Case Fan for a ITX Ncase M1 v5 Nvidia 1080 build?

[silentmemories]

Looking to build a Nvidia 1080 build, what kind of case fans should I get if my case is the Ncase M1 v5?

Had a look at the Be Quiet! fans and they look pretty good, but there's been some reviews saying that it's poor and that I should go with Noctua.

 

[Crono]

It depends on whether you are optimizing for performance (high airflow/CFM), quietness, or a best-of-both-worlds approach.

For the side intake fans, I like these 120mm fans. Got them for front intake of a mid tower and they seem to be doing their job helping to cool two R9 390s. I'll admit, I partly got them because they look cool. Noctua does make the best or some of the best fans, though, if you don't mind paying a little more. I got one of these a few weeks ago, moves a lot of air quietly.

For the 80/92mm mounts, I'd get this Zalman one or this Noctua one (or this one also from Noctua, if you don't like grey and don't mind paying a little more). I haven't tried either - I usually don't use 80 or 92mm fans, except for a recent Arctic F9 purchase which I'm happy with - but the reviews and specs look good for both.

I have no experience with Be Quiet!, but I was looking at getting a few Pure Wings 2 (140mm) fans. Customer reviews for their fans look okay on Newegg, overall. I'm going to "risk" it, as most fans have a few negative reviews here and there from random failures.

 

[silentmemories]

It depends on whether you are optimizing for performance (high airflow/CFM), quietness, or a best-of-both-worlds approach.

For the side intake fans, I like these 120mm fans. Got them for front intake of a mid tower and they seem to be doing their job helping to cool two R9 390s. I'll admit, I partly got them because they look cool. Noctua does make the best or some of the best fans, though, if you don't mind paying a little more. I got one of these a few weeks ago, moves a lot of air quietly.

For the 80/92mm mounts, I'd get this Zalman one or this Noctua one (or this one also from Noctua, if you don't like grey and don't mind paying a little more). I haven't tried either - I usually don't use 80 or 92mm fans, except for a recent Arctic F9 purchase which I'm happy with - but the reviews and specs look good for both.

I have no experience with Be Quiet!, but I was looking at getting a few Pure Wings 2 (140mm) fans. Customer reviews for their fans look okay on Newegg, overall. I'm going to "risk" it, as most fans have a few negative reviews here and there from random failures.

Thanks. I'll have a look at those.

Tangential question: The Ncase website says "Rear exhaust cards recommended, especially for cards with TDP greater than 150W. Look up your card's TDP (external link)." (https://www.ncases.com/).

I've noticed that the Reference Edition of the Nvidia 1080 (I'm going for that one.) has a front blower. Is that problematic?

 

[Crono]

Thanks. I'll have a look at those.

Tangential question: The Ncase website says "Rear exhaust cards recommended, especially for cards with TDP greater than 150W. Look up your card's TDP (external link)." (https://www.ncases.com/).

I've noticed that the Reference Edition of the Nvidia 1080 (I'm going for that one.) has a front blower. Is that problematic?

That is a rear exhaust. For small cases (where there isn't a lot of volume or where airflow is constrained) you don't want internal exhaust, though for video cards with reasonable TDP it doesn't matter too much, and apparently there are some cards (like my R9 Nano) which are halfway in between.

 

[silentmemories]

That is a rear exhaust. For small cases (where there isn't a lot of volume or where airflow is constrained) you don't want internal exhaust.

Thanks.

Where should I mount the fans inside the M1? Should I have 2 on the bottom and then one on the side facing the CPU?

Would 2 on the side and 2 on the bottom be a good option?

 

[Crono]

Thanks.

Where should I mount the fans inside the M1? Should I have 2 on the bottom and then one on the side facing the CPU?

Would 2 on the side and 2 on the bottom be a good option?

I would probably have the stronger 92mm fan serving as the intake on the bottom (directly under the 1080's intake), 2 side intake fans, and then a rear exhaust 92mm.

If the case allows adding a second fan on the bottom (looks like you remove a drive cage to do so) and you don't mind buying a 4th case fan, I'd consider doing it but it may not be necessary or help much.

 

[SithSolo1]

I've got a v1. I've been using just the two side intakes for a while and it seems fine so far.

 

[silentmemories]

I would probably have the stronger 92mm fan serving as the intake on the bottom (directly under the 1080's intake), 2 side intake fans, and then a rear exhaust 92mm.

If the case allows adding a second fan on the bottom (looks like you remove a drive cage to do so) and you don't mind buying a 4th case fan, I'd consider doing it but it may not be necessary or help much.

How do I know whether a fan is an intake or an exhaust? (As in how do I know which direction the fan will push the air?)

 

[Crono]

How do I know whether a fan is an intake or an exhaust? (As in how do I know which direction the fan will push the air?)

The two sides of a case fan are different. On one side of the fan the blades are exposed, while the other side has the supports for the motor and wiring. Usually air flows in from the first side and blows out (exhausts) out of the second side.

Sometimes the fan manufacturers are helpful and add the arrows on the fan (excuse my crappy photo ):

You just mount it whichever direction you want the air going. There are a few fans, though, that will only mount one way, like these Xigmatek ones (effectively making them exhaust fans only, unless you mount them to the exterior of the case or attach them using zip ties or some mod). But most are designed to be reversible.

 

[silentmemories]

...

Thanks a lot.

The photo's fine. Really makes me wonder whether I put in my fans correctly when I built a gaming PC a couple of years ago.

 

[silentmemories]

The two sides of a case fan are different. On one side of the fan the blades are exposed, while the other side has the supports for the motor and wiring. Usually air flows in from the first side and blows out (exhausts) out of the second side.
...

<strikethrough>Been just doing some reading about the differences between air-flow and static pressure fans.

My understanding (might be wrong) is that static pressure is for smaller, more confined areas and air flow is good for exhaust in a ITX case.

In this case, should I get 1 static pressure on the bottom, 2 static pressures on the side, and then 1 air flow for rear exhaust?</strikethrough>

Update: Should I get the SP120 High Performance Edition (62.74 CFM) or the SP120 Quiet Edition (37.85 CFM)?
Update 2: Decided to use 2 static pressures on the side, and 2 static pressures on the bottom, and then have the Nvidia 1080 FE for rear exhaust.
Update 3: How does PWM work? Do I need to get an external hardware controller like the Corsair Link to be able to control the fan via PWM?

 

[Bungle11]

I would leave out the 92mm exhaust fan on the back. its not needed. air will find its way out of the case naturally. putting this fan may interrupt air flow from the intake fans. Plus your cpu fan may be affected as it will be completing with the exhaust.

Plus if you've not built it yet don't get corsair fans. they are way more noisy than what they claim. EK or Noutca fans are the way to go.

 

[ClockHound]

You could do so much better and quieter than the SP120s. Corsair's new ML120s are much better, but still a little noisy. The Fractal HP12s are very good as well. And the Darkside PWM GTs are legend. I love them as intakes since they move so much air at low rpms compared to air flow optimized 120s.

Can use a PWM splitter, from Swiftech or Silverstone, and connect to CPU or CPU opt header.