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Scoobing

44 posts

Geek


#138097 19-Dec-2013 19:06
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Hi,

Have had this rig for about 9 months now, performing well although running a little hot. So I was looking into replacing the stock case fans to improve airflow. As I was thinking about it it turns out I know very little about good case airflow and despite reading online I could use some advice.

I've put the case on it's side as I had some issues with hard resets (thinking it was to do with my GFX not seating properly in the upright position due to a screwless bay system. I currently have:



1x Fan on the top (what would normally be the side)
1x fan on the right side behind the PSU
1x fan at the back directly facing the CPU heatsink fan which point directly at each other
The PSU fan then points directly into these two fans pointing at each other
1x air duct but space for a fan on the left side

I'm concerned the back fan and the CPU heatsink fan are conflicting with each other. I'm having a hard time telling which fans are intake and exhaust, I cant find an arrow and seeing which way tissue paper is going is not helping :(. I want to replace the stock fans anyway.

I also have a GTX 660ti with it's own (noisy) fan so keeping that as cool as possible would be a bonus. The case doesnt seem to have a spot for a front intake fan which is a bit of a let down.

One last thing is from the picture you might be able to tell that my internal cable management is poor. I don't know what to do with the considerable amount of unused cable from my PSU. I want to ensure the best airflow possible.

Temp wise my CPU under gaming load hits around 60C and the GFX card around 70-80C. Not terrible, but I think I can get it lower and increase the lifespan of my components.

Changing the case is not an option I'd like to consider at this stage. Had enough fun putting it together and then realising the heatsink mount required the motherboard to be not attached to the case first.... :(.

Would appreciate your advice chaps!

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jpoc
1043 posts

Uber Geek


  #955054 19-Dec-2013 19:48
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While I understand your aversion to swapping cases, changing to an Antec 1100 case would deal with all of your problems with ease for the following reasons:

* The PSu goes at the bottom and has its own airflow solution. Air for the PSU is sucked in from a hole in the base of the case and exits at the back so it does not interfere with cooling of the rest of the componenets.

* As long as you are not trying to fit 9 optical drives, there is a huge space at the front bottom of the case. This is at the same level as the PSU and any unused PSU cables just rest in there where they do not interfere with the airflow in the rest of the case.

* There is enough space underneath the motherboard to route the mobo power cables so they do not interfere with internal airflow.

* There is a large cutout in the panel to which the mobo mounts. This allows you to install and remove your CPU heatsink while the mobo is mounted in the case.

* There is a huge fan in the top of the case, directly above the CPU - remember the PSU is out of the way at the bottom. There is another large fan on the back behind the CPU. Together, those two fans will clear all of the hot air that comes off the CPU heatsink and the mobo.

* There are mounts for two more large fans on the side panel to blow cold air in onto a multi graphics card setup.

* The case is big and heavy and very stiff so that it is dimensionally accurate and everything fits in easily and the graphics cards are properly secured.

It will be a lot easier to put your system into that case than to muck around guessing what fans to put where.

You can put two high end graphics cards in there and run the whole machine flat out 24/7 all through the summer and it will keep everything cool.



Scoobing

44 posts

Geek


  #955067 19-Dec-2013 20:03
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Hey thanks for your reply, I think that sounds like a good suggestion. Do you know where I can buy the 1100? I've searched online but have not had much luck...

jpoc
1043 posts

Uber Geek


  #955172 19-Dec-2013 22:47
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Scoobing: Hey thanks for your reply, I think that sounds like a good suggestion. Do you know where I can buy the 1100? I've searched online but have not had much luck...


Where are you?

I am on the shore and I ordered mine from expert info tech. They ordered it in from the NZ importer and had it the next day.

A friend in another part of AK ordered some disk drives from them and they came by courier the next day so it looks like you can trust them.


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