Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Coolermaster elite 431+ heatsink and cooling questions.

Tags:
  • Cooler Master
  • Cooling
  • Heatsinks
  • Elite
  • Components
Last response: in Components
Share
April 8, 2013 12:42:27 PM

I just ordered most of my parts for my first gaming build on the 5th. I have ordered everything but the gpu.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kenh536/saved/1qM9

This case has mounts for a front, bottom, rear, and two top fans. I am planning to replace the front 120mm blue led with a red led fan and use the other as a back exhaust. I am not planning to overclock YET, but I think I will want to in the future(probably in at least a year, maybe 2) so I am wondering if I should install an aftermarket heatsink now or wait and replace it?
Also I am not sure where I should put fans for the best cooling in this case.
I have read up on this case and am aware that if I install a large heatsink I wont be able to use the top 2 fan mounts.
If I do install an aftermarket heatsink what would be a good one? I would need one that can clear my ram and allow for the top fan mounts to be used.
Basically I need to come up with a cooling plan, what to run now, and what I will need when I overclock.

More about : coolermaster elite 431 heatsink cooling questions

April 9, 2013 11:59:30 PM

Hey there. In my opinion, when it comes to case cooling, this is what I would suggest: Exhaust fans are good but you also need intake fans which push in cool air and thus the hot air gets forceably pushed out through the exhaust fans.

For your case, I would recommend a 200mm front intake fan, a 120mm exhaust fan at the back and a 140mm exhaust fan at the top. Side intake/exhaust fan solely depends on your gpu size and requirement.

Coming to your question about your aftermarket cooler. Yes! Please buy it with all your components and install it from the very beginning itself because its a pain to dismantle your computer later just to fit an aftermarket cooler. I don't really know much about water cooling but I use a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo. Its cheap and serves the purpose really well.

Regarding your question about being able to fit a top fan in case you install an aftermarket cooler and clearance for your RAM slots, it all depends on the orientation of your cooler. You can install your cpu cooler pushing hot air towards the back or push hot air out the top. If you install it in the former method, then you might find it difficult to fit a top case fan. But if you install it the latter way, you will have sufficient clearance for the top case fan. About your RAM, it depends on which RAM you're going to use low profile ram sticks then there is no issue at all. If you're going to get something like corsair vengeance, then one slot might get blocked.

This set up will be fine for your overclocking needs. No need for any special setup. Never depend on stock cpu coolers if you're building a gaming pc and planning to overclock.

Hope this helps.

m
0
l
April 10, 2013 7:41:50 AM

austin707 said:
Hey there. In my opinion, when it comes to case cooling, this is what I would suggest: Exhaust fans are good but you also need intake fans which push in cool air and thus the hot air gets forceably pushed out through the exhaust fans.

For your case, I would recommend a 200mm front intake fan, a 120mm exhaust fan at the back and a 140mm exhaust fan at the top. Side intake/exhaust fan solely depends on your gpu size and requirement.

Coming to your question about your aftermarket cooler. Yes! Please buy it with all your components and install it from the very beginning itself because its a pain to dismantle your computer later just to fit an aftermarket cooler. I don't really know much about water cooling but I use a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo. Its cheap and serves the purpose really well.

Regarding your question about being able to fit a top fan in case you install an aftermarket cooler and clearance for your RAM slots, it all depends on the orientation of your cooler. You can install your cpu cooler pushing hot air towards the back or push hot air out the top. If you install it in the former method, then you might find it difficult to fit a top case fan. But if you install it the latter way, you will have sufficient clearance for the top case fan. About your RAM, it depends on which RAM you're going to use low profile ram sticks then there is no issue at all. If you're going to get something like corsair vengeance, then one slot might get blocked.

This set up will be fine for your overclocking needs. No need for any special setup. Never depend on stock cpu coolers if you're building a gaming pc and planning to overclock.

Hope this helps.



Thank you for the response! Okay so I can mount up to a 140mm intake on the front and up to two 120mms on the top, one 120mm on the back and one on the bottom, depending on psu clearance. I already have my 2 120mm fans plus the 120mm blue it came with. I figure I am going to use the one 120mm for front intake and one for exhaust. Then depending on my temps I can add a 140mm for the front, add in two 120mm at the top(intake or exhaust?) and have one on the bottom if the psu allows it. Does this seem like a good plan as I wont overclock soon and I can always add fans later?

As for the hyper 212 evo. I have heard good things about it but I dont know if it will clear my ram on my board.
The board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
The ram: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0098WZV1Y/?tag=pcpapi-20
The case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

The Patriot Viper Ram seems to have heat spreaders and this might not get cleared. If so is there any smaller coolers that should work good? I am pretty sure this case wont work with a liquid cooler from what I read but I was thinking if I could and it was worth it I can add one later.
m
0
l
!