Fan direction suggestions SLI NZXT Phantom 410

David Li

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Mar 12, 2013
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Hello, all.
NZXT-Phantom-410-Crafted-Series-Chassis-12.jpg


Picture is not of my build, but attached as a reference. I have SLI GTX 670, with two 140mm exhaust fans on the top of the case, and one intake fan behind a radiator on the left of case (left meaning toward the I/O). On the in-picture removed panel, there is a exhaust fan directly over the GPUs.

What are your recommendations for the right side (i.e. front) of the case? There is currently 1 120mm intake. Should I add in another exhaust to have an upper pull lower push? Have them both intake, or both exhaust?

Furthermore, the bottom of the case has room for another fan. Should I insert an exhaust fan here?

The cards are stock OC, but I'd like to add another 50-100 mhz if I can. I blow my GPU fans at 65%-70% and get temps that hover at 67. I'd like to push the GPU fans only at 60% if I can, because that's when noise gets pretty noticeable.

For a side question, I have a sound card between both GPUs. There is very little distance between the sound card and the upper gpu (it may even be touching the case). Is this a problem? What's a fix if it is?

Thanks for taking the time to read!
 
Solution
Do you have reference 670's, or ones with different coolers?

If reference, the side should be an intake so as to feed the turbine fans. If something else (gigabyte, asus, etc...) really the best way would just be to experiment.

wiggbot

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Do you have reference 670's, or ones with different coolers?

If reference, the side should be an intake so as to feed the turbine fans. If something else (gigabyte, asus, etc...) really the best way would just be to experiment.
 
Solution

wiggbot

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For instance, I've got Gigabyte 670's in SLI. I thought that turning the side intake into an exhaust would be the smart way to go. As it turned out, it didn't make that much of a difference in my case.
 
I'd just ditch the sound card and use onboard if it's that cramped (and acceptable).

Intake - front, bottom, side
Exhaust - top two

Slightly more intake than exhaust. You could flip your radiator fan at that point since you'd have a lot more cool air available inside the case to feed it.
 

David Li

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Reference design by EVGA.

That makes sense, because the turbine fans blow the air in the direction of the ports.


 

David Li

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The sound card is necessary because it inputs into my capture card and it has dd optical out that I need.

It's working fine though.
 

wiggbot

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Since reference, then I'll reiterate that the side should be an intake. Don't forget that your two video cards can be classified as exhausts.

As for the close sound card, is the card obstructing the fan intake? If not, you're fine unless the cooling enclosure is conductive. You wouldn't want to short your sound card.