AIO mounted up top - Intake or Exhaust?

[Level 3 Corn]

SImply put, should I have my AIO set to intake or exhaust when mounted to the top? Using a Corsair 5000D. I keep reading that using AIO as an intake will lower CPU temps, but increase GPU temps.

I have three sets of fans on the front and side set as intake, and one as exhaust in the back currently.

I have all Noctua fans if that matters.

[Crawl]

I have mine set to exhaust, logic being that heat rises. I'm using the 7000D with 8 intake (front/side) and 4 exhaust (top/rear). My temps run in the mid to upper 40C on cpu and gpu while gaming

[Level 3 Corn]

I kind of regret getting the 14900k. Works like a damn beauty but it runs hotter than the sun's armpit.

[Supafly]

As heat rises Exhaust at top is the common practice

Originally posted by Level 3 Corn:

I kind of regret getting the 14900k. Works like a damn beauty but it runs hotter than the sun's armpit.

Check Bios settings. Some motherboard able boost enhancements that can supply too much juice which'll drive temps even higher.

Whilst not the same CPU my 12700k is undervolted -0.105 when using default/stock speeds and get much better temps.

EDIT: For more indepth details on poor default bios settings (not undervolting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3StcUhVRWQ

[_I_]

intake on front is better for cooling, rad works best with largest temp diff between fluid and air

but its very important to keep fluid at the pump, so above the cpu (if aio pump is on cpu block) is best for that

keep pump speed at 100%
and rad fans to adjust speed vs cpu temp, 0% at 60c and 100% at 80c

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If your AIO LC Fans ever need to be above 70-80% then something is seriously wrong with your config.

But yes, keeping Pump @ 100% helps quite a bit.

If you configure a top-mounted AIO as exhaust, then turn around the rear case fan to act as intake.

[r.linder]

Hot air rises as a result of natural convection, so when mounting an AIO at the top of a case, it should ideally be running as an exhaust, which doesn't usually result in the best possible CPU temperatures while running heavier GPU loads.

For the best CPU temperatures, AIOs should be mounted in the front of the case as an intake, ideally with the tubes on the bottom to minimise pump noise.

[Guydodge]

Originally posted by Level 3 Corn:

I kind of regret getting the 14900k. Works like a damn beauty but it runs hotter than the sun's armpit.

it should not run that hot you really should get Thermal Grizzly - Kryonaut Extreme and a
Thermalright Intel 12th/13/14th Generation LGA1700 Anti-Bending Buckle or one like it
the cpu socket holders for the intel 13900 and the 14900k are trash it stabilized my temps
across all cores and runs cooler,and update your motherboard bios if the new intel bios setting is not in your bios (crucial step here) and turn it on.airflow out of case andi hope your using a 360 AIO.im running a 13900k with best performance power settings turbo and enhanced on in bios and about 50c on most AAA high cpu usage games
case airflow should be.. front fans in top rad fans out rear fan out
your core temps should look like this across the board .repaste and or replace the crappy intel socket holder

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3257474054

[Guydodge]

Originally posted by r.linder:

Hot air rises as a result of natural convection, so when mounting an AIO at the top of a case, it should ideally be running as an exhaust, which doesn't usually result in the best possible CPU temperatures while running heavier GPU loads.

For the best CPU temperatures, AIOs should be mounted in the front of the case as an intake, ideally with the tubes on the bottom to minimise pump noise.

um...no that leaves the air pocket at the pump the rad tubes need to be above the pump
and for the 1 to 2c you would gain from being on the front is not worth heating up your entire pc.get the airflow correct in that case is all thats needed when it comes to placement.and with todays high end cards and cpus a med size case is kinda dumb.

[PopinFRESH]

Which case? What are the other case fan positions / sizes? It depends on how your case is designed. “Heat rising” from convection isn’t going to overpower or impede air flow from active fans. This discussion about “what’s best for aio in top” is kinda pointless without knowing the case and the rest of the fans.

Originally posted by Guydodge:

Originally posted by r.linder:

Hot air rises as a result of natural convection, so when mounting an AIO at the top of a case, it should ideally be running as an exhaust, which doesn't usually result in the best possible CPU temperatures while running heavier GPU loads.

For the best CPU temperatures, AIOs should be mounted in the front of the case as an intake, ideally with the tubes on the bottom to minimise pump noise.

um...no that leaves the air pocket at the pump the rad tubes need to be above the pump
and for the 1 to 2c you would gain from being on the front is not worth heating up your entire pc.get the airflow correct in that case is all thats needed when it comes to placement.and with todays high end cards and cpus a med size case is kinda dumb.

If you are mounting the rad vertically you want the hoses at the bottom of the rad so you don’t have the air pocket at the hose inlet/outlet header which will cause gurgling and allow the pump to suck in air causing cavitation. You are also partially correct though that you also don’t want the pump to be the highest point in the loop. You want to make sure the upper end of the radiator is higher than the pump with the hoses at the bottom.

Edit: missed the 5000D in the OP.

[_I_]

aio/clc rad on top is better for pump safety to keep air bubbles at the rad instead of pump
exhaust is better with that kind of setup

custom loop, can have the rad at front for intake, will give better cpu cooling, and not change the case intake temp by much
standalone pump can be mounted anywhere in the loop below the reservoir or rad

[PopinFRESH]

@OP if its a 360 AIO you'd be better off mounting it on the side mounts with the hoses at the bottom and having the fans oriented as intake; along with 3 fans on the front as intake. Then put 3 fans in the top along with the one fan in the rear as exhaust.

[r.linder]

Originally posted by Guydodge:

Originally posted by r.linder:

Hot air rises as a result of natural convection, so when mounting an AIO at the top of a case, it should ideally be running as an exhaust, which doesn't usually result in the best possible CPU temperatures while running heavier GPU loads.

For the best CPU temperatures, AIOs should be mounted in the front of the case as an intake, ideally with the tubes on the bottom to minimise pump noise.

um...no that leaves the air pocket at the pump the rad tubes need to be above the pump
and for the 1 to 2c you would gain from being on the front is not worth heating up your entire pc.get the airflow correct in that case is all thats needed when it comes to placement.and with todays high end cards and cpus a med size case is kinda dumb.

There’s actual test data that shows that tubes down is better for pump noise because the air bubbles aren’t collecting right by the hoses. :|

[Iron Knights]

Noctua fans are the worst, low CFM.
As an intake you cool the liquid in the radiator, thus operating as designed.
As an exhaust you blow the hot air into the radiator, nullifying the cooling effect of the water.
To cool the inside air, have a high CFM fan on the rear panel as exhaust, like 100+ CFM.
You can use the front fans as exhaust also.

[smokerob79]

would go with with "output".....yes going on the front of the case will push up GPU temps....and yes putting on the top will raise CPU temps a little....but you just need to make sure you have good fans in front pushing in a lot of air

[Freqsync]

if there is a fan at the front near the bottom as it pushes air in will cause suction from anywhere else except where it is directing most of its flow.


so if you put a fan at the top and you try to pull air out are you asking is it gonna work against or for the rear exhaust fans?

Create turbulence.
When a plasma ball forms remember to siphon considerable amounts of energy into vacuum tubes from old televisions so they no longer need to be plugged in before dropping the device into the sea or ocean closest to... do not sink to the bottom of a lake.


Get your drone to hover before fly, obviously no one made their desktop walk yet. Thinking for sapiens should be paid for.