Passive rad vs 3 extra intake fans

LewisN2

LewisN2

LewisN2

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2 Apr 2020
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22
i have a quick question for everyone, ive just build a LIAN LI watercooling loop, i have a rad on the bottom, one on the top and one on the side - i noticed my temps were kinda hot

the top and bottom rad have fans on but the one on the side there is not space so it just acts as a passive rad, what do you think would be better - 3 extra intake fans vs the passive rad, i have a feeling the extra airflow might be better?

it is worth noting that i have a super thick bottom rad (360 XE) and a decent rad at the top (360 PE) so already have quite a decent amount of rad but i am unsure on in reality if the passive rad would be better than 3 new intakes

https://imgur.com/a/OBDKEtd



thanks
 
i have 3 intake fans at the bottom, 3 exhaust at the top - other people have just suggested that having the rad with no fans on is only really dumping hot air back into the case which is going into the other rads, so unless i can fit some fans on it - i am best taking the rad out as i already have 2 big rads anyway
 
I would go for the 3 intake fans
Pretty sure @Vidar did a 011 xl build
And had radiators at top and bottom of it
He was using a 9900k so pretty toasty cpu
And am pretty sure from memory it was hotter than expected
For a custom loop
He added the 3 intakes and saw a good temperature drop
 
I started with 3 fans on the bottom rad and 3 on the top rad but temps were not great. I added 3 side intake fans and a rear exhaust and saw a noticeable drop in temps.

There's no way those 3 fans are enough, I doubt enough is getting through the top. And nothing will be coming through the side. Passive rads won't be doing you any favours.
 
The XE would perform at its best with push/pull or high rpm. At low rpm would perform very close to the PE. The PE only push or pull and you’re gold. Side intake fans, any day. Passive rad would only be any help if it was at the only place in the case without intake and airflow in the case high enough to go through and cool it. I managed that with an AIO when I was deciding for more T30 fans or using the AIO supplied ones. At the time I had a 9 T30 as intake and 1 as exhaust. Air “had” to go through radiator.
 
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