Fan configuration suggestions for Corsair H80i GT

[2is]

Unit comes with two fans for a push/pull config but can also be configured with a single fan which is what I'll be doing for space (and sound) considerations. Just wondering what the optimum fan placement should be.

1. RAD FAN Chassis (Exhaust)
2. RAD FAN Chassis (Intake)
3. FAN RAD Chassis (Exhaust)
4. FAN RAD Chassis (Intake)

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Unit comes with two fans for a push/pull config but can also be configured with a single fan which is what I'll be doing for space (and sound) considerations. Just wondering what the optimum fan placement should be.

1. RAD FAN Chassis (Exhaust)
2. RAD FAN Chassis (Intake)
3. FAN RAD Chassis (Exhaust)
4. FAN RAD Chassis (Intake)

IMHO, it depends on the case -- the chassis, I mean. We've had several heated (pun!) discussions about this -- fairly recent threads.

Ideally, you'd want the H80 placed at an intake location. My personal opinion: you'd want the fan mounted as a "pusher," which would mean "2." More ideally, and again my personal opinion, it would be nice to have both a pusher and a puller.

But many cases aren't going to allow you that luxury.

Look for a thread over the last three months or so by WGusler and his project with a Corsair C70 case.

He finally settled on mounting the radiator at the rear exhaust. Ordinarily, this would've meant a pusher fan, radiator and chassis -- or "3."

Here's what WGusler did. He gutted a couple fans to harvest the shrouds or frames. If I remember, he mounted a fan as "pusher" on the radiator, making the case exhaust fan a "puller," and he inserted a shroud as a duct between this exhaust and the radiator.

And again, you might check that thread, to see if he also separated the pusher fan from the radiator with a second shroud.

Supposedly you would get better air velocity and air flow by leaving a gap between the fan hubs and the radiator; there would be no "dead spots."

For an i7-4790K processor at "nearly" stock settings -- probably with the turbo clock set to 4.4 Ghz for all cores -- he was getting 56C load temperatures with Intel Burn Test or similar. And I think his overclock to ~ 4.6Ghz pegged a maximum temperature at or just above 70C.

Does you got a couple extra fans of the right size that you don't mind cutting up? Think you could find some rather long machine screws?

Maybe you just want to use the stock fan bundled with the H80. But you'd still have an exhaust fan with your case. I'd think the standard mounting practice for the H80 would eliminate that fan. I'd keep it, and use a dual fan configuration as I described.

 

[2is]

Well I've included a photo of the case, there's only one spot to mount it and it's where you would "typically" see an exhaust fan, but there's nothing to keep me from switching it to an intake if that's better. Not really looking to do any sort of modding, not looking to invest a whole lot of time and ingenuity on this.

Not to mention I don't have the space for a shroud or a second fan even if I wanted to go through the trouble. It's a mini-ITX case so I'm just going to use a single fan. Just wondering what side of the radiator to mount it on and in what direction would provide for optimum cooling. The only other fan in this case will be the PSU fan which is located right under the SSD.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well I've included a photo of the case, there's only one spot to mount it and it's where you would "typically" see an exhaust fan, but there's nothing to keep me from switching it to an intake if that's better. Not really looking to do any sort of modding, not looking to invest a whole lot of time and ingenuity on this.

Not to mention I don't have the space for a shroud or a second fan even if I wanted to go through the trouble. It's a mini-ITX case so I'm just going to use a single fan. Just wondering what side of the radiator to mount it on and in what direction would provide for optimum cooling. The only other fan in this case will be the PSU fan which is located right under the SSD.

Mini-ITX would indeed limit your options. I'd never looked at the printed instructions for coolers such as that model; I could only guess they'd have you bolt the radiator to the case -- either way -- and bolt the fan to the radiator. Even excluding WGusler's project, and if I properly described the instructions for the cooler, I'd look at the other options without hesitation.

And I apologize for missing the clues in your picture. I just didn't know whether the frame was a "case" or a testing rack. And I probably assumed the latter.

On "what direction would provide optimum cooling," that's also arisen in many discussions here. Static pressure figures a lot in pushing air through radiator fins, and I'm making a guess that pushing air rather than pulling it through with a fan might be more effective. The expert here is AigoMorla. He'd have more confident recommendations than I. You might PM to him.

Anyway, you might agree with me that you may have picked the wrong forum for this. Even as I was writing my post, I thought I was in "Cases and Cooling." :biggrin:

 

[DrMrLordX]

Anyway, you might agree with me that you may have picked the wrong forum for this. Even as I was writing my post, I thought I was in "Cases and Cooling." :biggrin:

I didn't want to be "that guy" but yeah, I agree. OP may get more/better input over there.

 

[2is]

Thanks guys, i'll do some googleing before reposting in the correct sub forum, unless a mod would be kind enough to move this thread for me?