I am looking for advice on the airflow system in my first build before I go ahead with it's initial boot. My goal is to achieve negative airflow pressure with this build.
My case, the HAF 912 (not Advanced, btw), allows for:
Front: 2x120mm or 1x200mm
Side: 1x120 or 1x140mm
Top: 2x120mm or 1x200mm
Rear: 1x120mm
Current build:
Mobo: Asus Maximus VI Hero (5 fan headers, but I can use a splitter for more)
CPU: Intel i5 Core 4670k (w/ Arctic 5 Silver paste, full spread method)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo (vertical placement w/ push, not push-pull)
GPU: Asus Radeon R9 270
PSU: Corsair CX750M
Memory: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X (2x4GB)
Case Fans: So far, just a single Cooler Master Megaflow 200mm and the two 120mm stock fans which the HAF 912 came with (I am still shopping for whatever fans I will need to achieve negative pressure and I have no issue with discarding what I currently have).
It currently looks like:
My CPU cooler is the Hyper 212 Evo and it is positioned vertically, with it's single fan pushing air thru the Evo's structure and towards the rear exhaust of the PC case. (I am also wondering if and how, all things considered, this will add to or take away from my goal of a negative pressure airflow system because I've read that you cannot go off of CFM numbers alone).
My GPU, the Asus Radeon R9 270, is just below the CPU Cooler and faces what I would call downwards (the bottom of the chipboard is facing upwards).
The two little fans on this GPU are facing downwards but, or at least I would assume, they blow air up onto the GPU. And that does what? I don't know. Does it just hit the chipboard and flow outward in all directions? I am concerned that the heat from the GPU is just stuck in an airflow dead zone in the lower rear of my case.
Or, since heat is supposed to rise, will it just run off the sides of the chipboard and rise up into the airflow current coming from the front case fan (or fans) and/or the push of the CPU cooler? If this is true, then I assume some of this heat would go through the CPU cooler and anything that escapes will be pulled by the fan (or fans) in the top of the case. I do not know.
And, finally, would putting a 1x120mm (or 140mm) in the side panel help or hurt the situation? (I assume a side panel fan should be intake, but I am open to any theories on a side panel exhaust if it helps in this particular situation).
Or, is the situation bad all around and I should just shop for another case?
P.S. I do intend to better my cable management, but I'm not getting into any further work until I'm ready to install/re-work fans.
My case, the HAF 912 (not Advanced, btw), allows for:
Front: 2x120mm or 1x200mm
Side: 1x120 or 1x140mm
Top: 2x120mm or 1x200mm
Rear: 1x120mm
Current build:
Mobo: Asus Maximus VI Hero (5 fan headers, but I can use a splitter for more)
CPU: Intel i5 Core 4670k (w/ Arctic 5 Silver paste, full spread method)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo (vertical placement w/ push, not push-pull)
GPU: Asus Radeon R9 270
PSU: Corsair CX750M
Memory: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X (2x4GB)
Case Fans: So far, just a single Cooler Master Megaflow 200mm and the two 120mm stock fans which the HAF 912 came with (I am still shopping for whatever fans I will need to achieve negative pressure and I have no issue with discarding what I currently have).
It currently looks like:
My CPU cooler is the Hyper 212 Evo and it is positioned vertically, with it's single fan pushing air thru the Evo's structure and towards the rear exhaust of the PC case. (I am also wondering if and how, all things considered, this will add to or take away from my goal of a negative pressure airflow system because I've read that you cannot go off of CFM numbers alone).
My GPU, the Asus Radeon R9 270, is just below the CPU Cooler and faces what I would call downwards (the bottom of the chipboard is facing upwards).
The two little fans on this GPU are facing downwards but, or at least I would assume, they blow air up onto the GPU. And that does what? I don't know. Does it just hit the chipboard and flow outward in all directions? I am concerned that the heat from the GPU is just stuck in an airflow dead zone in the lower rear of my case.
Or, since heat is supposed to rise, will it just run off the sides of the chipboard and rise up into the airflow current coming from the front case fan (or fans) and/or the push of the CPU cooler? If this is true, then I assume some of this heat would go through the CPU cooler and anything that escapes will be pulled by the fan (or fans) in the top of the case. I do not know.
And, finally, would putting a 1x120mm (or 140mm) in the side panel help or hurt the situation? (I assume a side panel fan should be intake, but I am open to any theories on a side panel exhaust if it helps in this particular situation).
Or, is the situation bad all around and I should just shop for another case?
P.S. I do intend to better my cable management, but I'm not getting into any further work until I'm ready to install/re-work fans.