Need Help With Cooler Master Elite 360 Case Airflow and Fan Layout

DrPoko · Jul 13, 2017

I'm having a tough time planning my fan configuration because there aren't any front fans for my old case (by default the spot was meant for a PSU). I would like to know the most efficient airflow possible to keeping my computer cool while, hopefully, overclocking. Ideally, one would experiment with the layout but (1) I'm replacing my mobo but I don't have it yet and (2) I don't want to waste money on extra fans. Here are a few images of the case:
image1
image2
image3
Fan locations:
1x 120-80mm top (installed)
1x 120-80mm side
2x 80mm back-top
1x 80mm bottom

Potential factors to consider:
-My mobo is an ASUS P5N-D ATX and will have a CPU heat sink (blowing in) and a Northbridge fan.
-The case can be set vertically or horizontally.
P5N-D

Thank you!

(P.S: I've familiarized myself enough with computer building but I'm still new at it. Please bear with me.)

Aeacus · Jul 13, 2017

If you set your case vertically, here's how i'd position the case fans:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm intake
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm exhaust

Since hot air rises, it gives your case the best airflow you can do. Just keep your case standing on elevated feet, so that you don't block your bottom intake fan.

With horizontal case placement, things get trickier. Here, it's best if you can flip your CPU cooler fan for reverse airflow. Rather than pushing air down and through the CPU heatsink, it sucks the air through CPU heatsink and exhausts it upwards.

With this tweak (if it can be done), i'd position the case fans as follows:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm exhaust
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm intake

If the CPU cooler tweak can't be done, i'd position the case fans as so:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm intake
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm intake or exhaust

Vertical case placement without reversing airflow on CPU cooler provides the least amount of cooling since you'd be forcing rising hot air back down into the PC.

For the best possible airflow, besides fan mounting directions, i'd use Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM and Noctua NF-A8 PWM fans with 5.25" external fan controller, e.g NZXT Sentry 3.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case Fan: Noctua - NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 71.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($25.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 71.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($25.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Fan Controller: NZXT - SENTRY 3 Fan Controller ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $125.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-13 21:43 EDT-0400

With this setup, you can control the speed of each fan individually and have the ultimate air cooling in Cooler Master Elite 360 case.

Specs,
Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM: http://noctua.at/en/products/product-line-industrial/nf-f12-industrialppc-2000-pwm/specification
Noctua NF-A8 PWM: http://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a8-pwm/specification
NZXT Sentry 3: https://www.nzxt.com/products/sentry-3

DrPoko · Jul 17, 2017

Aeacus :

If you set your case vertically, here's how i'd position the case fans:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm intake
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm exhaust

Since hot air rises, it gives your case the best airflow you can do. Just keep your case standing on elevated feet, so that you don't block your bottom intake fan.

With horizontal case placement, things get trickier. Here, it's best if you can flip your CPU cooler fan for reverse airflow. Rather than pushing air down and through the CPU heatsink, it sucks the air through CPU heatsink and exhausts it upwards.

With this tweak (if it can be done), i'd position the case fans as follows:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm exhaust
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm intake

If the CPU cooler tweak can't be done, i'd position the case fans as so:
Bottom: 1x 80mm intake
Side: 1x 120mm intake
Top: 1x 120mm exhaust
Rear: 2x 80mm intake or exhaust

Vertical case placement without reversing airflow on CPU cooler provides the least amount of cooling since you'd be forcing rising hot air back down into the PC.

For the best possible airflow, besides fan mounting directions, i'd use Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM and Noctua NF-A8 PWM fans with 5.25" external fan controller, e.g NZXT Sentry 3.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case Fan: Noctua - NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 71.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($25.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM 71.7 CFM 120mm Fan ($25.35 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua - NF-A8 PWM 32.7 CFM 80mm Fan ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Fan Controller: NZXT - SENTRY 3 Fan Controller ($26.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $125.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-13 21:43 EDT-0400

With this setup, you can control the speed of each fan individually and have the ultimate air cooling in Cooler Master Elite 360 case.

Specs,
Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-2000 PWM: http://noctua.at/en/products/product-line-industrial/nf-f12-industrialppc-2000-pwm/specification
Noctua NF-A8 PWM: http://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a8-pwm/specification
NZXT Sentry 3: https://www.nzxt.com/products/sentry-3

Still waiting for my fans to arrive but thank you so much! I'll experiment with each set and see how it goes.

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Need Help With Cooler Master Elite 360 Case Airflow and Fan Layout

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