Does SLI + OC require side fans?

[harisund]

I am trying to get into SLI and Overclocking for the first time, and I want to research some cooling options.

I would like to have a side window for the "show off" / "coolness" factor ... but I am worried if that will affect 2 GPUs in SLI.

I am planning on

• 2 MSI GTX 760s in SLI, so it's not a reference cooler, it's the 2-fan style one.
• A haswell i5 k series + Z77 motherboard
• A water cooling kit, such as the Corsair H series ones
• A DVD ROM drive (5.25''')
• 1 SSD (2.5'')
• Upto 3 traditional disk drives (3.5'')

So, what's good advise for what I should look for in a case? I would like to fit the above, maintain cool enough temperatures and have a side window.

Any suggestions? I have not been able to definitively tell whether a side panel fan is necessary for SLI setups ..

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I am trying to get into SLI and Overclocking for the first time, and I want to research some cooling options.

I would like to have a side window for the "show off" / "coolness" factor ... but I am worried if that will affect 2 GPUs in SLI.

I am planning on

• 2 MSI GTX 760s in SLI, so it's not a reference cooler, it's the 2-fan style one.
• A haswell i5 k series + Z77 motherboard
• A water cooling kit, such as the Corsair H series ones
• A DVD ROM drive (5.25''')
• 1 SSD (2.5'')
• Upto 3 traditional disk drives (3.5'')

So, what's good advise for what I should look for in a case? I would like to fit the above, maintain cool enough temperatures and have a side window.

Any suggestions? I have not been able to definitively tell whether a side panel fan is necessary for SLI setups ..

My personal experience here.

I've got a CM Stacker midtower -- built with a fan-frame on hinges inside the case-sidepanel. Yes -- it obscure the "bling" through a sidepanel from internal reflective components and LED lights.

And (personally) -- I outgrew the "bling" dimension.

I use the CM HAF midtowers -- which some people think are ugly. I use the version of HAF that has a 200mm fan vent on the side panel, top and lower front.

And (personally) I think it's a good idea with either water or air-cooling. I have some NZXT 200mm fans that spin at 1,300 RPM and spew out 103 CFM. To me -- they're quiet -- really quiet for that kind of airflow.

But some aren't fond of the HAF as I'd said. There are other possibilities. For instance, if the case you buy has fan ports in the bottom (ideally for two 140mm fans), that's also great: it should mitigate noise -- IF -- you have the case on 2" casters (something I do) to keep it off the floor. Better -- if you could put a single 200mm fan in the case bottom.

On the other hand, if you have GFX cards in SLI, they might be GVX cards that have their own exhaust for their proprietary fans mounted on a proprietary heatpipe cooler. In that case, it should matter as much as long as there is airflow into the case. Of course, the more airflow -- the better.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

required? No

Helpful? yes http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/02/10/the-big-cooling-investigation/1