Enthoo primo and 2x 480 rads

bigjimmyauk · 12 Oct 2018 at 23:35

So I've decided I'm going to go overkill for future proofing purposes and install 2x480mm rads

I've already taken some panels off in prep for the dremel coming out tomorrow.

My question is when using 2x 480's would I be better off having both rads blowing into the case with another 5 fans pulling air out or would I be best going the floor rad pulling air in and the top rad taking out?

Picture of the case in question. Ignore the mess it's only just been started lol

CageyH · 13 Oct 2018 at 06:45

Personally, I would fit them in the floor and roof.
This leaves plenty of functionality with the case. You do have two other radiator positions that will accept 240mm rads as well.....

bigjimmyauk · 13 Oct 2018 at 09:57

CageyH said:
Personally, I would fit them in the floor and roof.
This leaves plenty of functionality with the case. You do have two other radiator positions that will accept 240mm rads as well.....

That's what I am doing. I'm just struggling in deciding how to route the air through the case
Most people who do double 480's in the enthoo have both rads taking air out the case. I can't do that with the floor rad as it's sitting on carpet under my desk with no room to raise is up on casters etc.

So the bottom rad will have to pull air into the case.

But the top rad would it be better taking the air from outside the case and blow it in like the bottom one then use 5x140mm fans to suck the warm air out

Or

Have the top rad using the warmer air from inside the case to cool the top radiator and have those 5x140mm fans blowing into the case to keep moving cooler air through it.

LuckyBenski · 13 Oct 2018 at 10:20

If you're struggling to get the case off the carpet I'd be wary of having bottom intake. At best you'll pick up more dust and at worst you won't get any airflow.

CageyH · 13 Oct 2018 at 17:30

Heat also naturally rises, so trying to suck air in through the top will not be as efficient.
I would look to see if the carpet restricts the lower vents. If it does, then forget the 480mm radiator in the bottom, unless you can mount it on some kind of spacers to allow airflow.

I found that my twin 280mm radiator setup is sufficient for my uses, so what are you cooling with twin 480mm rads?

Mcthommo · 13 Oct 2018 at 18:54

I had my bottom fans exhausting as well as top fans and single 140 rear exhausting , front bottom 2 x140 fans intake in my recent Primo build- 8700K @ 5.2Ghz, 1080ti and temps never got above 30c idle, 67c load

BluD · 13 Oct 2018 at 20:36

The Primo doesnt pull air in the bottom, it pulls it in through vents on the sides around the bottom so it shouldnt matter if its on carpet really.

I have a 360 and 240 rads on the bottom and front as intakes, then exhaust though the 480 rad on top and the 140 on the back. I don't know if its the best way to do it but it seems to work ok.

Maybe someone has worked out the perfect fan setup for a Primo and will post so we can all copy it

bigjimmyauk · 13 Oct 2018 at 21:27

BluD said:
The Primo doesnt pull air in the bottom, it pulls it in through vents on the sides around the bottom so it shouldnt matter if its on carpet really.

I have a 360 and 240 rads on the bottom and front as intakes, then exhaust though the 480 rad on top and the 140 on the back. I don't know if its the best way to do it but it seems to work ok.

Maybe someone has worked out the perfect fan setup for a Primo and will post so we can all copy it

We can only hope lol.
It actually pulls air from the cut out at the back of the case but it's quite a small cut out.

I've just finished with the dremel and the side panel inside the case

BluD · 14 Oct 2018 at 00:13

bigjimmyauk said:
It actually pulls air from the cut out at the back of the case but it's quite a small cut out.

Ah i can't see the back cause mines under the desk, but it is vented all the way around the bottom so i still think it will be ok, if ya want a little extra air flow ya could just stick it on casters to lift it up a bit and make it easy to move around since it weighs a lot when full.

bigjimmyauk said:
I've just finished with the dremel and the side panel inside the case

I thought there was something missing when i saw your picture earlier......

CageyH · 14 Oct 2018 at 08:41

Another option would be a thin piece of wood or plastic to stand the case on.
I believe that as long as the carpet is not particularly deep, it should be fine.

bigjimmyauk · 31 Mar 2021 at 22:45

so lets revisit this post, in the end I went with both 480 rads exhausting out the case and 2x 140mm's pulling air in, although temps have been great it's a complete dust magnet as it's pulling air in from every conceivable gap imaginable. currently in the process of doing another build in the same case but with higher quality parts. I can now get the case off the carpet, I've also derestricted the air flow from the bottom of the new primo by cutting out the honey comb cage. So this time I'm thinking 4x120mm rads bringing air in through the bottom rad, another 2x140mm fans at the front (no rad) another 140mm at the rear (no rad) bringing air in. then 4x120mm fans on the rad at the top taking air out. I'm at least thinking this will give the case some positive pressure to keep dust out the nooks and cranny's and the 3x 140mm intakes will allow some cooler air to mix with the warm rad air from the bottom.

My only questionable gripe, how much can that warm air from the bottom rad affect the running of the top rad. Currently I'm seeing water temps of 39°c to 41°c with a non aggressive silent profile while gaming. GPU sits around 42°c and CPU around 65°c yes it's on the warmer side of water-cooled builds but it is a 5820k and a highly clocked 1080ti but pretty much in complete silence.

TT158 · 31 Mar 2021 at 23:50

That does seem really warm. What's the steady power draw from CPU and GPU that gets it to those TEMPS? And what's the ambient temp roughly? Fan speeds must be sub 1,000 rpm? Regardless, if you're happy with performance and not trying to eek out the last few clocks, it's all good

bigjimmyauk · 1 Apr 2021 at 00:20

TT158 said:
That does seem really warm. What's the steady power draw from CPU and GPU that gets it to those TEMPS? And what's the ambient temp roughly? Fan speeds must be sub 1,000 rpm? Regardless, if you're happy with performance and not trying to eek out the last few clocks, it's all good

YES 800RPM i prefer the silence, the cpu is about 1.25 volts at 4.4ghz and the GPU hovers around 2060+Mhz, we do live in a maisonette and it gets exceptionally warm though, and tbh I've not cleaned the rads in a few months so probably pretty dusty. 5820k's do run very hot tho

as you can see from the below screen shot it's the GPU that dumps the most heat, running CPU test it doesn't move much but running furmark the water temp rises rapidly with very little CPU usage. So a combination of both really ramps up the heat levels, using EK full cover blocks but i know the 1080ti's can be very toasty, could probably fry an egg on the back plate LOL