CPU cooler fan facing GPU or facing RAM ?

[Γαῖα]

Now when i build a system usually i like the CPU cooler to work for itself rather than gain to much heat coming from other hardware directly or supply it to other hardware.

Now the bain of most systems dependant on case design is the dreaded PSU that seems to conflict somewhere when making cooling decisions.

Now one of my systems sporting AMD 8 core cpu, 990fx extreme 3 mobo, 8gb X 2 (16gb dual channel) vengeance RAM, thermaltake PSU, 1 x Evga super factory over clocked FTW 970 gpu card needs a cpu cooler replacement.
Ive purchased the Antec c400 elite cooler (120mm fan type) as the replacement which allows me the option to place the fan/cooler how i please.

Now previously it had a fan facing the CPU so its never been something i had to consider (vertically mounted mobo), yet now i must. Now my case has the PSU at the top (rear) of the case and the PSU works on a curved intake air basis so as to not just cool the PSU but also assist in extracting case air and vent it out the back.
So it seems to me considering theres also another fan (120mm rear case fan) below it directly that i would be better off mounting the new cooler with the fan directly facing the RAM. This way working with the front case fan again 120mm, that i would get a nice air movement across the RAM, into the cooler which is then trafficked nicely by the rear fan and the above PSU fan.
Ive done this before in other builds and its worked well but those systems werent gaming rigs so the GPU cards never really factored to much in the heat calc.

So what do you think and what have you found from experience in this situation when the PSU is top mounted ?

[Omega]

The CPU coolers should blow towards the back exhaust fan.

[Γαῖα]

Publicado originalmente por Omega:

The CPU coolers should blow towards the back exhaust fan.

It will always go out the back on this particular case (no topside vents) but the question is do i have the fan facing down and thus draw air from the back of the GPU card and expel from the top of the CPU cooler meaning the PSU fan takes the most brunt over the two rear fans or have it draw the much less heat generated by the RAM thats inline with the front fan (quicker draw of air across the system) which inturn means the air coming out of the coolers rear is now mostly facing the rear case fan and thus leaving the PSU fan above drawing far less heat besides what it take of the side of the CPU cooler.

I think the latter option is best and as i wont get it till tomorrow, thought i would throw it out there to see what you all say on the matter ?

[upcoast]

Your rear case fan should be exhausting air out of the tower and your hsf fan should be pushing air to the rear of the case.

If you're really worried about GPU/cpu heat mounting an intake 120mm or larger on your side panel helps a lot if there's no hole for one and the case isn't worth much just cut one in.

2nd tip, the honey comb fan grill on the rear of the case restricts quite a bit of air and adds a lot of noise so if you want you can cut out the honey comb mesh too.

[Γαῖα]

Publicado originalmente por upcoast:

Your rear case fan should be exhausting air out of the tower and your hsf fan should be pushing air to the rear of the case.

If you're really worried about GPU/cpu heat mounting an intake 120mm or larger on your side panel helps a lot if there's no hole for one and the case isn't worth much just cut one in.

2nd tip, the honey comb fan grill on the rear of the case restricts quite a bit of air and adds a lot of noise so if you want you can cut out the honey comb mesh too.

I actually use the side fan for that very thing although i didnt need such a large fan to pull it off. I set it so it gave the air from the GPU a gentle push but i have wondered if sucking it into the cpu cooler isnt such a bad thing. The only thing in this case i dont know is what the build up across the hardware if it did. As not only would it add the cooler but also eventually the PSU. Logic tells me its not such a good idea with respect to a top mounted PSU as it would say to a bottom fitted PSU.

This is why im asking others what they have found/experienced because as sound as a calculation can be and i use them all the time in my field of energy, there not always representative of the reality when all the unknown variables come into play.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Really shouldn't use any Side Panel fans when Tower Coolers are in-use, as this totally will screw up all the air flow.

Honestly, your PC should have a modern Case with completely open top and fans installed in both the Rear and Top for exhausting hot air. Its just common sense, since hot air rises, this is why pretty much every Case design has been this way for many years now.

But yes I understand not all are like this, such as some from Bitfenix where the top has no exhaust, just on the rear... in such a case layout as that, best to have Case Fan for Rear Exhaust; and then your CPU Tower Fans all blowing towards that rear exhaust, this ensure smooth transition of airflow... adding any side fans to the mix in such a setup will just throw air all over the place and not work properly. GPUs should never needs any extra fans blowing over them, like from side panel. And for CPU Tower Coolers, installing one or two fans on that should be more then enough to keep the CPU cooled at all times, and also promote proper airflow.

