Overclock.net banner

Airflow noob plox help

838 views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  doyll 
#1 ·
This is my case, Thermaltake Commander Snow Edition



Build:
M5A97 R2.0
FX-4100 (biting my nails about 8320 vs 8350 upgrade this week)
Visiontek 280x @ 980/1500 at 1120 mv gaming load 67 degrees
EVGA 1000w Supernova G2 (eventually to CF)

This is my first build and I upgraded my gfx from a PNY gtx 750 TI which has retired to a future HTPC build.

Anyways since I've upgraded, my CPU load temps went +13 Degrees and topped out at 72 degrees
during a sesh of Far Cry 3 (all max with MSAA x8 yay even on bottleneck cpu)
and I'm assuming it must be because the new card is displacing so much heat in the case.
soooo
I'm gonna buy some case fans and a cpu cooler with my 8320/8350 purchase!

My mobo will only support 3 fans. I think I'm going to replace the stock one because... its stock, and this is my dilemma:

I want to know if I'm gonna be using the side fan and the fan at the top-rear as intake/exhaust.
I just want whatever cools everything the best. I think my 3 spots are going to be top case fan, the back, and the side,
my monstrosity of a PSU for this case is the size up which I didn't realize so the bottom case fan is a no go :/.

With 3 fans in the back top and side cfg what would be the coolest setting?

I was pondering between 2 intakes and the top being an exhaust, I'm willing to buy dust filters if that is a better route.
However I'm worried the air won't be managed properly... I'm also looking to CF in the future and for the case I have,
my cable management is nearly as good as it can get so airflow has been maximized with my modular PSU.

Any help would be much appreciated as I do not want to melt my babies
smile.gif


P.S.
Would you recommend this fan x3 or would x2 be sufficient :/
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181053
it should all fit into the budget but I'm frugal. I've just decided a second 280x is overkill for my current needs
(already beat crysis 3 the gpu rapist on the 750 TI)
 
See less See more
2
#2 ·
The GPU would be the main source of heat as you've noted. The 280X is putting out quite a bit of heat. What kind of cooler is it? Is it the reference blower or an axial fan? If it's an axial fan, try reversing the fan so that the side panel is exhaust. That will often be cooler.

If the motherboard only supports 3 fans, you can also tie the remaining fans to the power supply directly (molex to 3 pin). That way you can support more fans.

I'd go with:

- Intake front
- Experiment with intake fans for side and exhuast to see which is cooler
- Intake roof, but only populating the "near" (side farthest from the rear) fan slot
- Exhaust back
- Consider mounting another intake on the fan for 3x 5.25" drive bays as well
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyElf View Post

The GPU would be the main source of heat as you've noted. The 280X is putting out quite a bit of heat. What kind of cooler is it? Is it the reference blower or an axial fan? If it's an axial fan, try reversing the fan so that the side panel is exhaust. That will often be cooler.

If the motherboard only supports 3 fans, you can also tie the remaining fans to the power supply directly (molex to 3 pin). That way you can support more fans.

I'd go with:

- Intake front
- Experiment with intake fans for side and exhuast to see which is cooler
- Intake roof, but only populating the "near" (side farthest from the rear) fan slot
- Exhaust back
- Consider mounting another intake on the fan for 3x 5.25" drive bays as well
This is the gfx card


Also an UPDATE:

I just ordered myself a hyper 212 evo and 2 of the Purple Corsair AF120's, and the intake dust filter I'm gonna need. I only had a reference bulldozer cooler so I bought the 212 it to help OC an 8320 that was on sale for $150 + tax canadian which was a no-brainer where I'm from! With taxes and shipping it came to about $180, shipping was about $8, taxes in Canada are so expensive thanks to free health care lol.

Anyways I was thinking on my way here to work this morning, would this be a viable config?:

Side intake, Hyper 212 Push/Pull and rear exhaust, or side intake, hyper 212 push/pull opposite direction top exhaust
smile.gif


EDIT:

Just checked out this thread:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1199135/hyper-212-testing-push-vs-pull-vs-push-pull-also-horizontal-vs-vertical-positioning

Thinking dual 212 fans is a little negligible but wondering if its still better than dual exhaust :/ I'm wondering about dual intake but with only one stock fan going out I fear for not enough airflow leaving the case :/

I believe that counts as 2 axial fans? To reverse them would I just plug the 3 pin in opposite :/?
Not sure how to do that but it makes sense to have them blowing out if I'm going to use an exhaust!!
 
#6 ·
Yes those are axial fans.

And tax is not terrible here. It's only 13%. Contrast that with 24% VAT in certain European nations

Quote:
Originally Posted by spidercyde View Post

Alright I think I'm dead set. Unconventional genius I think.. Ultimate set up for the circumstances...

2 Top fans exhaust 1 intake side and horizontal pull on the 212
wink.gif
I amaze myself sometimes
Considering your GPU, consider using the side fans as exhaust.

2 top fans exhaust is fine, although try reversing them as an experiment.

Don't worry about "not enough air leaving the case". That is called positive pressure.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spidercyde View Post

This is my case, Thermaltake Commander Snow Edition
Quote:
Originally Posted by spidercyde View Post

Alright I think I'm dead set. Unconventional genius I think.. Ultimate set up for the circumstances...
2 Top fans exhaust 1 intake side and horizontal pull on the 212
wink.gif
I amaze myself sometimes
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyElf View Post

Considering your GPU, consider using the side fans as exhaust.
2 top fans exhaust is fine, although try reversing them as an experiment.
Don't worry about "not enough air leaving the case". That is called positive pressure.
Listen to CrazyElf.

The second link in my sig may be helpful.

My educated guess at best airflow is:
 
#8 ·
I finished up the dirty deeds last night
smile.gif

My 8320 is at 1.4 volts with a 1Ghz OC to 4.5

Playing Crysis 3 Welcome to the Jungle on Very High settings and Textures with 2x SMAA finally keeps me at a 30fps minimum, and I've got a whopping 50 degrees max load. Nothing is more demanding than this in my usage so I'm very happy with the outcome. Also load temps for my GPU went from the low 70's to high 50's
smile.gif
Success! Side fan works and I've got to say this unique set up is keeping me frosty!



EDIT: Forgot to mention the use of Tuniq TX-4, the X with a grain of rice method I use, and the side fan isn't pictured but it's on when I'm running the rig

EDIT2: Lastly I forgot to mention how quiet this whole thing is, everything is mounted tight and right and it's running quieter than ever, I've started using Riva Tuner to cap fps at 59 and running v-sync (best invention ever, so smooth no tearing with no mouse latency) and so that helps to keep temps low since I'm not generating frames to no benefit. Beats the crap out of my old whiny stock cooler and my GPU fans kicking in on the evga precision fan curve setting
 
#9 ·
Great news!
thumb.gif

Thanks for letting us know.
wink.gif
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top