Good Cooling Setup for new rig? Proposed case fans + HSF

[WhipperSnapper]

I need to get off my arse and order the final components for my new rig. Here's what I propose to purchase for a Chieftec Matrix case and Opteron 148 (hoping to overclock to 2.8+ Ghz).

HSF: Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro ($34 at SVC). I'm under the impression that it beats the XP-90 and would be on par with the Zalman 9500 and the XP/SI-120, and the price is right and it comes with Arctic MX-1 thermal paste.

Case fans (all 80mm, sadly):

I already own these three case fans that came to me bundled with an item I'd purchased off of eBay earlier: 2 Panaflo FBA08A12L = 24 CFM / 21 db (intake fans?) 1 Panaflo 1 x FBA08A12H = 39 CFM / 32 db (upper rear exhaust?). Are those 24 CFM fans too weak? Should I just order two more powerful fans?

For the other two fans (one exhaust and one side-intake) I'm thinking of purchasing two Logisys LT402UVB 35 CFM x 26 db fans ($1.99 each at SVC).

Would those be good enough or should I go with my original plan of getting two Panaflo FBA08A12U 80mm fans at 47 CFM x 38 db ($4.99 each at SVC)? They have the hydrowave bearings, so they should last longer, but I'm not sure I want two fans that do 38 db.

I would also end up with three intake fans (1 side, two front covered by case front panel) and only 2 rear exhaust fans, potentially creating positive pressure. Should I set it up so that the two most powerful fans are for the rear exhaust with weaker fans for the intakes?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

bump

 

[zagood]

You'll also have some sort of exhaust through your PSU, if you really want to have ALL those fans your pressure will be fine.

Might be a good idea to place one of the 24cfm fans on the side intake. Side and top fans are usually the ones that you can hear the most.

Are you going to run any type of fan controller? If so, most have a max of 4 channels, put the louder fans on the controller and let the 24cfm ones run at 12v.

-z

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Yeah, I keep forgetting about the PSU. The PSU is a Sparkle (Fortron) 550-PLG-SLI (single rail 36W). Thing is, it doesn't really have a fan or vents opening into the case, just a single fan that blows out the back. So, it seems like it wouldn't do too much to cool the case, but maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.

For a fan controller I'm hoping to get a Cooler Master Aerogate 3 (available for $8 at SVC). I'll also have to have a 4 pin to 3 pin molex extension or a second, 3.5" controller.

 

[Operandi]

Get a better case. I've built several higher-end systems using this CoolerMaster. 80mm fans is not a problem at all. The stock CM fans have always been replaced, typically I use Panaflo L1As. Using SpeedFan or the motherboard's BIOS I let the fans slow down at lower system temps (idle) which brings the noise down to a whisper.

For CPU cooling I would stick with the XP-90 over the Freezer64, with this Delta, NMB, or Panaflo. I would also recommend you let the BIOS handle this fan as well, manual fan controllers are not needed.