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v0rtic3s-x
n00bie
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2009
- Messages
- 38
Hey all,
After experimenting with several different air cooling setups, I've seen some results that differ from what I've mentioned by others over the last couple of years, and I'm attempting to get better temps, if possible, strictly on air.
A lot of detail here, as I'm trying to figure out why I get such different air cooling results, so please read everything before responding so we're all on the same page.
I've tested setups on every build I've done, and again recently on two different systems, mine and my wife's:
System 1: ASUS Rampage, GTX 280, 2GB Corsair XMS, E8600, HAF 932 case
System 2: Intel "Bad Axe", 8800 GTX, E6700, 2GB Corsair, Antec 1200 case
Results I've found regarding front intake on all cases, including slightly modding case by removing fan grills and filters (they just block airflow and I've never found any benefit), and including moving fans and mounting them inside on the drive bays closer to all hardware, has never had good results without intake from the sides blowing directly on the hardware... though I cannot figure out why.
Side intake, while cooling components better due to blowing cooler outside directly on them, also just moves around a lot of air pretty directionless. Yet, without it, temps rise dramatically.
Front intake, even with larger 200mm fans and/or multiples 120mm fans, does not provide the kind of cooling side intake does, despite what I've heard many say. Removing front intake (except for the hard drives) has absolutely no effect on hardware temps.
Top exhaust... a mixed-bag. There's been times I've noticed slightly better north bridge temps, but nothing dramatic.
Extra rear exhaust, other than one 120mm fan, does nothing.
I know there are many who feel that front intake -to- rear/top exhaust is "best", and that side intake doesn't do much except interfere with overall airflow, but I've never found that to be the case.
Also, I've noticed something else recently that makes no sense: larger 200mm fans do not move as much air as their 120mm counterparts.
Here's an example of my system (oh, and the CPUs on both systems use excellent sinks; Xigmatek and Ultra-120):
HAF 932 with four 120mm side fans, one 120mm top exhaust (PSU top-mounted), one 200 front intake and one 120mm rear exhaust. General temps (idle): mobo (28-30C), north bridge (36-38C), GPU (45C w/ fan on 60%), RAM (36C approx), CPU (34C might be lower, but this mobo/CPU aren't read at anything be 34C).
I've changed this setup from the Antec 1200 my wife is now using, which has three 120mm front intakes, 200mm top exhaust, two 120mm rear exhaust and one 120mm side intake, and the temps were higher.
On the HAF 932, I've attempted using Antec's 200mm Big Boy, which is always on high, is quiet and moves approx. 130cfm, mounted as side intake, and my system temps raise by 1-3C over the four 120mm side intakes on medium (also Antec tri-cool fans).
- I also mounted the 200mm Big Boy inside the case, as front intake (Antect does this with 120mm fans on certain cases, internally mounted front intake) blowing directly on/across the mobo and all components, on high, and if I'm not using any side intake, temps raise dramatically.
It would make more sense that, front-to-rear and top exhaust would carry air across all components and exhaust it, hence would be more efficient, and that side intake would just move around all the hot air it blows off the components, but I've never found that to be the case, and am finding myself frustrated with creating any better air cooling setup... and also confused by some of the results I've gotten that sort of "defy" what would make sense in terms of airflow.
Every time I test a setup, I make sure the room temp is the same as the time before, and fan settings are the same, under the same conditions idle and under load.
Most seem to believe that side intake is useless, yet I've always found it pertinent, and have always gotten much higher temps without it. So, I've tried many times in many ways to increase front-to-rear/top exhaust, to no avail. However, having side intake and less front intake, was always fine.
It's also always been the general consensus that exhaust volume should at least equal, if not exceed, intake. But here, again, I've never found that helpful. Equal works fine, but focusing more and exhaust as opposed to intake has never proven to cool anything any better.
Since I also do some modding and like to dremel stuff (lol) I always experiment with creating my own setups, but have always found I've gotten the same results.
The only time I noticed a difference, and is something I'm considering going back to (if I can find the right case), is "the smaller the case with the more airflow, beats out a larger case with the same, or even more, airflow". I don't like being cramped, but I don't run 100 drives and as long as there's room for good cable management, I find that air cooling is much more effective.
Anyway, I know my results I'm still seeing with my own eyes, but there's a lot of very knowledgeable people here, so any in-depth feedback regarding airflow setups, I'd love to hear it.
Cheers, all!
P.S.
