to show off such fan for my black/red interior theme), unfortunately, the 120mm-sized radiator is hindered by the chassis' frame such that I cannot entirely mount the 4 screws of the rad flat against the case frame (only 2 screws on top can be installed). So, given that situation, I had to install the 120mm fan first (which fits perfectly in the case) before the 120mm rad.

On my other build, I had the Deepcool Maelstrom 120T (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Raidmax Hyperion case. With a Blue/Black theme, the 120mm fan of the AIO cooler is great to show off with its blue LED lighting. I could mount the rad/fan either way, but, given the situation, I wanted to install the 120mm rad first before the LED fan.

Both setups do not have a significant difference in temperature on both cases, what I noticed is that, due to our dusty environment, I had to make extra effort to clean-up the Maelstrom (removing the fans) than the Captain.

Thanks!
Should I mount the fan as an intake or an exhaust?

always,Alwas remember, hot air out, cool air in.

 

[HOonix]

It's a matter of preference.

Mounting the radiator first before the fan means you are pushing air out from the case, into your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your fans are exposed (can be seen inside the case) while your radiator is concealed (between the fan and the case). Some people like this setup especially if the fan has a certain design that they want to show off (e.g., LED lighting, blade color, sticker, etc.). The disadvantage of this setup is dust build-up in the radiator (dust between the fan and the rad). Cleaning it up means unscrewing your fans first to access the dusty rad. Depending also on the case you have, some chassis have clearance issues with 120mm radiators' larger frame (especially small cases that only supports 120mm fan mounting at the back).

On the other hand, mounting the fan first before the rad means you are pulling air out from the case and through your radiator, then out the back. This setup means that your radiator is exposed while your fan is concealed. Some people like this setup to achieve a "cleaner black look" of the radiator fins being exposed in the inside of the case. Maintenance-wise, it is also easier to clean as you can see dust build-up, if any, at the exposed side of the rad (you won't have to unscrew the rad for clean-up). Disadvantage is you can't show off your LED fans in case you have one.

Both setups will just have a very minor difference in terms of noise and temps (and it's a case-to-case basis depending on the fan you have and the ambient temperature). It's up to you which one to choose as there is no hard-and-fast rule on this -- all a matter of preference.

Which would you recommend?

I would personally go fan first then rad (unless your fans have LED).

But, it depends on the design of the fan you have, your interior-motif/looks, and, as I mentioned, space restriction in your case. I have used both setups at the same time (in different PCs) due to the aforementioned factors.

I had the Deepcool Captain 120 (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Corsair Carbide Spec-03. I liked the look of the red fan/blades and black frame and wanted to install the rad before the fan (to show off such fan for my black/red interior theme), unfortunately, the 120mm-sized radiator is hindered by the chassis' frame such that I cannot entirely mount the 4 screws of the rad flat against the case frame (only 2 screws on top can be installed). So, given that situation, I had to install the 120mm fan first (which fits perfectly in the case) before the 120mm rad.

On my other build, I had the Deepcool Maelstrom 120T (120mm rad and fan) mounted at the rear exhaust of the Raidmax Hyperion case. With a Blue/Black theme, the 120mm fan of the AIO cooler is great to show off with its blue LED lighting. I could mount the rad/fan either way, but, given the situation, I wanted to install the 120mm rad first before the LED fan.

Both setups do not have a significant difference in temperature on both cases, what I noticed is that, due to our dusty environment, I had to make extra effort to clean-up the Maelstrom (removing the fans) than the Captain.

Thanks!
Should I mount the fan as an intake or an exhaust?

always,Alwas remember, hot air out, cool air in.

OK so I'll install the fan of the AIO as an exhaust and install two fans in the top of my case as an intake. Is that right?

 

[raisonjohn]

Thanks!
Should I mount the fan as an intake or an exhaust?

Mount the fan as exhaust.

 

[raisonjohn]

OK so I'll install the fan of the AIO as an exhaust and install two fans in the top of my case as an intake. Is that right?

Front = Intake
Bottom (if any) = Intake
Rear = Exhaust
Top = Exhaust

 

[HOonix]

OK so I'll install the fan of the AIO as an exhaust and install two fans in the top of my case as an intake. Is that right?

Front = Intake
Bottom (if any) = Intake
Rear = Exhaust
Top = Exhaust

Thanks for helping!