CPU Cooler - Push or Pull?

Resident · 11 Jun 2012 at 02:08

At the moment I'm running the stock cooler supplied by AMD with my processor.

It's current setup is blowing air into the heatsink (I'll call this push) however the cooler only sits about 2 inch away from my 120mm exhaust fan and is taking air from the air stream of the exhaust to cool the heatsink.

Would it be better to turn the fan over so that it's pulling air from the heatsink and into the airstream of the exhaust?

Would that create a better cooling option?

Sorry about the crudeness but I did a quick sketch to illustrate what I mean.

Justintime · 11 Jun 2012 at 02:16

You'll probably find pull method will increase temps at best with that sink, i don't think i've ever seen a pull method that worked, the sink probably gets more from being cooled directly by the fan, it probably couldn't pull the hot air at a fast enough rate to equal that.

Resident · 11 Jun 2012 at 10:03

Justintime said:
You'll probably find pull method will increase temps at best with that sink, i don't think i've ever seen a pull method that worked, the sink probably gets more from being cooled directly by the fan, it probably couldn't pull the hot air at a fast enough rate to equal that.

Ok. Thanks for the answer.

My temps aren't bad I just thought it might make them better.

Might look at fitting one of those all-in-one hydro-coolers.

j.col · 11 Jun 2012 at 11:14

Resident said:
Might look at fitting one of those all-in-one hydro-coolers.

are you overclocking?
as you can get decent air coolers for £15-£25 that will be a lot better and quieter than what you already have.

doyll · 11 Jun 2012 at 11:24

What j.col said.

all-in-one hydro-coolers
are mostly smoke and mirrors. Air coolers are simpler, cheaper, quieter and just as good. Only H100 is in same league as top air.. maybe 1-2c cooler. Component build water systems are better but cost at least 3 times what best air coolers cost.

Resident · 11 Jun 2012 at 16:18

j.col said:
are you overclocking?
as you can get decent air coolers for £15-£25 that will be a lot better and quieter than what you already have.

Not yet. I'm still fairly hesitant at adding water-cooling and I'd like to be confident that I'd built a proper water-cooled setup before I start with over-clocking.

I mentioned the all-in-ones because I think that'd start to alleviate my hesitancy as a first step & OC do a fairly cheap one to get me started

>This one<

Not sure that's made any real sense to you guys