I know it'll probably be suggested, but I'm not looking to move to water cooling
After experimenting with several different air cooling setups, I've seen some results that differ from what I've mentioned by others over the last couple of years, and I'm attempting to get better temps, if possible, strictly on air.
A lot of detail here, as I'm trying to figure out why I get such different air cooling results, so please read everything before responding so we're all on the same page.
I've tested setups on every build I've done, and again recently on two different systems, mine and my wife's:
System 1: ASUS Rampage, GTX 280, 2GB Corsair XMS, E8600, HAF 932 case
System 2: Intel "Bad Axe", 8800 GTX, E6700, 2GB Corsair, Antec 1200 case
Results I've found regarding front intake on all cases, including slightly modding case by removing fan grills and filters (they just block airflow and I've never found any benefit), and including moving fans and mounting them inside on the drive bays closer to all hardware, has never had good results without intake from the sides blowing directly on the hardware... though I cannot figure out why.
Side intake, while cooling components better due to blowing cooler outside directly on them, also just moves around a lot of air pretty directionless. Yet, without it, temps rise dramatically.
Front intake, even with larger 200mm fans and/or multiples 120mm fans, does not provide the kind of cooling side intake does, despite what I've heard many say. Removing front intake (except for the hard drives) has absolutely no effect on hardware temps.
Top exhaust... a mixed-bag. There's been times I've noticed slightly better north bridge temps, but nothing dramatic.
Extra rear exhaust, other than one 120mm fan, does nothing.
I know there are many who feel that front intake -to- rear/top exhaust is "best", and that side intake doesn't do much except interfere with overall airflow, but I've never found that to be the case.
Also, I've noticed something else recently that makes no sense: larger 200mm fans do not move as much air as their 120mm counterparts.
Here's an example of my system (oh, and the CPUs on both systems use excellent sinks; Xigmatek and Ultra-120):
HAF 932 with four 120mm side fans, one 120mm top exhaust (PSU top-mounted), one 200 front intake and one 120mm rear exhaust. General temps (idle): mobo (28-30C), north bridge (36-38C), GPU (45C w/ fan on 60%), RAM (36C approx), CPU (34C might be lower, but this mobo/CPU aren't read at anything be 34C).
I've changed this setup from the Antec 1200 my wife is now using, which has three 120mm front intakes, 200mm top exhaust, two 120mm rear exhaust and one 120mm side intake, and the temps were higher.
On the HAF 932, I've attempted using Antec's 200mm Big Boy, which is always on high, is quiet and moves approx. 130cfm, mounted as side intake, and my system temps raise by 1-3C over the four 120mm side intakes on medium (also Antec tri-cool fans).
- I also mounted the 200mm Big Boy inside the case, as front intake (Antect does this with 120mm fans on certain cases, internally mounted front intake) blowing directly on/across the mobo and all components, on high, and if I'm not using any side intake, temps raise dramatically.
It would make more sense that, front-to-rear and top exhaust would carry air across all components and exhaust it, hence would be more efficient, and that side intake would just move around all the hot air it blows off the components, but I've never found that to be the case, and am finding myself frustrated with creating any better air cooling setup... and also confused by some of the results I've gotten that sort of "defy" what would make sense in terms of airflow.
Every time I test a setup, I make sure the room temp is the same as the time before, and fan settings are the same, under the same conditions idle and under load.
Most seem to believe that side intake is useless, yet I've always found it pertinent, and have always gotten much higher temps without it. So, I've tried many times in many ways to increase front-to-rear/top exhaust, to no avail. However, having side intake and less front intake, was always fine.
It's also always been the general consensus that exhaust volume should at least equal, if not exceed, intake. But here, again, I've never found that helpful. Equal works fine, but focusing more and exhaust as opposed to intake has never proven to cool anything any better.
Since I also do some modding and like to dremel stuff (lol) I always experiment with creating my own setups, but have always found I've gotten the same results.
The only time I noticed a difference, and is something I'm considering going back to (if I can find the right case), is "the smaller the case with the more airflow, beats out a larger case with the same, or even more, airflow". I don't like being cramped, but I don't run 100 drives and as long as there's room for good cable management, I find that air cooling is much more effective.
Anyway, I know my results I'm still seeing with my own eyes, but there's a lot of very knowledgeable people here, so any in-depth feedback regarding airflow setups, I'd love to hear it.
Cheers, all!
P.S.
I know it'll probably be suggested, but I'm not looking to move to water cooling
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