Cooling Bitfenix Shinobi Core USD 3.0 Case

philmo

philmo

philmo

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Following very complicated past thread which answered all of my issues, I have some more questions if anyone can help.

I have Bitfenix Shinobi Core USD 3.0 Case, in which includes:

mobo - Gigabyte Z77-D3H
GPU - GeForce GTX 670 Windforce
CPU - i5-3570K 3.40GHz
Cooler - Hyper 612S CPU

Some confusion based on advise of what fans would come with case, now know NONE. So ordered:

1 x Zaward Golf II Fan 140mm PWM ZG2-140B (for TOP (rear) - exhaust)
2 x Zaward Golf II Fan 120mm PWM ZG2-120B (1 for FRONT air in, 1 for REAR - exhaust).

Now I cannot fit 140mm into TOP (rear) as cable on mobo ATX_12V obscures space, and I cannot move it. I am concerned that if I move the 140mm fan further towards the front of the top surface it will simply pull are from the CPU cooler fan, which surely will be counter-productive.

Any further advice please on fan placement.
Note today and for some time I will NOT be overclocking anything.

Any help as ever much apprecaited here - do not want things to get too hot !!.

EDIT. stupid question also - this case has a front panel that seems solid
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/popup_image.php?prodid=CA-048-BX&imgID=0&pID=9667&cat=c435433

Do I have to take this on during usage so air can be drawn in ???
 
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You could try using the front top 140mm as an intake to help feed the cooler and use the other two at front/rear as planned.

If you wanted to expand on that, you could then add another front/bottom intake. You might have to look into using PWM splitters.

Here's an example of the cooling setup I'm planning to order for my Shinobi in the next couple of days:

Zalman Flex Cpu cooler using 2 Thermalright TY-141 fans in push/pull
Front intake: 2 x TY-141
Top front Intake / Bottom intake / Rear Exhaust : 3 x Arctic F12 PWM

All PWM fans divided into three zones using PWM splitters allowing full control over intakes, exhaust and cpu cooler.
The arctics are decent, but are there for budget reasons and will be upgraded in the near future.

There are lots of ways to do it, this is just the way I feel should work well :)

As for the front panel, it does draw air in through the side mesh strips and a bottom grill. Personally, I'm planning to optimize airflow by modding the front and placing a mesh there, but it's probably not strictly necessary.

EDIT: If you're not planning to OC, then you should be just fine with the fans you have. Just flip the top one for intake and you're good to go. Might be a good idea to put a dust filter up there too.
 
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Uncle Petey said:
You could try using the front top 140mm as an intake to help feed the cooler and use the other two at front/rear as planned.

If you wanted to expand on that, you could then add another front/bottom intake. You might have to look into using PWM splitters.

Here's an example of the cooling setup I'm planning to order for my Shinobi in the next couple of days:

Zalman Flex Cpu cooler using 2 Thermalright TY-141 fans in push/pull
Front intake: 2 x TY-141
Top front Intake / Bottom intake / Rear Exhaust : 3 x Arctic F12 PWM

All PWM fans divided into three zones using PWM splitters allowing full control over intakes, exhaust and cpu cooler.
The arctics are decent, but are there for budget reasons and will be upgraded in the near future.

There are lots of ways to do it, this is just the way I feel should work well :)

As for the front panel, it does draw air in through the side mesh strips and a bottom grill. Personally, I'm planning to optimize airflow by modding the front and placing a mesh there, but it's probably not strictly necessary.

EDIT: If you're not planning to OC, then you should be just fine with the fans you have. Just flip the top one for intake and you're good to go. Might be a good idea to put a dust filter up there too.
Click to expand...


Many thanks, might give the top fan change a go. Tonight I will double check fan spaces free - and order more fans as necessary.

I have connected 2 fans, how do I access the PWM control feature which I understand is applicable to my Mobo and fans. For now just connected I presume they are running at full speed constant ?.

Again - thanks.
 
No problem mate. I'm no cooling guru, these are just the current conclusions I've reached during the course of my own research and will be subject to further experimentation.

