First build: Need help with case fan setup

[clankfu]

This is my setup that I've yet to build yet since I'm still waiting for some parts. Haven't chosen a GPU yet but I'm leaning towards something like a 270X or maybe a 750ti.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor (Purchased For $299.99)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (Purchased For $37.68)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-AR ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $129.71)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (Purchased For $137.33)
Storage: Toshiba Q Series Pro 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $117.71)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Blackout ATX Mid Tower Case (Purchased For $68.66)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $84.44)
Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Purchased For $12.96)
Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Purchased For $12.96)
Total: $901.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-17 14:53 EDT-0400


The R4 has a fan controller that accommodates up to 3 fans and it comes with 2 stock R2 140mm fans. I've also purchased 2 Cougar PWM 120mm fans.

My current plan is to put the 2 Cougar fans in the front for intake, one stock fan in the rear for exhaust and one stock fan in the top (back) for exhaust.

In the future, I may also add a 5th aftermarket fan in the bottom for intake but I'll stick with 4 fans for now.

My question is, should I use a PWM splitter or hub and have the two Cougar fans powered directly by the PSU or should I just plug them in the mobo PWM headers?

And should I have the back and top exhaust fans hooked up to the R4 fan controller or should I also plug them into a PWM splitter or the mobo for automatic control?

 

[Cerb]

With such weak GPU options v. mobo/CPU, what are you using it for?

With fairly low power GPUs, I don't think you'll have any cooling issues at all. OCing your CPU, you might get into the 120-150W range, if going crazy. But, if you don't overvolt it much, you'll probably barely break 100W.

IoW, I think 2 intake fans will work, 2 intake and 2 exhaust will work better, as would 3 intakes. I don't think you'll have any need for 4-5 fans, unless you start adding power-guzzling video cards.

Using the included switch, or controllable fan headers, will be fine. With 1+4 PWM headers, and Asus' software, you should be in good shape with the mobo, and should use that preferentially.

 

[clankfu]

With such weak GPU options v. mobo/CPU, what are you using it for?

With fairly low power GPUs, I don't think you'll have any cooling issues at all. OCing your CPU, you might get into the 120-150W range, if going crazy. But, if you don't overvolt it much, you'll probably barely break 100W.

IoW, I think 2 intake fans will work, 2 intake and 2 exhaust will work better, as would 3 intakes. I don't think you'll have any need for 4-5 fans, unless you start adding power-guzzling video cards.

Using the included switch, or controllable fan headers, will be fine. With 1+4 PWM headers, and Asus' software, you should be in good shape with the mobo, and should use that preferentially.

I will be gaming on it. I'll just be using a mid-range GPU until the 970's come down in price.

What do you mean by "1+4 PWM headers"?

 

[Cerb]

The Z97-AR is listed on Asus' site as having 1 CPU fan header (wait, looking again, 2!), and 4 chassis headers.

And, uh, plan to wait a long time, or pay up. AMD is already bleeding on graphics, the 970 and 980 beat their prior cards by a good bit in perf/$ and perf/W, and there are at least two price points left for 28nm Maxwell to come out in. All the while, at release prices, GTX 970s can't be kept in stock for long. IMO, getting a weak GPU to wait for prices to come down just means you'll pay more money for an inferior experience.

 

[clankfu]

The Z97-AR is listed on Asus' site as having 1 CPU fan header, and 4 chassis headers.

Gotcha. Is there any advantage to using a PWM splitter and having the fans powered directly by the PSU instead of through the mobo?

 

[Cerb]

Gotcha. Is there any advantage to using a PWM splitter and having the fans powered directly by the PSU instead of through the mobo?

With so many headers? No. My mobo has only 2, FI, so if I add another fan, I'll need a splitter (I actually used one anyway, for easier cable management).

Power isn't the advantage. Being able to set custom temperate-based speed control, using the 4th pin, is the advantage. Asus and ASRock both have good Windows software for doing so, and decent BIOS options (ASRock has better BIOS options, IME, on lower-cost boards, but around $90+, they tend to be about even).

