New chassis, need advice on installing fans

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dakrazeedude

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Mar 8, 2013
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Hello,
I've recently got a new chassis (Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX), and I'm having trouble deciding where to install the fans (I've got plently from previous builds) for the best cooling.
Currently, I have:
4 120mm Corsair ML fans (~2800RPM)
2 Phanteks 140mm fans (~1600RPM)
1 140mm Corsair ML fan (~2800RPM)
1 140mm Noctua NF-A14 fan (~1800RPM)
I have two primary questions regarding the setup, but would love some advice!

First, I'm planning on using two fans for my CPU cooler (a Noctua C14S), and I was planning on using the ML 140mm and the NF-A14 (as I can only use 140mm with this cooler). However, these fans have very different speeds. Could that be an issue, regarding either noise or performance?

And secondly, I was planning on using both Phanteks for intake and the 120mm Corsair ML's for exhaust (2 mounted on the top and 1 in the rear), but this would create much, much more exhaust than intake (the ML fans have very high RPM). Could that also be an issue?

To sum up, I've got a few ideas on mounting but would appreciate advice.
Thank you in advance!

My build:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 1800x (@stock)
GPU: AMD R9 390 (greatly undervolted, around GTX 1060 heat wise)
Motherboard: MSI B350M Mortar
PSU: Seasonic SSP-RT 550W
 
Solution
Aeacus
Corsair ML140 has max speed of 2000 RPM and that isn't high at all, while Corsair ML120 can spin up to 2400 RPM. (I have several Corsair ML series fans in use both in my Skylake and Haswell builds, full specs with pics in my sig.) If you want to see high RPM fans then look towards Delta industrial fans that spin at 3000-5000 RPM depending on a fan. For a very high RPM fan, look towards THIS which spins at 11000 RPM.

Since Noctua NF-A14 PWM fan has max speed of 1500 RPM, i'd pair it with Phanteks 140mm fan. This way, both fans have about the same RPM and one fan wouldn't choke the other, as it would be the case with Noctua + Corsair ML. Unless you match the RPM of Noctua and Corsair ML within BIOS.

As far as case fans go, here's...
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Aeacus

Aeacus

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Corsair ML140 has max speed of 2000 RPM and that isn't high at all, while Corsair ML120 can spin up to 2400 RPM. (I have several Corsair ML series fans in use both in my Skylake and Haswell builds, full specs with pics in my sig.) If you want to see high RPM fans then look towards Delta industrial fans that spin at 3000-5000 RPM depending on a fan. For a very high RPM fan, look towards THIS which spins at 11000 RPM.

Since Noctua NF-A14 PWM fan has max speed of 1500 RPM, i'd pair it with Phanteks 140mm fan. This way, both fans have about the same RPM and one fan wouldn't choke the other, as it would be the case with Noctua + Corsair ML. Unless you match the RPM of Noctua and Corsair ML within BIOS.

As far as case fans go, here's how i'd set them up:
Front bottom intake - Corsair ML140 (since drive bays are behind it)
Front top intake - Phanteks 140mm
Top exhaust - 2x Corsair ML120
Rear exhaust - 1x Corsair ML120

Having Corsair ML140 as one of the intake fans helps to reduce the negative pressure 3x Corsair ML120 fans produce.
Though, you can set your fans up as you first thought. Keep in mind that when you run your exhaust fans at lower RPM (e.g 1000) and your 2x Phanteks intake fans at higher RPM (e.g 1200+) then you can negate negative pressure inside your case if you don't want negative pressure.

As far as 3x 120mm vs 2x 140mm goes, if all fans have the same specs (including RPM) then 120mm fans would move 10.2% more air than 140mm fans (since the airflow surface area is bigger) but they do that in expense of more noise.

Btw, interesting choice regarding PSU since there aren't many consumer builds out there that use Seasonic industrial PSUs. Most builds use Seasonic consumer PSUs, including all 3 PCs i have. Regardless of that, Seasonic industrial PSUs are also good quality units to be used.
 
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dakrazeedude

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Hi, and thanks for the informative answer!
Your suggestion sounds great, but I would like to know:
If I should stick to my initial plan (2x Phanteks as intake, 3xML120 as exhaust) - will the negative pressure be excessive?
It's good to know about the differences between the 120mm and 140mm (I was convinced the ML's had much higher RPM), and since those are smaller than I thought it may viable.
I do want negative pressure - the case is filtered - but I was under the impression it would be too big of a difference...

As for the PSU - strangely, consumer Seasonic models were only available at much greater capacities (750W and above) when I set out to buy mine, and others were much inferior. I found a local shop that sold this model, and I've been very happy with it since. It has been holding up nicely in several builds :)
 
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Aeacus

Aeacus

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Provided that you plug all your fans to the MoBo for DC/PWM control, you can adjust if you want negative pressure or positive pressure, even when you go with your initial setup. Just set exhaust fans spinning at lower RPM than intake fans or don't mount any top exhaust fans at all if you want quite extreme positive pressure.

Seasonic units have good quality and they last a long time. That's also a reason why all my 3 PCs: Skylake, Haswell and AMD are also powered by Seasonic. Full specs with pics in my sig.
 
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