I will be building up in my new Fractal Design 7XL in a couple of days, I am not too sure which way to mount my 2x360mm radiators. Am tempted to have both as intake or front as intake and top as exhaust. Which would you consider as best for this setup?
Radiator orientation.
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Always intake in my opinion, doesn’t matter front back top bottom, get positive pressure into the case through the rads then maybe one or two exhaust fans.
The rads are always going to work better with ambient airflow through them than any warmer case air.
The rads are always going to work better with ambient airflow through them than any warmer case air.
Not going to be able to do push-pull as I am using quite a few drive sleds, I was thinking second rad, front, in the loop as intake (cooler air) and top as exhaust. Then I think both as intake as I need an internal fan to cool, my LSI RAID card, that thing gets hot just looking at it.
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Whatever you do, don't skip out an exhaust fan if you're going all intake. I added a 2nd rad to my o11d with both as intake and nothing else. Temps got worse until I added a single 120 exhaust fan and then they dropped massively.
Nothing wrong with positive pressure though, it's worked well for me for years and reduces the dust build up to almost none
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Nothing wrong with positive pressure though, it's worked well for me for years and reduces the dust build up to almost none
.I would be tempted to mod the front door on your case to mesh if I had it for a build. I had thought about going all intake on my setup, but decided I wouldn't be getting airflow, but be more like trying to cram air into case and possibly not venting air to create flow. The only way I could see I'd get airflow was having intake and exhausting occurring.
That is very easy to do with this case, just unscrew the door hinges, will see how it goes without doing that to start.
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FYI I have a 7XL and my 420 front rad is intake and 420 top rad is exhaust. I also have a 140 rear rad in exhaust and so I fitted 2 140 fans in the base as intake so I can get at least some "cold air intake" and maintain a positive pressure inside the case.
Due to the amount of drives that I have, I won't be able to add extra fans in the bottom, just the rear 140mm.
Exactly what I did on my Dark Base Pro 900. I folded mesh as such that it holds itself within the door frame. I used some mesh edging to make the top and bottom edges clean.
How I formed the mesh in below spoiler.
Below spoiler is my current setup, you'll see a silent wings 3 1000RPM 140mm pointed at RAM, perhaps you can mount a fan internally pointing at LSI RAID card.
I also slightly modded top panel on my case, cut these blades of plastic behind mesh trim.
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Hello! I was searching for some mods for my Dark Base Pro (v1) and stumbled upon your photos. I really love how you made the front panel door. I was thinking of somehow making something similar with the front and top cover (top cover is more essential since I have my AIO pushing air out that way). Could you give me more details about the whole procedure (materials etc)? I have no experience with that sort of modding. Also no idea what kind of materials I would need.Exactly what I did on my Dark Base Pro 900. I folded mesh as such that it holds itself within the door frame. I used some mesh edging to make the top and bottom edges clean.
How I formed the mesh in below spoiler.
Below spoiler is my current setup, you'll see a silent wings 3 1000RPM 140mm pointed at RAM, perhaps you can mount a fan internally pointing at LSI RAID card.
I also slightly modded top panel on my case, cut these blades of plastic behind mesh trim.
Hello
, I'm glad you liked the mod . It's simple and easy to do mod.I had some AC Ryan black modding mesh from perhaps 18yrs ago laying around, don't know if still available or what the alternative is on market. All I did was measure the height and width of opening after removing stock door. Added to the width as I was gonna fold the mesh around to make C shape on edges. The prior post has a spoiler with image showing how I did it.
The edges at top and bottom I placed some rubber edging, again it was purchased 18yrs ago when I got the mesh for a mod on another case. The edging has a cut in it, so it fits perfecting over the mesh and it makes it a snug tight fit in opening. Again the sides are kept in just by the mesh being a mm or two wider then opening.
Below are some more photos of mesh removed and in position.
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So basically, you removed the door completely. Looks really great! Now I need to look for such a mesh sheet in Athens, Greece where I live. Don't even know where to look, but I'll start with the name you gave me.
Did it improve your intake air?
Did it improve your intake air?
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Door and hinges.
Vastly improved case thermal performance. So mostly definitely intake air flowed better. Also cut the plastic blades on inside of mesh trim on top panel. Improved exhausting from the top rad on my WC setup.
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I'm going to as soon as I get my hands on a Dremel (easy), and the mesh you told me (quite hard to find in Greece).
Sweet, look forward to know how it is for you
. I think that mesh is unavailable even where I live, I bought it ~18yrs ago, just source something similar.
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It is unavailable indeed. The only sheet by AC Ryan (50cm x 50cm) I could find was from a Dutch retailer and it was around 45 EUR including shipping. Silver/white in color so I passed.Sweet, look forward to know how it is for you
We'll see.