 

[clankfu]

With so many headers? No. My mobo has only 2, FI, so if I add another fan, I'll need a splitter (I actually used one anyway, for easier cable management).

Power isn't the advantage. Being able to set custom temperate-based speed control, using the 4th pin, is the advantage. Asus and ASRock both have good Windows software for doing so, and decent BIOS options (ASRock has better BIOS options, IME, on lower-cost boards, but around $90+, they tend to be about even).

OK, I think I got it. So with my particular board, I don't really need a splitter unless it's for better cable management.

 

[Cerb]

Or, just extensions, and tie them together. I have my intake fans hooked to a splitter, with the cables running along the inside of the front bezel, then the splitter hooked to an extension, going around the back of the mobo, to hook around one of the mobo tray holes. My case only even supports a max of 3 case fans, though, and my CPU cooler doesn't use one, so not having many on the mobo wasn't an issue.

Main thing with the PWM headers is that they let you control 4-pin fans down to lower speeds than mobo voltage control usually let's you, and without risk of buzzing or whining from power-based PWM, like with the 3-pin headers. So, you can have the fans smoothly go from like 20% to 100%, based on load. Using such fans, and an Asus or ASRock mobo with nice control software and hardware, you can tailor it to your desires, regarding noise v. airflow, and cooling performance v. dust accumulation.

 

[clankfu]

Gotcha. Really appreciate the info.

One last thing...if/when I do get a more power intensive GPU and install another fan for bottom intake, is there anyway to have that specific fan automatically controlled based on GPU load/temperature instead of CPU temp?

 

[Cerb]

Gotcha. Really appreciate the info.

One last thing...if/when I do get a more power intensive GPU and install another fan for bottom intake, is there anyway to have that specific fan automatically controlled based on GPU load/temperature instead of CPU temp?

Maybe. If Speedfan can control the fans, and read GPU temp, then just by learning to use Speedfan. It's worth trying. Not every mobo can have all fans controlled by Speedfan, and GPU temp isn't always reported, though.

If you get a recirculating cooler card, the case and CPU temps will rise with the GPU temps, at least over a period of time (IE, 10-20 seconds). So, you could have, for instance, a steep slope on the bottom intake v. motherboard temperature, and a mild slope on the front intake(s).

 

[clankfu]

If you get a recirculating cooler card, the case and CPU temps will rise with the GPU temps, at least over a period of time (IE, 10-20 seconds). So, you could have, for instance, a steep slope on the bottom intake v. motherboard temperature, and a mild slope on the front intake(s).

What's a recirculating cooler card?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm a total noob and what you've posted is very helpful.

 

[Cerb]

Video cards basically come with one of two types of coolers, blower coolers, with radial, AKA blower, AKA squirrel cage, fans, that duct air through the heatsink and out the case; or heatsinks and fans that are open all around, with axial fans, which blow most of the hot air back into the case. The latter can be quieter under load, and allow for the cards to be shorter, but put most of the heat exhausting responsibility on the case fans, like your CPU cooler does.

 

[clankfu]

So a blower cooler would be something like this right? And this is NOT a recirculating card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121725

 

[lehtv]

So a blower cooler would be something like this right? And this is NOT a recirculating card?

That is an open design cooler. You can see it has holes all over the place that let hot air into the case (which results in some of the exhaust air being used as intake air for the GPU or other components before it's let out of the case -> recirculating).

This is a blower cooler:

The NVIDIA card above is an EVGA GTX 970 SC which I just bought myself and installed yesterday, it runs pretty quiet for a blower cooler. Can't hear it at load with my closed cup headphones, and can barely head it on idle (not enough to pay any attention). My case is the Define R4.

Blower cooler cards tend to run around 10C hotter and make a bit more noise than open designs, but it's nice to avoid blowing the hot air into the case.

 

[clankfu]

Got it...thanks guys.