Cooler orientation?

M1k3H · 23 Jan 2011 at 16:51

I'm gonna re-apply thermal paste onto the CPU cooler in a couple of days and I remembered reading once about the orientation of my cooler in a case with both top and back exhaust fans, that it's better having the top exhaust.
So i took some time and made some paint pictures with my current setup of fans/hardware so that you can choose which one should be better on CPU temps and in general.
I'm not quite sure about the GFX cooling, but I suppose it just draws air out.

So on with the drawings.
1) This is how I currently have my cooler oriented.

2) This is how I'm thinking of putting the cooler when I re-apply thermal paste.

So, what do you guys think would be best?

For the CPU cooler I'm using a Noctua Fan (standart that comes with the cooler) as a push and an Apache as pull.
The middle fan is a Noctua as well.

RJC · 23 Jan 2011 at 16:54

I personally would keep as in option 1 your original option.

The PSU will draw air out of the system.

M1k3H · 23 Jan 2011 at 16:57

RJC said:
I personally would keep as in option 1 your original option.

The PSU will draw air out of the system.

I thought so too, but there's only a fan on top slowly spinning (as its heatpipe cooled at the back) and it just seems to blow air out when I hover my hand above it.

LiamJ · 23 Jan 2011 at 16:59

Option 1.

Having it the other way will draw hot air from your GPUs through the CPU cooler.

M1k3H · 23 Jan 2011 at 17:06

LiamJ said:
Option 1.

Having it the other way will draw hot air from your GPUs through the CPU cooler.

Yes that was my main concern with way number 2.
But when I read about way number 2 it's main advantage was the fact of a more powerful 200mm fan pulling out hot air, while the GPU is getting air out anyway.
Arrr maybe I have to start putting my Engineering knowledge about flow and turbulance into work and prove this mathematically :cool:

LiamJ · 23 Jan 2011 at 17:32

Don't bother, it's not worth your time.