As for PWM, looking at the OcUK specs for your mobo I'm not sure if you have more than one 4pin fan header (CPU). It says '3 System fan headers' which sound like 3pin headers to me.
If that's the case, then seeing as your cooler uses a 3pin fan (according to OcUK specs), stick that in a system fan socket and grab a 2 way pwm splitter http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-071-AK (and maybe a 4pin extension cable) to attach your Zawards to the 4pin socket.
You should be able to control PWM fans via the software that came with your mobo, though I'm not familiar with Gigabyte's way of doing things.

If you want to add more fans anyway, then grab a five way PWM splitter like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-079-AK and control the whole case fan group as one.
When using PWM splitters, it's best to use identical fans. You'll probably get away with having the 140mm in the group though.

If you find the noise of the Zawards to be acceptable at full speed, then leave them as they are.
 
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Uncle Petey said:
No problem mate. I'm no cooling guru, these are just the current conclusions I've reached during the course of my own research and will be subject to further experimentation.

As for PWM, looking at the OcUK specs for your mobo I'm not sure if you have more than one 4pin fan header (CPU). It says '3 System fan headers' which sound like 3pin headers to me.
If that's the case, then seeing as your cooler uses a 3pin fan (according to OcUK specs), stick that in a system fan socket and grab a 2 way pwm splitter http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-071-AK (and maybe a 4pin extension cable) to attach your Zawards to the 4pin socket.
You should be able to control PWM fans via the software that came with your mobo, though I'm not familiar with Gigabyte's way of doing things.

If you want to add more fans anyway, then grab a five way PWM splitter like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-079-AK and control the whole case fan group as one.
When using PWM splitters, it's best to use identical fans. You'll probably get away with having the 140mm in the group though.

If you find the noise of the Zawards to be acceptable at full speed, then leave them as they are.
Click to expand...

There are 4 fan headers (1 of which is for CPU fan). They are all 4 pin though !

Where do I control the PWM from ??? cheers
 
Well that's great! You have a lot more room for configuration.

PWM control should come via software included with your motherboard. Asus' version would be called AI Suite (Fan Xpert), I have no idea about Gigabyte.
 
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Uncle Petey said:
Well that's great! You have a lot more room for configuration.

PWM control should come via software included with your motherboard. Asus' version would be called AI Suite (Fan Xpert), I have no idea about Gigabyte.
Click to expand...

I see, I have Gigabyte CD - nervous of installing over drivers that I got direct from their site. Can anyone advise what it is specifcally I have to install to gain access to PWM controls. I have Gigabyte Z77-D3H.

tks
 
Below is an image of my case, this shows (sorry for rubbish drawings!) fan options I am considering going with, following various advice from this forum. I have already fitted 1 front middle 120mm and 1 rear 120mm exhaust.

opencasepiceditted.jpg

By philmo999 at 2012-07-31

Note - I cannot fit a fan in the area marked "X" as wires from Mono get in the way.

Al I am not sure about the TOP 140mm fan, should this blow in or exhaust ?. Was thinking if exhaust - would this not just draw air away from CPU fan ?. if used for air in it leaves me with just 1 x 120mm exhaust at back.

Also on the case side window as well as the vent there are what look like fixing holes, can this take a fan:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Any help would be very much appreciated.
 
What you've drawn looks fine, surprised about the top rear fan mount.

If the side panel takes a 140mm fan then I would put the one you've drawn in at the top, on the side instead providing there's enough clearance above the gfx card.

Even when you start looking at oc cpu it will be the cpu temp that restricts ability to raise oc rather than the temp of the cpu cooler.

With all the hype around ivy I was expecting the cpu cooler to get real hot but its the chip thats a pain, the cooler is pretty easy to keep cool.
 
thenewoc said:
What you've drawn looks fine, surprised about the top rear fan mount.

If the side panel takes a 140mm fan then I would put the one you've drawn in at the top, on the side instead providing there's enough clearance above the gfx card.

Even when you start looking at oc cpu it will be the cpu temp that restricts ability to raise oc rather than the temp of the cpu cooler.

With all the hype around ivy I was expecting the cpu cooler to get real hot but its the chip thats a pain, the cooler is pretty easy to keep cool.
Click to expand...


Thanks.

I think the fixing holes on the clear side are for 120mm, but will double check.
Am surprised as everywhere I have read does not show this as taking a fan.

