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Anyone had success with 3d printed exhaust fans for pci covers under the GPU?

4.9K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  doyll  
#1 ·
Looking at



Maybe it could be better and use less than 4 pci slots with 2 40/60mm fans
 
#2 ·
Yeah they work fine and only cost a few pennies to print. Are you looking to get an already made file to use smaller fans in a smaller space, or are you still just brain storming?
 
#3 ·
Mostly thinking it might be useful for my Fractal Define C as its pretty similar in length to the one in LTT newest video where the short depth seemed to be a problem.

But with my current GPU (Sapphire 570 nitro+) its probably not much of an issue, but when I had a 290 TriX it almost touched the intake fan

So its more for the future and it should be pretty cheap upgrade if it really helps remove air from the GPU


Image
 
#4 · (Edited)
With Define C setup as you have it. first thing I would do is remove all unused PCIe back slot covers. Even vented covers only flow about 30-40% as much are as open hole / slot.

Also tape over any openings not covered by your front intake fans so air they flow into case can't leak thru them in front of fans and drawn back into fans to go in circles. We want air flowing thru case, not going in circles thru intake fans.

You have 2x 120mm front intakes of case airflow with 140mm fan of CPU cooler airflow means your case only has about 1/2 of a 120mm intake fan airflow to supply GPU fans. To me that's not enough case airflow. 2x 140mm front intakes would be much better. I would take out the removable part at front of PSU shroud so air from bottom section of lower 140mm front fan can flow into motherboard compartment and to GPU. A 120mm bottom intake might help supply GPU more cool air too. Link below is to basic guide to airflow and how to optimize case airflow might be of interest:. It also shows a simple cheap way to monitor air temp entering coolers vs room ambient.

I've found most of the time we don't need both intake and exhaust case fans, but just good high pressure rated intakes with all openings in their mounting panels sealed from motherboard compartment so air they flow into mobo compartment has to flow on thru and out of case. Using both intake and exhaust fans is similar to using push / pull on radiator or cooler. That said, I have done a few builds that exhaust fan gave lower temps / noise levels because exhaust pull created different / better airflow pathways thus supplying cooler air to components. Airflow is a fickled witch that often does things we don't expect .. which is why I often monitor air temp into CPU & GPU coolers versus room ambient entering case and adjust fan placement and/or speed to get optimum cool airflow to components.
 
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