I built a new computer in a Thermaltake Versa H26 Tempered Glass case. It has an i5-8400, Gigabyte B360 Auros Gaming 3 Wifi motherboard, and a 1080ti video card, so it can run pretty hot.
The case can have three 120mm fans in front if you do not use either of the external 5.25 bays. I am using one of the bays, so I can have two 120mm fans up front.
The case can have three 120mm fans on top, or two 140mm fans. In the manual, it shows the two 140mm fans toward the back end of the top, perhaps to suggest using that configuration if you use either of the 5.25 bays.
Then it has one rear 120mm fan opening.
My plan is to use six case fans -- two 120mm up front, three 120mm on top, and one 120mm in back. I'm using three 120mm on top even though I am using one of the 5.25" bays because I am using the lower back, so there's about 2 inches of clearance between the top of the bay and the top fan that is furthest forward, and I think a fan in that position can still help with air flow.
My first question is what fans to orient for intake and exhaust. Obviously, the two front fans are intake. I've read that rear fans and top fans are usually exhaust, but having four exhaust fans does not seem right. I read that optimally you want to be slightly over-pressurized, meaning that the intake fans are pulling in a bit more air than the exhaust fans are pushing out. It seems that if I have two intake and four exhaust, that is just not going to happen. So, my thought was this: Can I make the forward-most fan on the top an intake fan? Then there's be three intake fans and three exhaust fans. Or is there another way of orienting these, like making the rear fan an intake fan, and all three top fans exhaust?
My second question relates to the CPU heat sink and fan direction. I have the Noctua NH-U12S heat sink and dual Noctua NF-F12 fans on either side of it. I was aiming this toward the rear exhaust fan. However, would it make more sense to have the fans aimed upwards, towards the exhaust fan that is on the top of the case, furthest back? I'm not sure when, if I'm using both rear and top fans for exhaust, it is better to aim the CPU fans to the rear versus the top.
My third question relates to using the fan headers. the SYS FAN 1 ground pin broke off. Rather than try to solder it, I'm going to make do with the remaining headers. This leaves me with SYS FAN 2, SYS FAN 3, CPU FAN, and CPU COOLER (I've read that while the CPU COOLER header will work, it has that fan always running max).
My thought is to make the lowest front fan hook up to the CPU COOLER, on the theory I'll always want air intake, and it is best from the lowest point (most opposite the exhaust fans). I'm going to have the two CPU fans on a Y-splitter to the CPU FAN header. Then I can have the remaining two intake fans (the higher front fan, and the most forward top fan) on a Y-splitter to SYS FAN 3, and the three exhaust fans all on a "3 to 1" splitter to SYS FAN 2. Note, the two CPU fans are PWM, but the case fans are all 3 pin, so I'm not combining 4-pin and 3-pin fans on the same header. Anyway, my third question is basically whether I'm making a mistake configuring the fans on the headers in this manner. One of my concerns is that since the case fans, being all 3-pin fans, are regulated in their speed by voltage from the motherboard, does splitting the fans as I've done create a risk they will all be running proportionately slower than they otherwise would run if not on a splitter? Because I think that would sabotage my goal of better air cooling.
My last question is whether a Fan Controller would be worthwhile. I have a spare 5.25 bay, and could put in a fan controller there. This would avoid all the splitting I'm presently contemplating, or at least some of it, and maybe that is important if using splitters will weaken my fan speeds. Honestly, I'd rather NOT do this, since it is just another product to by, and I like not having to manually / personally worry about cooling, I like it when the computer just regulates itself (maybe Id' be better of investing in all pwm fans for the case if that would significantly increase the computer's ability to self-regulate its temp?)
Any advice about any of this appreciated.
Ken
The case can have three 120mm fans in front if you do not use either of the external 5.25 bays. I am using one of the bays, so I can have two 120mm fans up front.
The case can have three 120mm fans on top, or two 140mm fans. In the manual, it shows the two 140mm fans toward the back end of the top, perhaps to suggest using that configuration if you use either of the 5.25 bays.
Then it has one rear 120mm fan opening.
My plan is to use six case fans -- two 120mm up front, three 120mm on top, and one 120mm in back. I'm using three 120mm on top even though I am using one of the 5.25" bays because I am using the lower back, so there's about 2 inches of clearance between the top of the bay and the top fan that is furthest forward, and I think a fan in that position can still help with air flow.
My first question is what fans to orient for intake and exhaust. Obviously, the two front fans are intake. I've read that rear fans and top fans are usually exhaust, but having four exhaust fans does not seem right. I read that optimally you want to be slightly over-pressurized, meaning that the intake fans are pulling in a bit more air than the exhaust fans are pushing out. It seems that if I have two intake and four exhaust, that is just not going to happen. So, my thought was this: Can I make the forward-most fan on the top an intake fan? Then there's be three intake fans and three exhaust fans. Or is there another way of orienting these, like making the rear fan an intake fan, and all three top fans exhaust?
My second question relates to the CPU heat sink and fan direction. I have the Noctua NH-U12S heat sink and dual Noctua NF-F12 fans on either side of it. I was aiming this toward the rear exhaust fan. However, would it make more sense to have the fans aimed upwards, towards the exhaust fan that is on the top of the case, furthest back? I'm not sure when, if I'm using both rear and top fans for exhaust, it is better to aim the CPU fans to the rear versus the top.
My third question relates to using the fan headers. the SYS FAN 1 ground pin broke off. Rather than try to solder it, I'm going to make do with the remaining headers. This leaves me with SYS FAN 2, SYS FAN 3, CPU FAN, and CPU COOLER (I've read that while the CPU COOLER header will work, it has that fan always running max).
My thought is to make the lowest front fan hook up to the CPU COOLER, on the theory I'll always want air intake, and it is best from the lowest point (most opposite the exhaust fans). I'm going to have the two CPU fans on a Y-splitter to the CPU FAN header. Then I can have the remaining two intake fans (the higher front fan, and the most forward top fan) on a Y-splitter to SYS FAN 3, and the three exhaust fans all on a "3 to 1" splitter to SYS FAN 2. Note, the two CPU fans are PWM, but the case fans are all 3 pin, so I'm not combining 4-pin and 3-pin fans on the same header. Anyway, my third question is basically whether I'm making a mistake configuring the fans on the headers in this manner. One of my concerns is that since the case fans, being all 3-pin fans, are regulated in their speed by voltage from the motherboard, does splitting the fans as I've done create a risk they will all be running proportionately slower than they otherwise would run if not on a splitter? Because I think that would sabotage my goal of better air cooling.
My last question is whether a Fan Controller would be worthwhile. I have a spare 5.25 bay, and could put in a fan controller there. This would avoid all the splitting I'm presently contemplating, or at least some of it, and maybe that is important if using splitters will weaken my fan speeds. Honestly, I'd rather NOT do this, since it is just another product to by, and I like not having to manually / personally worry about cooling, I like it when the computer just regulates itself (maybe Id' be better of investing in all pwm fans for the case if that would significantly increase the computer's ability to self-regulate its temp?)
Any advice about any of this appreciated.
Ken
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