[Γαῖα]

Publicado originalmente por Bad_Motha:

Really shouldn't use any Side Panel fans when Tower Coolers are in-use, as this totally will screw up all the air flow.

Honestly, your PC should have a modern Case with completely open top and fans installed in both the Rear and Top for exhausting hot air. Its just common sense, since hot air rises, this is why pretty much every Case design has been this way for many years now.

But yes I understand not all are like this, such as some from Bitfenix where the top has no exhaust, just on the rear... in such a case layout as that, best to have Case Fan for Rear Exhaust; and then your CPU Tower Fans all blowing towards that rear exhaust, this ensure smooth transition of airflow... adding any side fans to the mix in such a setup will just throw air all over the place and not work properly. GPUs should never needs any extra fans blowing over them, like from side panel. And for CPU Tower Coolers, installing one or two fans on that should be more then enough to keep the CPU cooled at all times, and also promote proper airflow.

I quite agree but as i said on the other thread, im not going to waste good money getting this particular system perfect when its fast becoming a memory what with me looking to build a new system. I simply want to keep this functioning well rather than just cast it aside as there isnt a single part i want from it. You know how it goes, stick in the front room, tied to the big TV and once in a while do youtube or let friends and visitors play a game on it knowing it will play them for quite some time to come.

The side fan use to not be in use but after moving up the tier of cards needed something to help push the heated air away from the card as the CPU cooler was the type with fan blowing straight down to the CPU so did nothing for moving the air in the case. Its only a baby fan and works only slightly to generate a gentle push so as not to interfere with the major flow of air. With the change of cooler type thats liable to change. I will have to test it out, first off and then on but with a 120mm fan and large heatsink cooler probably wont need it in which case i will just remove the fan and panel it off again.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yea best bet with any AMD FX config is never use their stock cooler; always use Tower Cooler or Liquid Cooler if you can.

If your Case has multiple mount points on Side Panel for Fans; then best to maybe use a side panel intake fan to blow towards the GPU card, but you should not need one blowing towards the CPU, when using a tower cooler.

If you have newer Gen AMD/NVIDIA GPU (like NVIDIA GTX 10xx series) those are designed by default to not run the GPU fans until GPU is hitting approx 60*C or higher (least this is how most are now); to help better cool your GPU, can simply use something like MSI Afterburner and then user-configure the Fan Curve; making it so the Fans kick in at an even lower *C (like maybe at 50*C instead) and ramp the RPMs up, according to the *C Temp within that curve setting; in the end allowing GPU Fans to start cooling at lower *C and then overall this helping to keep the GPU much cooler during times of usage and help so it's max *C Temp is even lower; compared to when GPU Fan % is left on "Auto"

[vadim]

RAM doesn't need to be cooled.

[Γαῖα]

Publicado originalmente por Bad_Motha:

Yea best bet with any AMD FX config is never use their stock cooler; always use Tower Cooler or Liquid Cooler if you can.

If your Case has multiple mount points on Side Panel for Fans; then best to maybe use a side panel intake fan to blow towards the GPU card, but you should not need one blowing towards the CPU, when using a tower cooler.

If you have newer Gen AMD/NVIDIA GPU (like NVIDIA GTX 10xx series) those are designed by default to not run the GPU fans until GPU is hitting approx 60*C or higher (least this is how most are now); to help better cool your GPU, can simply use something like MSI Afterburner and then user-configure the Fan Curve; making it so the Fans kick in at an even lower *C (like maybe at 50*C instead) and ramp the RPMs up, according to the *C Temp within that curve setting; in the end allowing GPU Fans to start cooling at lower *C and then overall this helping to keep the GPU much cooler during times of usage and help so it's max *C Temp is even lower; compared to when GPU Fan % is left on "Auto"

The side fan was only strictly for the GPU and has done a good job of trimming away its heats due to the fact its the super super factory overclocked FTW Evga model (got tempted to know how far this card could really go so got one despite already having a perfectly good asus one in it prior). Had it been down the pecking tier list, the side fan wouldnt have been needed.

I dont have a GPU heat problem, the side fan is merely an assist so i dont create an unwanted patch of heated air to mess up all the other fan settings (i set them manually and change them according to what im doing). It merely pushes the air gently while spreading it into the main flow stream (like a stream going into a river if that makes sense).