Fans in front or behind AIO radiator?

Nikumba · 2 May 2018 at 10:59

Looking at changing my Corsair H75 AIO for a for a H100i in my Corsair 240Air, would like to get the H110i but belive its too big to fit

At the moment on my H75 I have fan on both sides of the radiator mounted at the front of my case, with the H100i am I better having the two fans mounted behind the radiator so pulling air over the rad, or in front of the rad pushing the air onto it?

Or have fans on both sides?

Thanks

Kimbie

Broady21.pb · 2 May 2018 at 11:16

Hi,

Lots of people will say put them behind and some will say in front of the rad. I use the push/pull setup myself, as this is what I find works best for me. If you place the fans behind the rad, this apparently causes less dust to build-up on the rad? Then lots of people will place fans in front of the rad if they are led fans so it looks nice. I would just keep it the way that works best for you.

doyll · 2 May 2018 at 12:19

Honestly, the best way is to not use a CLC, get a good air cooler and setup your case to flow air properly. Out of box cases are rarely setup to flow air needed by the system we put in them. If you are interested I can suggest some guides to cooler size and cooling ability as well as how to setup case airflow.

Nikumba · 2 May 2018 at 12:54

I have used an AIO since 2014 when I installed it and never had any issues with it, but looking to RGB up my case so was looking at changing the AIO at the same time, but happy to hear your suggestions about using air cooler opposed to an AIO

Thanks

doyll · 2 May 2018 at 14:33

The best air coolers all within a few degrees of each other in no specific order are

NH-D15
NH-D15S
NH-U14S
PH-TC14PE
R1 Ultimate
R1 Universal
Silver Arrow IB-E
TRUE Spirit 140 Power
Le Grand Macho RT
Fuma
Olymp
Genesis
Dark Rock 3
Dark Rock 4
NH-D14
Tisis

And there are more.

Phanteks Halos are made to use with normal fans:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=phanteks+halos

And/or you could use RGB LED lighting strips

Here are links to many dimensions and cooling ability. These lists are a couple years old so missing some of the newer coolers. Also keep in mind stock TDP is 65-130 watt and normal use overclocking raises it to 200-250 watts. Last link is guide to optimizing case airflow.
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...e-best-air-cpu-cooler.18597870/#post-26264940
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...e-best-air-cpu-cooler.18597870/#post-26264943
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...-i-put-my-temp-sensor.18564223/#post-26159770

CLCs are super cheap built factory sealed with no way to maintain or repair and have pumps moving 40-60 L/h (hard to say for sure because they don't publish pump specs) and aluminum radiators. AIOs that are not CLC have copper radiators, pumps rated 72-100 L/h with one rated 550 L/h. For comparison the most popular custom loop pump is rated 1500 L/h. CLC aluminum radiators have very dense fin count and high performance fans to move the high volume of air needed to transfer heat to air and are quite loud. If a CLC fans are slowed down to same noise level as air coolers they usually are not as good cooling. When a CLC dies (99.99% of the time it's pump failure) there is no cooling so system cannot be used, .. and a new cooler is not cheap. Which an air cooler even if fan dies the system will cool at low load and any fan can be held on with rubber-bands until suitable replacement is in hand .. new fan is not very expensive. AIOs & CLCs used to have up to 5 year warranty, but most are now 1 or 2 years. Corsair is still 5 year, but does not cover damage caused by leaking unless required by law and pro-rated the warranty less 10% per year of use. based on how long CLC lasted with owner likely paying shipping.

Corsair makes it very clear they are only liable for what the law says they have to do. Below is quoted from their warranty:

Limitation of Liability
CORSAIR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, OR DATA (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT) OR COMMERCIAL LOSS FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON YOUR PRODUCT EVEN IF CORSAIR HAS BEEN ADVISED PREVIOUSLY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some local laws do not allow the exclusion or limitation of special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation or exclusion may not apply in your jurisdiction.

Exclusion of Implied Warranties
EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ON THIS HARDWARE PRODUCT IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED Some local laws do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty may last, so this limitation may not apply in your jurisdiction.

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/warranty

Nikumba · 2 May 2018 at 16:00

@doyll Thanks for the info, I have not run into any issues with my AIO but it is now coming up to 5 years old, so both it and the thermal paste could do with an update.

I will take a look at the coolers you said above, but I am limited as some tower coolers will not fit height wise into my Corsair Air240. Edit - I have looked through the list you suggested and none of them will fit as limited clearance, approx 125mm.

Looking at your case air flow, I think I would be best having two intakes at the front, then a rear exhaust, my GPU is reference cooler so as I understand vents the heat to the outside, the top of my case is vented but will not use fans there as my cat often sleeps on my computer so would make fans rather useless I would think.

Now just need to pick the fans to use, been looking at the corsair ones, but seems a bit of a minefield atm

Thanks

Kimbie

doyll · 2 May 2018 at 16:57

Nikumba said:
@doyll Thanks for the info, I have not run into any issues with my AIO but it is now coming up to 5 years old, so both it and the thermal paste could do with an update.

I will take a look at the coolers you said above, but I am limited as some tower coolers will not fit height wise into my Corsair Air240

Looking at your case air flow, I think I would be best having two intakes at the front, then a rear exhaust, my GPU is reference cooler so as I understand vents the heat to the outside, the top of my case is vented but will not use fans there as my cat often sleeps on my computer so would make fans rather useless I would think.

