Why Is Everybody Saying Front Mounted Radiators Work?

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TechyInAZ

TechyInAZ

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Jun 23, 2014
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So after doing some extensive research, I found that front mounted radiators were perfectly fine, and didn't affect GPU temps hardly at all.

So I buy a new case, the Phanteks P400s TG silent edition, and a new H100i V2 cooler for the front of the case.

Even with all 5 fan slots populated (2 radiator intakes, 3 case fan exhausts), my GPU temps are very high, around 78C at max. My previous case, the 450D allowed my 1060 to only reach barely 67C. During both cases, I was using identical custom fan curves.

So Kyle from Bitwit who was using a aftermarket 1070, saw only 1C difference between top and front mounted radiators, and I'm seeing more than 10C. Why?

I'm using a 4690K @ 4.5ghz
H100i V2
G1 Gaming GTX 1060 6GB.
 
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S
Yeah I saw that video too which convinced me that simply putting one position over the other is likely wrong though I always thought top was the better position. He mentions in his video that things will vary case to case, and other components may be different so my advice after seeing it myself a few days ago for the first time is to test it out on your new case. It should take like 15 minutes to mount, and I think P400S supports radiator in both positions, so just test it out for yourself.
My guess would be that the difference you're seeing is in the front of your case. 450D had a nice open front, with direct access of fans to cool air, impeded only by a thin filter.
In P400S you have a front panel blocking a lot of the noise, but...
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Sep 27, 2012
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Well... you were seeing better temps with the top mounted radiator... in a different case.

The fact of the matter is, that Phanteks case is designed to look pretty, not to promote airflow. It's incredibly restrictive.

Try taking off the front panel and benchmarking again; I'd be willing to bet that it works just fine.
 
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Sedivy

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Yeah I saw that video too which convinced me that simply putting one position over the other is likely wrong though I always thought top was the better position. He mentions in his video that things will vary case to case, and other components may be different so my advice after seeing it myself a few days ago for the first time is to test it out on your new case. It should take like 15 minutes to mount, and I think P400S supports radiator in both positions, so just test it out for yourself.
My guess would be that the difference you're seeing is in the front of your case. 450D had a nice open front, with direct access of fans to cool air, impeded only by a thin filter.
In P400S you have a front panel blocking a lot of the noise, but also limiting incoming air to bottom/top cutouts, which isn't going to be nearly as efficient air flow wise.
However, you can test this all out yourself, by leaving off that portion of your front panel and seeing if it indeed makes up for the difference in temperatures.
 
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aquielisunari

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Can you please dumb this down for the newbs like me.

Which 1070 do you have? Exactly and how is it being cooled.

Which cooler are you using on your 4790?

One major difference may be negative pressure.

Thanks for the question. Won't be definitive but will add to the pot. Going to be adding a 1080Ti. Considering getting a water block and cooling it. With a Vivo Titan I have options. Suffice to say I think this question will help me make some decisions about mine.

Negative pressure? Applies to the Phanteks case. The front of the case can't breath that well.

You then have 3 fans exhausting. Try breathing with mostly exhaling. GEt's kinda hard. It is my opinion that one should try and create positive pressure within their case. Negative pressure is also said to contribute to faster dust build-up.

 
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aquielisunari

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Thanks for that. Style surpassed function unfortunately.

And the 1060's open shroud style.

Never understood that. Someone will exhaust H100i heat into their case..... Hot air rises? But let's challenge that.

Please excuse the grammar issues.
 
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Sedivy

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Well as the video he links above mentions, it actually shows for the particular case and configuration the bitwit guy was using (which was admittedly pretty standard), front mounted radiator was actually better for temperatures when the video card exhausts into the case. I too thought the opposite true as did the guy in the video ultimately, but it's very interesting cause you see him actually trying it out and getting completely the opposite result.
If I ever get an aio cooler for my cpu, I'm definitely testing both positions.
 
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aquielisunari

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Ditto.

That does make sense when one thinks about it. With it exhausting air out the top it is using that heated and stale internal air to cool it. The cooler is handicapped and indirectly raises internal temps.

Interesting.

Thank you Techy and Sedivy
 
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Sedivy

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Yes I made similar mistakes with my previous systems and case was always an afterthought. This time around spend the longest time researching just cases, air flow mechanics of completed builds and cooling. I'm very happy I did because this summer is already hot and only about to get hotter.
 
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Sedivy

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Well but I got phanteks's enthoo pro M and am very happy. That case is pretty much like what he had before, the corsair's 450D. And yet the rest of corsair's cases, like phanteks, have front blocked. I think it's just a design everyone has one or two of, and then the rest of the cases are for show/aesthetics and apparently closed fronts, like tempered glass, are currently in style.
 
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aquielisunari

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And thanks to this question we can share our knowledge. These are the types of questions I bookmark. It's not just one person saying something that amounts to anecdotal evidence. It's real life experience by the OP, video "proof" and past experience.
 
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