Proper liquid cooler air flow

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jazzbandit1313

jazzbandit1313

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Jul 10, 2014
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I recently built a new gaming system and I'm upgrading my Intel stock cooler (on my i5 4670K) to a Corsair H60 Performance model.

My question to you is, where would be the best place to mount my radiator and what direction should the air be flowing?

I have an NZXT H440 case that has room for 2 140's or 3 120 MM fans on the top racks, 1 140 blowing out the back and 3 120's pulling in from the front.

I currently have the three 120's in the front pulling in, one 140 on the top pushing out, and one 140 on the rear pushing out.

I can mount the radiator on the top, rear, and front, as i have lots of space in all areas. I'd also like to know what the best push pull/fan config should be.

So currently,

3 front fans pulling in
1 top fan pulling out
1 back fan pushing out

Where should this radiator go and how should it be configured?

Thanks for your help!
 
Solution
Karsten75
I once built a config very similar to this. I mounted the radiator in the front, taking cool air in from the front. THen I exhausted that air out the back and the top, with an additional fan at the bottom.

The cool air over the radiator was quite efficient, but of course it meant that the case temperature (and the air that the GPUs have to use for cooling) was already slightly warmed.

More conventional and my current build is like this - I put the radiator either in the rear otr at the top, venting out, and taking in cool air at the front and optionally at the bottom - but I don't really like bottom intake fans. I only use them under duress and even then only if there is a filter in front of the fan (which reduces airflow efficiency).
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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I once built a config very similar to this. I mounted the radiator in the front, taking cool air in from the front. THen I exhausted that air out the back and the top, with an additional fan at the bottom.

The cool air over the radiator was quite efficient, but of course it meant that the case temperature (and the air that the GPUs have to use for cooling) was already slightly warmed.

More conventional and my current build is like this - I put the radiator either in the rear otr at the top, venting out, and taking in cool air at the front and optionally at the bottom - but I don't really like bottom intake fans. I only use them under duress and even then only if there is a filter in front of the fan (which reduces airflow efficiency).
 
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jazzbandit1313

jazzbandit1313

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Jul 10, 2014
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Thanks for your reply! I was leaning towards mounting it in the back and pulling internal air through the radiator and out of the case. I can't imagine this would be the most efficient heat wise though. The top slots are sounding tantalizing right now.
 
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jazzbandit1313

jazzbandit1313

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Jul 10, 2014
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Right. The H60 is a smaller single radiator so I think I will have it in the back pulling out with 2 140 MM for good pressure. The only other valid option would be to mount it on top near the front of the case blowing out and receiving cool air from the top front intake fan.
 
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