Now just need to pick the fans to use, been looking at the corsair ones, but seems a bit of a minefield atm

Thanks

Kimbie

Corsair says Air 240 only has 120mm of CPU clearance. While there are a few tower coolers 120mm or less there are not many. What motherboard and RAM do you have? Once I know what they are I can maybe suggest a good air cooler, but with Air 240 you might be better off staying with an AIO that is not CLC. Still not as dependable and more expensive than air, but better than CLCs.

Air 240 2x front are probably best. Depends on what cooler is used. Yes, with reference blower style GPU it's mostly heated rear exhaust, but some heated air does leak inside of case. Fans on top might make you cat mad at you too.

Ross Thomson · 2 May 2018 at 17:19

Nikumba said:
I have used an AIO since 2014 when I installed it and never had any issues with it, but looking to RGB up my case so was looking at changing the AIO at the same time, but happy to hear your suggestions about using air cooler opposed to an AIO

Thanks

given your small case, an AIO is going to be much better than an air cooler in your case. There are plenty of 240mm AIO to choose from. How much space do you have where the radiator mounts? If your H75 was at the front then I suggest a cryorig A40 ultimate. 38.5mm thick rad with 25mm fans. Air won't cool as well as the AIO particularly in your case.

AiiR · 2 May 2018 at 17:52

I had an Air 240 for about 3 years, great case. Best air cooler you'll get is the BeQuiet Dark Rock TF and even with that you need to remove the top fan.

AIO is definitely best option in this case, mount the fans infront so they intake cool air and push it over the radiator. This will give you the best temperatures but you'll want to mount some 120mm fans in the bottom to intake some cool air for the GPU otherwise your GPU will get incredibly hot.

Corsair Nick · 2 May 2018 at 19:09

Nikumba said:
Looking at changing my Corsair H75 AIO for a for a H100i in my Corsair 240Air, would like to get the H110i but belive its too big to fit

At the moment on my H75 I have fan on both sides of the radiator mounted at the front of my case, with the H100i am I better having the two fans mounted behind the radiator so pulling air over the rad, or in front of the rad pushing the air onto it?

Or have fans on both sides?

Thanks

Kimbie

Kimbie, you can run an H100i in push or pull fashion within the Air240 case. Depending on the graphics card length, you can also run a push-pull setup like I do for my personal system at home. If you plan to run fans in the top, it will be a tight squeeze, and the front most fan will rub the coolant lines. Let me know if you have any questions, and I can help you out.

MissChief · 2 May 2018 at 19:25

Mine are setup to blow through rather than suck through but they blow into the case. The air is quite warm but I've never noticed any bad temps at all.

doyll · 2 May 2018 at 19:47

Why go to H100 with 240mm radiator when H75 with 120 radiator has been cooling sytem just fine for all these years?

Nikumba, you say your H75 has cooled well, so something like the be quiet! Dark Rock TF cooler Aiir suggested with similar cooling would be a good choice . assuming your motherboard and RAM will clear it.

Ross Thomson · 2 May 2018 at 21:05

run the fans slower therefore quieter.

Nikumba · 2 May 2018 at 21:34

I have a Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H and 4 sticks of Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey, and just been playing world of warships and pubg for several hours most my CPU has got to was 62oC

So the H75 is doing fine for the moment, but its been going for nearly 5 years now, so its done well.

Kimbie

doyll · 3 May 2018 at 11:05

Nikumba said:
I have a Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H and4 sticks of Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey, and just been playing world of warships and pubg for several hours most my CPU has got to was 62oC

So the H75 is doing fine for the moment, but its been going for nearly 5 years now, so its done well.

Kimbie

GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 has 74mm center CPU to near side of PCIe socket
Kingston HyperX Genesis is 30mm tall.

With 120mm CPU clearance small tower coolers like NH-U9L will fit.

Or down flow coolers like be quiet! Dark Rock TF, Phanteks PH-TC14S and NH-C14S will fit without top fan. Cryorig C1 will fit with top fan. With top of case vented they should work well.

Pocah · 6 May 2018 at 11:13

The only difference is that when fans are mounted on a side so aire hiots the radiator first then the radiator acts as a filter stopping dust getting to the fans. So the fans stay a little cleaner. But other than that it doesn't make any difference. Having fans on both sides increases the flow because rather than just have positive or negative pressure on one side of the radiator you have both. So the pressure difference is increased. This CAN be a good thing for a radiator depending on what pressure your fans create and how much cooling you actually need. I am always mount fans on just ONE side first and only if I am not happy with the performance do I try mounting them on the other side as well. And it may or may not make any difference at all depending on various circumstances. Often it's better to just buy a higher pressure fan if there is a problem.

doyll · 6 May 2018 at 12:37

The radiator functions as an airflow straightener so the push/pull of 2 fans does increase the single fan pressure rating so they overcome the resistance of radiator better which results is an increase in airflow, especially at lower rpm. At lower speeds a single fan's ability to overcome resistance is much lower compared to radiator resistance so having a fan pulling on other side increases overall pressure rating meaning push/pull at low speed will flow more air than single push or pull fan can. The problem is 2x fans make as much or more noise at this lower rpm moving the same amount of air a single fan will move at a little higher speed.

Staking fans without an airflow straightener between them does not improve airflow or pressure rating because the airflow out of 1st fan is spinning out at same angle as fan blades are spinning so 2nd fan is doing almost nothing.

We need to keep in mind the fan noise is dampened by radiator so if fan is inside of case witk radiator between it and case the room will be quieter than if fan is between case and radiator.