Define R3 - Extra Fan's advice

Tazzfalcon · 31 Mar 2011 at 12:39

Hi all,

I'm considering getting a Fractal Design R3 Silver Arrow (McLaren all the way!

)

The only thing I’m not sure about having changed my mind from a full tower BitFenix Venom (other than fitting my 6950 into it, although I’m pretty sure it will!) is the airflow.

The R3 only comes with two 120mm fans but has the option for 4 more

1x extra front
2x extra top
1x extra bottom

I wouldn’t want (for noise reasons) and can’t afford more than two extra fans and I wondered if anyone could explain a logical hierarchy for adding extra fans into the case.

i.e. ‘Add a top one first because of X, and then a bottom one because of Y etc etc.’

Also should I go for more Fractal fans or are there better/quieter/cheaper fans that I should consider instead?

Thanks for your help

Evil^ · 31 Mar 2011 at 13:17

I had mine like this for a bit mate but went for quiet in the end.

Front 2 intakes
back out, top back out

The above worked out quite well, but i was using this with a H50

now with a dilver arrow I have no chance squeezing one in the top XD

I did stab a extra one on the side as an intake but with being in a confined space it didn't work out so well (as it pumped in the warm air coming out of the back/top).

Tazzfalcon · 31 Mar 2011 at 13:33

Evil^ said:
The above worked out quite well, but i was using this with a H50 now with a dilver arrow I have no chance squeezing one in the top XD

How's the noise with one of those in there? I was thinking about upgrading my CPU cooler at the same time - possibly not to that level though...

Why'd you switch from the H50?

Evil^ · 31 Mar 2011 at 13:41

Tazzfalcon said:
How's the noise with one of those in there? I was thinking about upgrading my CPU cooler at the same time - possibly not to that level though...

Why'd you switch from the H50?

With the way and the fans and the place i had it just didnt work out

Ie: warm air would then be sucked in by the side, first thing it would go through is the push and pull setup i had on the h50 so would just keep it running warm unfortunately (My pc is in a "cupboard" type area) so like i said the warm air exausted stays in the area unfortunately.

Its silent with the Silver Arrow in though not bad at all, close fit XD

Tazzfalcon · 31 Mar 2011 at 13:43

Evil^ said:
Its silent with the Silver Arrow in though not bad at all, close fit XD

So Damn Tempting!!!!

Evil^ · 31 Mar 2011 at 13:53

http://img831.imageshack.us/f/dscf4811i.jpg/
http://img39.imageshack.us/i/dscf4810r.jpg/

Tazzfalcon · 31 Mar 2011 at 14:55

Evil^ said:
http://img831.imageshack.us/f/dscf4811i.jpg/
http://img39.imageshack.us/i/dscf4810r.jpg/

Wow - what cpu/socket are you using?

I keep reading conflicting info on mounting CPU coolers horizontally on AM3 boards.

Looking at a Titan Fenrir Evo.

Ryan-3 · 31 Mar 2011 at 18:37

I have 2 Front, 1 back, 1 rear top & a one in the bottom too

All temps seem real good, noise isn't bad either

Tazzfalcon · 1 Apr 2011 at 13:09

I've pulled the trigger on the R3. Undecided about CPU cooler at this stage.

Now starting to panic about space if I ever get an AM3+ board and 2nd 6950... doh!

Unbreakable · 1 Apr 2011 at 17:39

Im using 2 front intakes, 1 lower intake, 1 rear exhaust and 2 top exhausts. Iv tried a few different combinations with simular results.

If I was to only use 4 fans I would probably go with 2 front intakes, 1 rear exhaust and 1 top exhaust.

Tazzfalcon · 1 Apr 2011 at 19:09

Unbreakable said:
If I was to only use 4 fans I would probably go with 2 front intakes, 1 rear exhaust and 1 top exhaust.

I've ordered a couple of extra Fractal Silent Series 120mm fans and will probably adopt the above suggested setup.

