Push/pull configuration on a 360 AIO, worth it?

pieman109 · 23 Mar 2022 at 10:45

I'm going to be installing a 360 Deep cool aio on me 5800x in the next few days, and seeing as I've got a shedload of pwm fans, I was thinking about trying out a push/pull configuration on the radiator. I'll be trying 3 x Lian Li uni SL 120mm fans on the outside, and 3 x 120mm Phantek case fans on the inside.

Any opinions if this is worth the effort or not to bother? The case is a Lian Li Lancool II Mesh.

SonicSW20 · 23 Mar 2022 at 10:53

If you have the fans already and it'll fit in the case in that configuration then sure, you'll have a slightly quieter system as the fans can run at a lower RPM for the same airflow.

I wouldn't buy additional fans to do it.

RandomNoob · 28 Mar 2022 at 15:31

I had the push pull setup on my corsair 150i, I didnt find it beneficial. In the end I just stuck with the 3 fan setup for it plus the push pull made the cooling look bulky.

SpudMaster · 5 Apr 2022 at 16:28

It was depend on the radiator in question. A denser or thicker radiator would benefit more from a push\full configuration. Not sure what the radiator on the Deepcool AIO is like but rads on AIOs tend to be pretty thin

ttaskmaster · 5 Apr 2022 at 18:05

That is only a 30mm rad. You want at least a 45mm, if not a 60mm, if you want to run push-pull.
Also, you really want to have the same make/model of fans on either side, or they'll be fighting against each other and somewhat likely to be even worse, in both noise and performance.

If you already have six fans all the same amongst your absolute shedload, feel free to give it a try, though. At best you'll see minimal but measurable gains, at worst nothing, but no outlay and no risk of damaged fans.

Ross Thomson · 6 Apr 2022 at 13:47

ChocAndGray · 6 Apr 2022 at 16:18

It'll certainly lower the temps by a few degrees, but is the increase in noise worth it?

For me personally I'd take the lower noise levels.

Grim5 · 9 Apr 2022 at 06:16

It will reduce temps by 2c but increase noise

SonicSW20 · 9 Apr 2022 at 13:09

ChocAndGray said:
It'll certainly lower the temps by a few degrees, but is the increase in noise worth it?

For me personally I'd take the lower noise levels.

Grim5 said:
It will reduce temps by 2c but increase noise

Alternatively you can have less noise for the same average temperatures because you can run the fans at a lower RPM.

Drumroll · 9 Apr 2022 at 19:34

SonicSW20 said:
Alternatively you can have less noise for the same average temperatures because you can run the fans at a lower RPM.

Depending on many factors.
Usually the balance between noise and performance is at 40-50% PWM for most users and AIOs. Going full blast with the fans, normally, won’t give a linear gain. Usually past some point, no gains, as long as the AIO has enough airflow to work with and can cope with the CPU it is cooling.
Said that, assuming the user is running his fans at 50% to achieve the balance he is happy with. Lowering the rpm to 30% and slapping another 3 fans, also at 30% won’t necessarily offer the same airflow, plus the chance of some weird noise as some fans aren’t really happy running at low rpm.
The scenario where more fans would help is in cases where the fans are required to run at 60-70% plus. But them, either the airflow is poor or the AIO is cutting short. As with custom loop, oversizing on rad area allows lower fan rpm, hence the advice to get the aio as big as it will fit in your case.