Arranging Case Fans?

[petertr2000]

Hi all, wondering if you could help me to sort my case airflow out

I have a Asus M5A97 EVO R2.0 installed in a BitFenix Merc Alpha case - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-010-BX

I have a Corsair H80 closed loop watercooler, which is attached to the rear of the case and is set to vent IN to the case (as per their instructions)

I have a HD7850 installed, which I assume would benefit from good airflow, but its the 2 large motherboard heatsinks that I'm most worried about (Northbridge and VRM) - they get VERY hot (the case is currently open, with barely any actual air-flow)

So this is the case itself

The H80 site in the top right corner

And this is the board

The large blue heatsink is the VRM, and sits directly underneath the H80 cooler with about a 2cm gap.


I have 3 fan headers and the following mount points:

Front of case - Lower
Rear of case - Upper - Taken by H80 Cooler
Base of case - X2
Top of case - X2
Side of case - X2

Where and what alignment should I go for for my 3 fans?

Thanks.

 

[Make]

Hi,

Turn the H80 to vent "Out".

Then fill in the front slot, and the "base" (bottom) slot, both blowing in. If you have a third fan left as you say, add one to the top of the case, at the back, venting out.

Then you have a traditional "In from the front/floor", "Out from back and top" configuration; hot air rises, so this will fix all your problems with the motherboard temps, while still giving plenty of air to the GPU (Bottom fan) and generally getting air pushed in (Front fan).

 

[Frankiemac]

I have never found any real difference to venting in or out with those AIO coolers depsite what the manufactures say. I always vent out and have a traditional flow throught the case and never get overheating problems.

 

[petertr2000]

I can vent the H80 out - no problem (as long as the crappy screw threads don't give up on me, as they are already threatening to do!)


The problem still seems to be in getting any airflow over that VRM. The GPU will block all of the incoming air from the front and bottom fans.

 

[Make]

I can vent the H80 out - no problem (as long as the crappy screw threads don't give up on me, as they are already threatening to do!)


The problem still seems to be in getting any airflow over that VRM. The GPU will block all of the incoming air from the front and bottom fans.

Don't worry, the GPU will not eat that much air that 2 fans wouldn't also push enough for the VRM's. Remember, as you'd have the H80 pushing out plus one on top of it, there will be airflow that comes from the front to those fans - how else would they get air

 

[budwozza]

Definitely put the AIO blowing out.
Then as well as 1 x 120 on the top, I would go with 2 x 120mm fans at the front - and possibly one on the side if things are really getting hot.

 

[petertr2000]

Had some fun today before coming into work.

- Moved the 2 x HDDs to the very base of the case (they were in the middle)
- Unplugged every cable, and routed everything properly, there's barely a wire visible now

Beforehand, the GPU was only ~4cm from the back of the HDD, and there were wires galore in that gap - so there was barely any airflow from the lower to the upper half of the case.


- I've reversed the airflow from the H80 so it is now exhausting air from the case to the outside - this is in the upper-rear position (where the original case fan was located)

- I've moved the front fan to the higher of the 2 front mounting points. This fan is aimed right in the middle of the PCIe GPU slot - so air is being pushed into both halves of the case - i.e. finally some airflow for those motherboard passive heatinks

* I've placed my remaining fan in the base of the fan, blowing air up into the case


I'm quite happy that this is the best way to go for now. I could add a 4th fan on the top vent position, but I'm not sure what that would achieve - it could pull the airflow out of the case and stop it reaching the VRM heatsink. If I blow in from that position, it would cause turbulence, I think.


Any comments?

 

[petertr2000]

Definitely put the AIO blowing out.
Then as well as 1 x 120 on the top, I would go with 2 x 120mm fans at the front - and possibly one on the side if things are really getting hot.

If I buy another fan, I will probably run 2 x front fans on full 12V. They aren't up against the case, so they're likely to be very quiet even at full belt.

 

[Make]

Your airflow is probably very optimal now; no point wasting 13 pounds for a new fan that might affect the temps by 1c or might not. You don't need to fill every slot with yours spec.

 

[foster grant]

No pictures ?