I do have 2 x 120mm fans on their way, so guess I can add one of these to the clear side - and the other as marked at front lower.
 
I have the exact same PSU in my Shinobi. If you flip it so the fan draws air from the vent underneath, you'll be able to fit a 120mm fan next to it as the 24pin mobo cable will be at the tray side. The 8pin cable is a bit of a stretch, but it will reach. The two 6+2pin cables can easily go around the fan.
Mine's on a hard floor though, If your case is sitting on carpet, then maybe leave it as it is.
I also put the HDD up in the 5.25" Bay converter to clear out the lower half for better airflow too.

I'll post a pic of my setup shortly to help explain it better.

Saying all that though, a bottom intake isn't absolutely necessary. You should be just fine with the way you've got it.
 
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Yep, sounds ample. Mind how you fit the side fan if you use rubber fan pins as they take some pulling and could split the plastic.

I only have two 140mm Zaward PWM case fans running at the moment as I'm waiting on a splitter cable, but under load at 4.4GHz can maintain around 60c without fans being 100%. Fans almost inaudible until ramping them up when cpu under load.
 
Yeah, he should be all good with what he has.
I only want a bottom fan to fire air at the 5870's intake, as that card runs a little hot. That, and I'm leaning more towards a positive pressure setup.
 
Uncle Petey said:
I have the exact same PSU in my Shinobi. If you flip it so the fan draws air from the vent underneath, you'll be able to fit a 120mm fan next to it as the 24pin mobo cable will be at the tray side. The 8pin cable is a bit of a stretch, but it will reach. The two 6+2pin cables can easily go around the fan.
Mine's on a hard floor though, If your case is sitting on carpet, then maybe leave it as it is.
I also put the HDD up in the 5.25" Bay converter to clear out the lower half for better airflow too.

I'll post a pic of my setup shortly to help explain it better.

Saying all that though, a bottom intake isn't absolutely necessary. You should be just fine with the way you've got it.
Click to expand...


Thanks, would really appreciate seeing a picture of your set-up.
My case sits on a hard surface of a cabinet - of which I have stripped out all of the inernal partisions so there is air flow each side.

So at the moment my PSU is pulling air in from the top, flipping would pull air from base, and then push it up ? - I guess where top and rear exhaust take care of it.

My issue is also that I cannot fit a fan where I have marked 'x'. So would you suggest I put a fan as I have marked on the top front, and should this be intake or echaust. Have had conflicting advise on this....

Thanks again - and would really like to see a picture of your set-up.
 
The PSU would pull air from underneath and shoot it out of the rear of the PSU, bypassing the case interior.
I'd keep the top front fan where it is. I'm not too sure that having an exhaust in the top left would do much given the rest of the setup... Also not sure why you can't fit one either.

My setups only running 3 iffy fans and a stock cooler right now, with some tasty cooling goodness on the way once I decide on a heatsink. But she's ready to take 'em lol.
Pics shortly.
 
Uncle Petey said:
The PSU would pull air from underneath and shoot it out of the rear of the PSU, bypassing the case interior.
I'd keep the top front fan where it is. I'm not too sure that having an exhaust in the top left would do much given the rest of the setup... Also not sure why you can't fit one either.

My setups only running 3 iffy fans and a stock cooler right now, with some tasty cooling goodness on the way once I decide on a heatsink. But she's ready to take 'em lol.
Pics shortly.
Click to expand...

Have a cable in top left that clashes with a fan, too much hassle to move it.
Guess if I do as suggested with PSU and add side/front fan should be enough anyways. So do you think 1 exhaust (back - upper) will be enough?.
 
With the PSU flipped, there's space for a fan down there. I'm just using the included bitfenix fan at the moment. The 6+2pin cables are just sitting around waiting to be put in permanent position. They could easily follow the fan edge and be tied to the mobo tray or be tied to the inside/outside of the 3.5" bays.

Yes, the SSD is held by one screw, and it's solid :D
All of those fans + cooler are being replaced, and fwiw, both of those large open framed Arctics fit up top with no issues.

pcresize.jpg


philmo said:
Guess if I do as suggested with PSU and add side/front fan should be enough anyways. So do you think 1 exhaust (back - upper) will be enough?.
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
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