Is it ok to install first the radiator at the top and then the fans below it?

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Ragnarous

Ragnarous

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I just bought a corsair hydro h110 and 2 sp140 mm purple fans and im thinking if i first install the fans at the top of the case and then the radiator below it, the radiator will create a shadow pointing in the case... So my question is, is it ok to first install the radiator at the top of the case and then the fans below it drawing air from the radiator? Or should i install them to draw air from the inside of the case and excaust it on the radiator to get it cooled? I have plenty of room in my case and it barely ever gets hot!
 
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I did a quickie Google image search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=corsair+hydro+h110&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0okaVdPxEYPmuQTLnoHIAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAw&biw=1680&bih=899

The radiator is a heat exchanger yeah? Them fans should blow air thru the radiator, because the velocity exiting the fans will be higher.. compared to the fans being installed after the radiator. All fans near the top should be directed outside cause hot air rises, and try to get air from a low place, maybe in the front or sides.

If I would design it, i'd install the radiator at the cool sides (front, side panel, etc.) for a better delta on the temps. Placing it at the top of the case can expose it from the hot air from the cpu, gfxcard (if its not a rear exhaust...
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pecul1ar

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I did a quickie Google image search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=corsair+hydro+h110&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0okaVdPxEYPmuQTLnoHIAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAw&biw=1680&bih=899

The radiator is a heat exchanger yeah? Them fans should blow air thru the radiator, because the velocity exiting the fans will be higher.. compared to the fans being installed after the radiator. All fans near the top should be directed outside cause hot air rises, and try to get air from a low place, maybe in the front or sides.

If I would design it, i'd install the radiator at the cool sides (front, side panel, etc.) for a better delta on the temps. Placing it at the top of the case can expose it from the hot air from the cpu, gfxcard (if its not a rear exhaust type model) and possibly some PSUs.

Comparing it to cars, its like the radiator is near the hot exhaust pipe, heating the radiator and the 'cooling' medium..
 
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Adroid

Adroid

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Kinda. But not exactly. Conversely, the radiator should exhaust, ALWAYS. Having it at the top is a good choice, but the caveat to that is make sure to have enough SUPPLY air.. If you mount it to the front, where are you going to bring supply air in? Typically you want air coming in the front, and going out the back/top. Also in the case of a radiator, the hot air from the CPU is being expended at the radiator, so there is no hot air coming from the CPU per se, rather the hot liquid that is removing heat from the CPU is being removed through the radiator into the fresh air that is blowing over the radiator. You should never have a radiator blowing air into the case, ever.

You should always have more intake than exhaust. This allows enough fresh air to hit all the hot parts.. GPU, CPU, and other chipsets you may have. You also want a positive static pressure, forcing fresh air to circulate throughout the case, and eliminating "hot spots". It's better to force more air in, so the air finds it's way out, as opposed to too much exhaust, where the fans are competing for hot air to pull out.
 
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Adroid

Adroid

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And back to the original posters question, yes having the radiator on top, with fans below it pushing air out is a good choice, especially in the case of the SP model fans you have. The fans are designed to work well blowing air across radiators, they are also good intake fans.

Make sure you have enough intake, or you may find your temps rising as a result of putting this much exhaust on your PC.
 
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Ragnarous

Ragnarous

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I have 2 af 120 front intakes, 1 140sp excaust and 2 140sp for rad :)
 
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Adroid

Adroid

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If your case would fit it, I suggest putting 140mm fans for intake, and the 120 mm fans for exhaust, or put additional intake fans(s) at top or bottom of your case.

You should also run the single exhaust fan on medium/low and the intake fans on high.
 
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Ragnarous

Ragnarous

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Unfortunately it only supports 120 in the front.. I thought of placing a 140 mm on the bottom for another intake but the noise is already starting to drive me insane so no more fans for now :)
 
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