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Fan overkill?

406 views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  MicroCat 
#1 ·

I have this exact fan setup, but i removed the CD cage, and added x2 140mm phanteks F140XP on top but more near noctua and rear fan.
On rear and upper front i have stock 140mm fans of phanteks enthoo pro m TG plus a PH140SP in the bottom front.

Is this ok?
 
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#2 ·
Sure. If you like the cool air from the front to get sucked out of the case before its gets to the cooler. The issue with pushing/pulling the airflow in various directions is it creates turbulence (more noise) and eddies which can result in stagnant hotspots.

I love many, many fans, but not all of them in the same case at the same time. ;-)

While almost every case has top fan mounts - they're usually designed to support the devil's coolers - those AIO thingies. It's not against the laws of physics or conspicuous consumption to not install extra fans in those sad empty fan mounts.
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The ideal case airflow is achieved when cool air can be pulled in easily, flow smoothly in one direction and exhausting quickly - like a wind tunnel, but without the nosy aerodynamists huddled around your monitor.

Check doyll's case airflow how-to for the airy details.

A simple effective test optimal airflow is to measure the temperature gradient between external ambient temps and the internal case temps in front of the cooler using a cheap indoor/outdoor digital thermometer. If the gradient between ambient temp and internal air temp at the cooler intake is 2-3c then it's very close to ideal. If it's a 10-15c gradient, there's some work to do - either modding the case, filters and swapping in other fans. Hence why it's more fun to have a drawer full of fans and a select few in the system cooling quietly and effectively.
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MicroCat View Post

Sure. If you like the cool air from the front to get sucked out of the case before its gets to the cooler. The issue with pushing/pulling the airflow in various directions is it creates turbulence (more noise) and eddies which can result in stagnant hotspots.

I love many, many fans, but not all of them in the same case at the same time. ;-)

While almost every case has top fan mounts - they're usually designed to support the devil's coolers - those AIO thingies. It's not against the laws of physics or conspicuous consumption to not install extra fans in those sad empty fan mounts.
biggrin.gif


The ideal case airflow is achieved when cool air can be pulled in easily, flow smoothly in one direction and exhausting quickly - like a wind tunnel, but without the nosy aerodynamists huddled around your monitor.

Check doyll's case airflow how-to for the airy details.

A simple effective test optimal airflow is to measure the temperature gradient between external ambient temps and the internal case temps in front of the cooler using a cheap indoor/outdoor digital thermometer. If the gradient between ambient temp and internal air temp at the cooler intake is 2-3c then it's very close to ideal. If it's a 10-15c gradient, there's some work to do - either modding the case, filters and swapping in other fans. Hence why it's more fun to have a drawer full of fans and a select few in the system cooling quietly and effectively.
Microcat pretty much said it all.
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#4 ·
So you think i should return those as i just wasted money? Or maybe just remove the 1st 140mm fan (the one more near the front) leaving the one just above the noctua?
Btw noise isn't a problem.



Sorry for bad picture of front fan but this phone camera sucks, the only way i can show front fans is from inside
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synoxia View Post

So you think i should return those as i just wasted money? Or maybe just remove the 1st 140mm fan (the one more near the front) leaving the one just above the noctua?
I would remove both top exhaust fans and test the system temps. Strongly suggest spending $10 on an indoor/outdoor thermometer to easily determine if you've reached optimal air flow. I'd let you use mine, but the remote cable won't stretch all the way across the internet.

It's never a waste of money buying more fans than your system uses. This is how great collections are made. ;-) And finding out what works in your system - swapping fans in and out, modding - is the fun of DIY.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by ciarlatano View Post

@MicroCat - what cool air from the front? Did you miss the CLC? There is no cool air coming in....at all....anywhere.....that is problem number one.
What is this heresy you speak of? I presumed that original image was for infotainment purposes only. The lovely arty smartphone pics shows a Noctua cooler not a hot water heater.

But, since it's Friday and I've consumed my internet argument quota for the week, let's assume you're correct, as usual. And assume there is a 240mm rad sitting in the intake position used for cooling the video card and pre-heating the internal air flow. 5 minutes with a 5 pounder and that rad will think twice about blocking air flow ever again. Or...mount the rad up top (as exhaust) where it was meant to be. Or mounted in a display case at Frys where it was designed to be.
biggrin.gif
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MicroCat View Post

What is this heresy you speak of? I presumed that original image was for infotainment purposes only. The lovely arty smartphone pics shows a Noctua cooler not a hot water heater.

But, since it's Friday and I've consumed my internet argument quota for the week, let's assume you're correct, as usual. And assume there is a 240mm rad sitting in the intake position used for cooling the video card and pre-heating the internal air flow. 5 minutes with a 5 pounder and that rad will think twice about blocking air flow ever again. Or...mount the rad up top (as exhaust) where it was meant to be. Or mounted in a display case at Frys where it was designed to be.
biggrin.gif
"Leave on store shelf" is in the Optimal Placement section of the installation manual.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MicroCat View Post

I would remove both top exhaust fans and test the system temps. Strongly suggest spending $10 on an indoor/outdoor thermometer to easily determine if you've reached optimal air flow. I'd let you use mine, but the remote cable won't stretch all the way across the internet.

It's never a waste of money buying more fans than your system uses. This is how great collections are made. ;-) And finding out what works in your system - swapping fans in and out, modding - is the fun of DIY.
I don't really have time for that... mounting those fans was a pain due to how the case is small...

btw i have 2 fans on the front, 1 is stock phanteks case the other is a ph140sp
 
#11 ·
At the very least monitor the room air temp and temp of air directly in front of CPU cooler fan and do some gaming. You will see the air temp going into CPU cooler and CPU temp rise as your GPU gaming load increases and CLC coolant temp goes up.
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What Microcat said, data rules!
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#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MicroCat View Post

Ok...do it the lazy way...for science! Just disconnect the top fans from the fan header and run some tests. We need data, data ,data.

And do you have a 240mm rad mounted in front or just 2 140mm fans?
2 140mm fans

I actually think the first fan should be removed as it's stealing air from the cpu cooler. And i'm not really into data as removing the fans isn't exact easy on this case...

I'm thinking of doing this, i have enough room to separate both top fans
 
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