Advise on case cooling needed.

Bryan Kortez

Bryan Kortez

Bryan Kortez

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Morning guys.

I need some advise on getting the most out of cooling my PC with as little noise as possible.

Motherboard: Asus Z87-k
CPU: i5 - 4670K @ 4.2GHz
Memory: Kingston HyperX Genesis (2x4GB) 1600MHz
GPU: Powercolor HD5750
PSU: Akasa Cobra Power 650W Modular
Case: Xigmatek Alfar Midi Tower Case - Black/Orange

Soon to be upgrading the graphics card to something like a GTX 760.

I am using 4 x Xigmatek Orange Line 120mm as my system fans. 2 Running off the motherboard, and 2 running at a fixed 7V (Yellow arrows). My CPU cooler is a Prolimatech Panther CPU Cooler.
IMG_0302.jpg


Is this fan layout ok, or is there anything I can do to improve? At full load my CPU temps are between 63-67 degrees. Would I benefit much from a push/pull setup on that cooler?
 
Push-pull usually makes 1-2°c at best apparently. It might be worth trying to put the fan in the top as an intake in front of the CPU cooler, see if it makes any difference.
 
IMG_0283.jpg


I did have it setup like that at one point with air blowing down in front of the CPU cooler. This fan was set at 7V, would that be enough airflow out of a 120mm fan?
 
andy_mk3 said:
Ah :p How about an intake in the bottom?
Click to expand...

Wasn't to sure because of dust intake, and the cables above from the PSU. I guess I could mount another intake fan in the 5.25 bays as I don't have a disk drive in there.

The only problem is, I am running out of places to plug fans in as I don't want to plug them direct to PSU as I don't fancy having the sound of a hurricane on my desk. I'm guessing I could use a Y splitter to plug multiple fans into the motherboard header. They say each header can output 1A (12 W). Will send them an email to confirm though.
 
Both on reviews, and my own testing, a bottom intake is the best thing I ever did. It bridges the gap between the front intakes and the back exhausts, and since hot air rises, it helps the natural circulation. Just buy a Demciflex 140mm filter at the bottom (Magnetic) if you are worried about dust. That should help plenty. The rest of your fan setup is good, unless you can ghetto-mod a fan under the DVD drives as an intake.
 
andy_mk3 said:
I've always had a lower intake fan so not noticed what kind of difference it makes tbh.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing as your Motherboard support 3 system fans and 1 CPU fan, the front, top and bottom fans are running off the motherboard controller? how have you got the 2 CPU cooler fans connected to 1 header?
 
I think all my fans run off a fan controller apart from the bottom one as that's just a molex connector, it's a nice quiet fan though.
 
I never wanted one but it's so damn handy! When idle I can turn all the fans off and just leave the CPU fans at like 600rpm, then when gaming I can ramp them up.

20131012_184008.jpg


E: Found a recent inside pic

20131208_234656.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ahh nice :D

I will have to see what happens when I place my order for my new GFX card, I will prob get click happy and order some more Fans and MAYBE and controller.

Waiting on Asus to get back to me to find out if it's safe to plug more fans into the 4pin Headers. The build in Fan Xpert 2 software seems to work pretty well.
 
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