How is my chassis fan setup?

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Sphynx91

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Here is a diagram of what my current chassis fan setup looks like...


I was just wondering if my current setup is fine and if I should add another fan on the side near the GPU (the bold circle in the diagram shows the location). If so, should this fan push air in or pull air out? My GPU (Asus GTX 670 CUII 2GB) hits a max of 72C while gaming and I would like to reduce this by at least 5C.
 
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Madn3ss795

Madn3ss795

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Hot air is lighter than cold/cool ones, meaning they'll fly straight above naturally, so rear and top fans should all be set as exhaust fans. Just need 1 intake fan on the front ( like the way you're setting it up in your pic above ) to provide fresh air for a continuous airflow. As for the side, Direct CU2 cooler take airs from the middle and blow hot airs out of its 2 end, so side fan should be set as intake to provide fresh air for the card.
 
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Sphynx91

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I used to have my H80i fans (rear) blow air out but I later read that if the H80i fans are set as intake then it actually keeps the CPU slightly cooler. Should I keep it the way it is or change it back to blowing air out? Also, is 72C ok for the Asus GTX 670 CUII or should I get that extra fan on the side to blow air onto it to keep it a little cooler?
 
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Madn3ss795

Madn3ss795

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Can't find a logical explanation for why do setting that fan as intake help making the CPU a bit cooler, so I'd still suggest setting it as exhaust. Below 75 degree under load is acceptable for a GTX670, so there's no need to mount a fan on the side if you find it hurts the system's appearance.
 
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Som3one

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Because that way, the rad would benefit from the colder air outside the case.




The thing is, in theory your CPU should benefit from the colder air outside the case.
However, there might be two disadvantages. One, while setting the H80 as an intake you blow warmer air over the CPU socket (and the motherboard for that matter). Two, you might ruin the airflow in your case.
So, my advice (if you have the time): Run a CPU/GPU stress test with your current configuration for 20mins or something and note your temps (CPU, mobo, RAM etc.). Then try to set the H80i as an exhaust and do the same.



Your temps are fine. But I am personally a big fan of sidepanel fans. ;)
It always depends on your graphics card and the general airflow in your case. Same for the direction of a possible sidepanel fan.
 
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Sphynx91

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My motherboard gets to around 30-33C, CPU gets to around 40C in game (goes up to 70C in stress tests) so my only concern really is my GPU. I think I'll go with a side panel fan to keep my GPU a little cooler. Do you guys have any recommendations on which or what kind of fan to get?
 
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Som3one

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My usual advice for 120/140mm fans:

If you want them to be (more) silent, have a look at the BQ! Silent Wings, the Noctuas or Corsair AF series.
If you want some bigger airflow, have a look at Scythe and Thermaltake fans.

 
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Sphynx91

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So I bought a BiFenix Spectre Pro PWM 140mm. I decided to mount it on the front since it was more powerful than the one I had there before. I then moved the 140mm fan I had on the front to the top as an exhaust beside the other 140mm fan. And then moved the 120mm fan I had mount on the top to the side beside my GPU as an intake.

So this is what my current fan setup looks like...


Also, my H80i fans blow towards the front of my case where it is empty and has small holes for the air to exit, so I don't think it will be messing up the air flow. And Corsair recommends mount the H80i fans as intake but also if you do so they highly recommend having 2 fans at the top to pull warm air out which I have.

Here is an image of my case (Cooler Master 690II Advanced), so you guys have a better idea of what I'm working with and talking about...


I currently don't have a PSU because I'll be getting a replacement tomorrow so I can't test the temperatures yet but when I am able to I'll post what the differences are.
 
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Sphynx91

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So after testing for a few weeks with the side fan I realized that my GPU and motherboard temperatures were actually going up by around 5-10C in idle and under load. I'm really liking my new front intake fan though! :) Thanks for the help guys.
 
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