[SOLVED] SMSN’s

[OldGusChiggins]

I have 2 radiators and need advice on best placement.

Case: Obsidian 500D RGB
CPU Cooler: X73 360 (CPU is 10900k)
GPU Cooler: single 120 (it’s a 2080 ti EVGA FTW hybrid)

X73 only fits on front, so it has to go there, but where should I mount the GPU radiator? In back as another intake or back as exhaust? top? What should other case fans be doing?

Also, I was thinking push pull on both, but not clear if it makes a meaningful difference (any clarity on that would be helpful).

Thanks!

 

[Phaaze88]

1)In the back as exhaust, and the X73 as intake.
2)Beside those 2 coolers, you don't really need any other case fans, but I'll post the following options for top panel fans:
-exhaust, but remove the filter
-intake, but the filter stays
-nothing, filter stays

 

[Karadjgne]

120mm as rear exhaust. 360mm as front intake. Stick 2x 140mm in the top tray as exhaust, they can be set for a lower rpm. You have 2 aios to deal with the 2x real case heat sources, but you'll still need something to move air out of the case for things like the VRM heatsinking etc. Don't need a ton of flow, but you'll need more than a 120mm fan can provide since it's major source of air would have been the top rear fan vent.

Oh, the top dust filter's main purpose isn't for use with intake fans set there, it's really for when the pc is 'off', it prevents most dust from settling in through the giant holes in the ceiling when there's no heat/air being forced out of them.

 

[Phaaze88]

Filters reduce dust intake; they don't completely block it though, so some dust is going to get in.
Leaving the top filter in place with exhaust fans serves to trap more dust between the rad and it's fan, right?

 

[Karadjgne]

Sorta kinda, but in a wierd way. The fans at exhaust get their air from inside the case, so normally any dust they see is the dust that's already gone through the front intakes and crept through cracks etc. Most dust settling onto the rad surface will stay there, like it does on a tabletop, soon as the pc is turned on, exhaust airflow blows it away.

But for those not using a rad, just a rear exhaust, the top/rear IS an intake, it's a major source of closest, highest pressure air for that rear exhaust fan, just as the top/front is more of an exhaust escape for the front intakes. Even with just fans there, dust will still settle on the back of the blades, or bypass them altogether and settle into the case. So that filter does a lot more than act as an intake only filter, it's passive protection.

Because it is an airflow hindrance, it also means less air is drawn in by a sole rear exhaust, making case air more prevalent. Ideally you'd actually fully block those ports and force the rear exhaust to have only case air as provider, such as with the fractal designs.

It's the same concept as drinking water through a straw, if the straw is good you get a mouthful of water, if it's got a hole in it, you get a mouthful of air.