Top intake fan useless with a big CPU cooler?

[lazarba]

So I am finishing my build and I really cant decide what cooling setup to go with. My CPU cooler is a massive R1 Ultimate that blocks pretty much the entire upper mobo area , while my GPU is a R9 390 which does run pretty hot, so I really need a good cooling setup. I am going to put a 140mm Cryorig XF or a Thermalright TY141 on the front panel, and another 2 of them on top. But as you can see in the picture below, theres really no point in putting an intake fan above my CPU cooler since it totally blocks the way. The way I see it, the "back" top fan should be exhaust and the "front" top one intake. THis way one of the fans would blow air directly on my CPU intake and GPU, while the other fan would help remove the heat from the case. But is it a good idea to have 1 intake and 1 exhaust fan next to each other? ( It goes without saying that I have a 120mm exhaust fan on the back panel)

http://imgur.com/KKX4HsK

 

[glamdringfh]

I wouldn't recommend alternating an intake and exhaust on top. For best cooling you'll want negative pressure in your case, which in your situation would mean having both top fans as exhaust.

Edit: Here is a link to an awesome Tom's Article on setting up an air cooled PC. I've linked the page directly talking about airflow, but I highly recommend looking over the whole thing!

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooling-air-pressure-heatsink,3058-5.html

 

[lazarba]

I wouldn't recommend alternating an intake and exhaust on top. For best cooling you'll want negative pressure in your case, which in your situation would mean having both top fans as exhaust.

Edit: Here is a link to an awesome Tom's Article on setting up an air cooled PC. I've linked the page directly talking about static pressure, but I highly recommend looking over the whole thing!

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooling-air-pressure-heatsink,3058-5.html

But I also need to cool my GPU somehow , and having both exhaust fans would really help with that

 

[Rogue Leader]

I agree with glamdringfh in that top setup, you shouldn't do that. Does this case allow for a side fan as well?

 

[lazarba]

I agree with glamdringfh in that top setup, you shouldn't do that. Does this case allow for a side fan as well?

It does, I thought this was the obvious solution as well. But dont side fans disrupt the airflow and stuff?

 

[glamdringfh]

No, if you have a side panel as an intake that would be a great solution for you. Again though, I'd recommend trying to achieve negative pressure for best cooling!

 

[Rogue Leader]

I agree with glamdringfh in that top setup, you shouldn't do that. Does this case allow for a side fan as well?

It does, I thought this was the obvious solution as well. But dont side fans disrupt the airflow and stuff?

Having that side fan put more air on to your GPU is key. IMO add the side fan as an intake, and have the 2 tops and rear as exhaust.

For reference my setup has a 200 on front and side for intake, a 200 on top for exhaust and a 120 on back for exhaust, my Crossfired cards are overclocked AND there is a sound card stuck in between them so the fans are partially blocked on my primary card. I still don't come near overheating and barely hit 63 degrees on my primary card.

 

[lazarba]

I agree with glamdringfh in that top setup, you shouldn't do that. Does this case allow for a side fan as well?

It does, I thought this was the obvious solution as well. But dont side fans disrupt the airflow and stuff?

Having that side fan put more air on to your GPU is key. IMO add the side fan as an intake, and have the 2 tops and rear as exhaust.

For reference my setup has a 200 on front and side for intake, a 200 on top for exhaust and a 120 on back for exhaust, my Crossfired cards are overclocked AND there is a sound card stuck in between them so the fans are partially blocked on my primary card. I still don't come near overheating and barely hit 63 degrees on my primary card.

Alright I am sold! Btw , I never really understood how exactly you are supposed to connect a side fan to your mobo? You need a pretty long PWM cable right? And more importantly, how do you open your side panel after you've installed a side fan? Given the side panel is connected to the mobo and all...?

Thanks to the both of you!

 

[Rogue Leader]

I agree with glamdringfh in that top setup, you shouldn't do that. Does this case allow for a side fan as well?

It does, I thought this was the obvious solution as well. But dont side fans disrupt the airflow and stuff?

Having that side fan put more air on to your GPU is key. IMO add the side fan as an intake, and have the 2 tops and rear as exhaust.

For reference my setup has a 200 on front and side for intake, a 200 on top for exhaust and a 120 on back for exhaust, my Crossfired cards are overclocked AND there is a sound card stuck in between them so the fans are partially blocked on my primary card. I still don't come near overheating and barely hit 63 degrees on my primary card.

Alright I am sold! Btw , I never really understood how exactly you are supposed to connect a side fan to your mobo? You need a pretty long PWM cable right? And more importantly, how do you open your side panel after you've installed a side fan? Given the side panel is connected to the mobo and all...?

Thanks to the both of you!

The cable it comes with is pretty long, I am usually able to open the panel enough to reach in and unplug it, just make sure you plug it into a fan plug thats easy to get to.

Your other option is to use a molex connector to your PSU, I'm not a fan of that though because it runs at full speed and can be noisy

 

[lazarba]

The cable it comes with is pretty long, I am usually able to open the panel enough to reach in and unplug it, just make sure you plug it into a fan plug thats easy to get to.

Your other option is to use a molex connector to your PSU, I'm not a fan of that though because it runs at full speed and can be noisy

You think I will have any trouble connecting it to a Fan controller?

 

[Rogue Leader]

The cable it comes with is pretty long, I am usually able to open the panel enough to reach in and unplug it, just make sure you plug it into a fan plug thats easy to get to.

Your other option is to use a molex connector to your PSU, I'm not a fan of that though because it runs at full speed and can be noisy

You think I will have any trouble connecting it to a Fan controller?

You may want to get an extension cable, only because it may be hard to get your hand in there to unplug it. With the extension it will be long enough to move out of the way, or you can just unplug the extension if you need the whole panel gone.

 

[lazarba]

The cable it comes with is pretty long, I am usually able to open the panel enough to reach in and unplug it, just make sure you plug it into a fan plug thats easy to get to.

Your other option is to use a molex connector to your PSU, I'm not a fan of that though because it runs at full speed and can be noisy

You think I will have any trouble connecting it to a Fan controller?

You may want to get an extension cable, only because it may be hard to get your hand in there to unplug it. With the extension it will be long enough to move out of the way, or you can just unplug the extension if you need the whole panel gone.

Thanks mate, will do!