Time to replace my Air 540? or just add bigger fans?

DeathofRats · 30 Dec 2014 at 13:19

Hi Folks

I don't have any real problem with my 540, except my sli 780s get a little toasty. I've already modded the side window with a 120mm intake pushing a little more air their way, but I'm still not happy... and no I can't afford to stick either one of them underwater

So far as I know the 540 should be one of the very best cases for air flow over the GPUs, but if anyone knows of anything better I'd love to hear it (the silverstone ft05 seems to be the mutts danglies for air flow, but it has nowhere to fit my corsair h100 aio.

The only other idea I've had is perhaps pick up a pair of Silverstone 180mm air penetrators and see if i could squeeze them into the front intake area? maybe with magnetic fan 'screws'?

Klunt Bumskrint · 30 Dec 2014 at 13:54

This is one of the reasons I'm changing mine.

I moved from a HAF 932 (with a 200mm) fan on the side and my gpu temps have been up since and it bothers me. Airflow seems to be minimal in the 540.
I even took the 140 in the back and squeezed in in the front with the other 2.

So I have 3 140's in the front and a spare 140 I had in the back, h100i exhausting out the top.
It still is too warm.

nutsnut · 31 Dec 2014 at 11:41

If your cards are non reference design so are dumping heat inside the case try your side fan as an exhaust.

What temps are we talking here for the two cards? My two 7970's which are not cool cards hit 65c and 70c during heavy loads in the summer time.

MasterOC · 31 Dec 2014 at 11:47

Both my 970s are toasty In the case , thought it would be fantastic for temps , turns put my CM lanbox was better lol , I'm going to try and fit 2 x 40mm fans in the side grill next to the PCI slots on the back see if I can shift the heat that way as I don't wanna mid a fan to the window

ChrisD. · 31 Dec 2014 at 11:55

Silverstone FT02 is probably the best air cooled case. I don't know if the FT05 is better though, haven't read any reviews.

mushtafa · 1 Jan 2015 at 17:21

That Silverstone FT05 certainly looks interesting. May need to find some build threads

DeathofRats · 1 Jan 2015 at 20:45

nutsnut said:
If your cards are non reference design so are dumping heat inside the case try your side fan as an exhaust.

What temps are we talking here for the two cards? My two 7970's which are not cool cards hit 65c and 70c during heavy loads in the summer time.

Good call Nuts!
Shaved a couple of degrees by making the side fan an exhaust... must disrupt the airflow somewhat but it works.
I've ordered an air penatrator 180mm, I'll try to get it into front intake position in first instance but then as a side exhaust and intake.

DeathofRats · 1 Jan 2015 at 20:48

S2KIP said:
Silverstone FT02 is probably the best air cooled case. I don't know if the FT05 is better though, haven't read any reviews.

Yeah, the turned mobo position and the straight up air flow through the gpu positions looks spot on, unfortunately getting a corsair h100 in the case without losing the 180mm penetrators looks impossible