I've an Akasa 120mm Blue LED in my current case that gives good airflow but won't be as quiet as the Fractals, I can add it in at the bottom if the temps aren't as good as I hope they will be.

Thanks a lot!

CaptainUnlikely · 2 Apr 2011 at 17:52

Personally, I would go with a front intake, bottom intake, rear exhaust and top exhaust. The bottom intake really does make a difference to the GPU temperature, assuming of course you're not placing the computer on carpet or something similar.
I'd also have the top front spot populated with a fan rather than the bottom if I had to choose one or the other, as the top would get cool air to the CPU cooler more directly.

I have an R2 with Sharkoon 2000rpm fans all round on a Lamptron FC2 fan controller, with an IFX-14 (same as the Silver Arrow) and a San Ace, it's very very quiet indeed even with a 470 in there, and the temperatures are great.

Some AMD coolers won't mount in the "normal" way, i.e. with the fan blowing front to back, but it does depend on the cooler. Either way, with a top exhaust fan it shouldn't make much difference to your temperatures or noise levels, but if it bothers you just check their installation instructions first, they're usually available at the manufacturer's website in a PDF.

Finally, as far as I know no cooler will block PCI-E slots if that's what you're worried about in terms of space.

Hope this helps a little.

AssaTM · 2 Apr 2011 at 21:05

Since Corsair recommend the H50, H70 etc to pull air in from the back, that would then mean it's best to exhaust air at the front, but with this kind of case with all the acoustic etc padding, wouldnt that then become a problem? or is exhausting air at the back with a pre filled water cooler just a few degrees difference?

Evil^ · 3 Apr 2011 at 12:37

Tazzfalcon said:
Wow - what cpu/socket are you using?

I keep reading conflicting info on mounting CPU coolers horizontally on AM3 boards.

Looking at a Titan Fenrir Evo.

using it with a Q6600

I was thinking about mounting the h50 on the side panel at one point that would leave the top fans for exaust and the front for intake though i never got round to it :/

CaptainUnlikely · 3 Apr 2011 at 17:55

AssaTM said:
Since Corsair recommend the H50, H70 etc to pull air in from the back, that would then mean it's best to exhaust air at the front, but with this kind of case with all the acoustic etc padding, wouldnt that then become a problem? or is exhausting air at the back with a pre filled water cooler just a few degrees difference?

The acoustic padding doesn't really make a difference to the temperatures, it's not as much of an insulator as people tend to make out.

Intake vs. exhaust with a H50/70 doesn't usually make a whole lot of difference, though it depends how the cooling is set up. I wouldn't exhaust out of the front with an R3 as there's a fair bit of air resistance with the dust filters and door. Personally I'd have the front intaking, and the H50/70 and the spare Fractal fan replaced by the cooler doing opposites - i.e. if the Corsair was intaking have the top fan exhausting, or if the Corsair was exhausting have the top fan intaking. This should give you the best overall temperatures.

The Corsair units, and similar models like the Antec Kuhler and Coolit Domino, usually work best in a high air flow environment, such as in the Antec 902. They don't tend to be as good in a case designed for silence like the Fractals, I'd advise to steer clear and pick up a decent air cooler. You'll get better temperatures, likely lower noise, and the case fits high end air coolers so space shouldn't be a concern. Something like a Megahalem or IFX will cool any CPU out there just as well or better than a prefilled water cooler like those, and is usually cheaper to boot plus it looks better without their tubes trailing everywhere IMO.

Sorry if that's a little OT here.

havok · 7 Apr 2011 at 11:12

Is there a dust filter on the bottom fan intake?

CaptainUnlikely · 7 Apr 2011 at 20:23

There is.

DWorrall · 7 Apr 2011 at 22:49

havok said:
Is there a dust filter on the bottom fan intake?

Yep, to the original post:

There are 2 fan sockets in the front, two on top, one on the back and one on the side. You missed the side out (i assume the regular and XL have side moduvents, i personally have the regular sized version)