Using AIO as the only air intake (Phanteks Evolv)

Born_2_Kill_83 · 2 May 2016 at 14:25

Thinking about changing my H440 out for the below when it's released but I'm worried about moving away from my H440.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-enthoo-evolv-atx-glass-mid-tower-case-silver-ca-056-pt.html

I'm currently running a H110i GTX as my cpu cooler and it's nicely tucked away on the top of my H440 pushing air out of my case. Now if I upgrade sticking this AIO at the top of the Evolv ATX is going to over hang my motherboard and more importantly the AIO I'm also using on my Titan X Hybrid GPU which I plan on stick at the rear to exhaust air out.

So this bring me to my question, the H110i would stick nicely at the front of the Phanteks case (if it fits???) but how well will it work as the main air intake for the case. Will the air be to warm and fill the case up with warmish air and is there even enough airflow to cool my GPU AIO at the back of the case?

Suppose I could use the top to mount fans blowing air in the case, just thinking out loud?

heartburnron · 3 May 2016 at 00:25

The fact that both your CPU & GPU are watercooled will mean you need less air into the case anyway as the AIOs will be doing there job so I would think it will be absolutely fine.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 3 May 2016 at 09:23

Ok cheers

Hagar · 3 May 2016 at 13:23

I would definitely have forced ventilation as exhaust on the upper panel. The system will still be producing the same wattage as previously and the hot air needs to get out of the case. Pulling warm air in from the front will reduce the effectiveness of the rear AIO and needs to be got rid off.

Possibly sandwiching the case with the AIO inside and fans outside or vice versa may allow the CPU AIO to fit as well as the rear AIO in the top corner.

It is a fallacy that water cooling needs less fans or air flow than air cooling. You still have the delta between the air temp inside due to heat produced and that outside.

heartburnron · 3 May 2016 at 14:18

Apologies if I've given you a bum steer. My logic in thinking you need less air with a water cooled card came from my experience with a running an air cooled R9 390X which ran at temps of 70-80 at full load. I've since upgraded to a Fury X which has the AIO water cooling built in and never goes above 40 at full load and thus the temperature in side the case doesn't get as warm - hence less direct air blowing across it isn't a concern.

Happy to be corrected as I'm still learning. What's wrong with my logic? What am I not considering?

In Born 2 Kill's example - what would be the consequence of having his AIO exhausting out the front? If everything is watercooled and it's all about getting rid of the heat, does he even need cool air coming in?

Hagar · 3 May 2016 at 14:51

heartburnron said:
Happy to be corrected as I'm still learning. What's wrong with my logic? What am I not considering?

Logically, you have say 100W of CPU heat to dispose of and say 150W of GPU.

In The OP original question, he is considering the H110i as an intake, taking cooler air from outside to cool the CPU and dumping the 100W into the case in terms of warmed air.

The net result is the 100W CPU inside the case is replaced by 100W of warmed air still inside the case.

This warmed air is either removed before it goes to the GPU AIO or after, the AIO is trying to remove the 150W of heat from the GPU and will need to be more efficient (ie spin faster, noisier) if it receives warm intake air thereby trying to cool both the CPU and GPU.

Heat rises therefore it is more efficient to exhaust at the top. It may well be most efficient to have both AIO's as intakes and the open fans as exhausts.

OR if he could put both AIO's at the top as exhausts and intake fresh air from the front although he thinks that that option is not possible.

My main point is really that whether water or air cooling, the amount of heat to be removed into the room is the same 250W and the heat transfer total is identical whether by fluid and fans or aluminium and fans.

I stand to be corrected if wrong, but my 2c worth anyway.

Petelock · 3 May 2016 at 15:04

I'm about to do something similar with my 360 predator and the glass evolv case.

360 rad on the front in push/pull drawing cold air in. In my case the GPU is in the loop so will just have fans on the top (likely 2x140mm) and 1x140mm on the back all exhausting.

I certainly want all the warm air that the radiator will be dumping into the case expelled.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 3 May 2016 at 19:15

Will there be space for a 280mm Rad plus 4X140mm in push/pull config in the front of the case? I'm guessing the bottom front slot will have to be removed to allow access to the bottom front end of the case?

Good point about having everything exhausting out, maybe this could also be an option but I'm thinking the case will be starved of air to exhaust so to speak.

Top 140mmX2 fan blowing cool air in will surely help the AIO of the GPU but I guess that only leave's one exit for all the warm air.

Guess it's best to play with different options but if I can get the right config first it will save a lot of swapping around.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 3 May 2016 at 21:21

I guess my next question would be which will create better airflow inside the case, push or pull from the AIO?