Optimal cooling for new case

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

sarasin

Prominent
Nov 19, 2017
17
0
510
So, after my graphics card (MSI RX 580 8gb) had a "reasonable" temperature of 87 degrees C when gaming, I figured my Node 304 case wasn't the exact right fit for good airflow. After Black friday hit, I decided to get a new case, with some new fans.

Question is simple enough: How do I best cool this new setup?

The system is as follows:

GPU: MSI RX 580 8gb Gaming X+
CPU: i5-7600 Kaby Lake
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2666Mhz 2x8gb
MB: MSI H270I Gaming Pro AC
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 4tb
SSD: Samsung EVO 850 1tb
PSU: EVGA Supernova 750w G3

I have now bought a Fractal Design Mini C (TG), and fans as follows as I intend to remove the stock fans from Fractal.

2x Noctua NF-A14 (PWM) Chromax 140mm
1x Noctua NF-S12A (PWM) Chromax 120mm
2x NF-F12 (PWM) Chromax 120mm

Seeing as my MB only has headers for one CPU-fan and one SYS-fan, I have also bought Thermaltake Commander as a fan-hub.

I have the Noctua NH-U12S CPU-cooler, so the idea is to put the F12-fans in a push pull for the CPU. The S12A will be exhaust, and the A14's will be front intake. At least this is my thinking as of now. The S12A and A14's will be connected to the Thermaltake hub, while I will use a Y-splitter for the CPU-fans.

I am looking for a cool and silent computer, while gaming.

Is this the optimal setup for my rig, or would you allknowing guys have done it differently? Do I have enough fans, or should I drop some?
 
Solution
geofelt
You are much worried about an issue that is not going to matter much.

If I were to control fans. I would manage both the front fans together.

Yes, heat rises, but the rear 120mm exhaust is mostly there to direct airflow past the cooler.
Whatever fresh air comes in, it will exit SOMEWHERE taking heat form the cpu and gpu with it.

Expect under load to see perhaps 70c. for the cpu
and 80c. for the gpu.

Remember, you can always change things around.
Why not wait to see if you have a problem first?
Graphics cards usually use 80c. as a target temperature and run as strong as they can with that target.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Zerk2012

Zerk2012

Titan
Ambassador
Oct 6, 2014
21,397
2,038
104,240
Before I spent a to of money on those fans you should give the stock fans a try their very good and about the same noise level as the expensive fans your looking at buying.
http://www.dvtests.com/fractal-design-dynamic-x2-gp12-and-x2-gp14-test-and-review/

Case stock fans.
•X2 GP12 is designed to operate at maximum 1200 revolutions per minute, delivering airflow level of 52.3 CFM, static pressure level of 0.88 mm H2O at noise level of 19.4dBA.

A14 fans.
Acoustical Noise

24,6 dB(A)
http://noctua.at/en/nf-a14-pwm/specification
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,298
4,146
174,240
The time to ask is BEFORE you buy.

That is a fine case.
Concentrate on front intake airflow.
Two 140mm should be more than enough.
All the air that comes in will exit SOMEWHERE, taking heat with it.
If that intake is the only air source and is filtered, your case will stay cleaner.

Use only one 120mm fan in the rear, mainly to direct the airflow.
If you use more exhaust capability, it will draw in unfiltered air making your parts dirtier.

Since your I5-7600 is not overclockable, the NH-U12s is overkill.
The single stock fan at lower rpm will do the job and be quieter.

The RX cards are power hungry and consequently noisy.
In time, you might want to upgrade to something like a GTX1080 or such.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sarasin

Prominent
Nov 19, 2017
17
0
510
Well, Seeing as I've ordered the TG-variant of the case, I wanted fans that looked better :p Done is done, anyway. I was sort of hoping that if I had 2x140mm intake, and 2x NF-F12 120mm on the cpu fans, the rotation would be so slow, that noise wouldn't be an issue. The NF-S12A for the exhaust is to direct airflow.

So the setup will work fine? :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sarasin

Prominent
Nov 19, 2017
17
0
510
Ok, so all the fans are in the case now, and the setup is very - VERY - quiet. I wonder if I should add another fan to the top of the case (that means removing the noisefilter from the top) to add another 120mm exhaust. Excited to find out how much that will add to sound, and if it will be worth it regarding heat.

While Furmark'ing and Prime95'ing at the same time, the GPU reaches 70 C (fan speed around 60%), and the CPU reaches 65 C with fans going on 65%. System in itself reaches 58 C with fans going at 55%.

So, obviously, you can hear the GPU-fans, but considering the toughness of these tests, I reckon it is all right :)

Two questions remain:

Seeing as I have the exhaust (1x120mm) and the intake (2x140mm) fans connected to a HUB - which fan should be the "Master" fan (as in which fan should control the RPM of the fans)? Primarily considering heat, but also noise.

Secondly - should I install another 120mm exhaust in the top?

Thank you guys and girls so much for all your help so far :) Much appreciated!

Merry Christmas to you all :D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,298
4,146
174,240
1. I like fans to be static.
That is much less annoying than having the fans ramp up and down.
I found that by using the supplied noctua low noise adapters, I can get reasonably quiet and reasonably cool.
If parts heat up a bit, so what, they are engineered to tolerate some heat.

2. No extra fans are needed. If you install an extra exhaust, it will tend to draw in unfiltered air from adjacent openings.
Your case will not stay as clean as it should.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sarasin

Prominent
Nov 19, 2017
17
0
510
Well, seeing as they are all PWM-fans, I let the Bios control them. While gaming they ramp up a bit, but with everyday use, you can hardly hear the case. In fact, my old monitor makes a "buzzing" sound that is louder than the case fans...

So, I ask again - which of the 3 fans should be the dominant one when it comes to RPM?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sarasin

Prominent
Nov 19, 2017
17
0
510
Trying to wrap my head around how this will work :p Say the system gets to 55c, and the bios wants to cool it down. Depending on which fan is the dominant one, the size difference will affect either noise level or heat level. (Please confirm)

If the 120mm is dominant, the 140mm fans will run at the same speed, and will generate more airflow than "needed" in the case. This will make it cooler, but noisier.

And the other way around, if the bios tells the 140mm fans to spin up, they will only need to go up to say 350 rpm, quieter, but warmer.

Is this at all a correct handle on how it will work?

I can't imagine that the top front intake fan is the best solution, seeing as heat rises. Am I correct to assume that it should be either the exhaust fan or the lower intake fan?

Is this correct?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,298
4,146
174,240
You are much worried about an issue that is not going to matter much.

If I were to control fans. I would manage both the front fans together.

Yes, heat rises, but the rear 120mm exhaust is mostly there to direct airflow past the cooler.
Whatever fresh air comes in, it will exit SOMEWHERE taking heat form the cpu and gpu with it.

Expect under load to see perhaps 70c. for the cpu
and 80c. for the gpu.

Remember, you can always change things around.
Why not wait to see if you have a problem first?
Graphics cards usually use 80c. as a target temperature and run as strong as they can with that target.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom