Newbie question

So I tried searching to see if I could find this topic already covered but had no luck.

I just got done building a Haswell system and decided to go with a Kraken x60 280mm AIO for the CPU. NZXT showed compatibility with my case (CM 690-II) for both top and bottom mounting, but top mount was not lining up due to the HDD cage. Bottom mount I'm can do, but once again due to constraints I had to mount fans under the rad.

So the question, before I go through the pain of moving things again (getting the PSU and rad on the bottom took some work - we're talking no clearance and PSU wires running through a channel made of PSU on one side, rad fan on the other, rad housing on top and case on the bottom): Would it be better to go push exhausting into the case or pull exhausting through the bottom of the case?

My thoughts were push would be better and have enough fans to get the hot air out of the case faster, and maybe stick a 140mm fan on the door to blow cooler air to the video card? Am I thinking straight on this?

Also can't go push/pull unless I remove the front 140mm intake fan, which I suppose I could turn to blow outward since it sits right on top of the rad.

Help!

I would suggest a push configuration through the radiator this is a better way to cool then a pull setup, however it looks a little odd to have the radiator mounted on top of the fans. Intake on the bottom and Exhaust out the top as heat rises, no point fighting the natural flow.

Put the 140 to blow cool air onto the GPU, as using a side panel for exhaust is less effective at cooling your GPU.

You wouldn't want the hot air from the rad pushing onto the GPU. It will increase the temp on it trying to use already heated air to cool.

Is there a way that you could take pics of your rig so we might be able to give better suggestions?

Sure can.



What you can't see in that picture is the 140mm on the top and the space for a second that I'll be adding. There's also room for two 140's on the door that would blow on the vid card. Don't yell about the cable management - this is my "I just got this damn thing together" pic. I was thinking flipping the clear 140 you see at the front to blow out to pull some of the hotter air out the front, then using the two 140's on the door as intake and two 140's on top as exhaust to direct the remaining air.

To give you a close look at the clearance on the PSU:



Like I said, tight fit.

Wow kinda difficult situation you're in.

It should work pushing the air out of the case.
I wouldn't recommend pulling air in (some may as it's fine) pulling hot air in to the case will just cause your other components to use already heated air to try and cool.
If you got the fans you could add two more on the other side of the rad to help push air for the others to pull out.

Your GPU, RAM, and MOBO temp will be slightly warmer than they would have to be.