Installation of CPU cooler - horizontal or vertical?

[T0bias]

Hi,

I am about to assemble my new pc (only waiting for the memory). I bought a Xigmatec s1283 cooler (http://www.xigmatek.com/product/air-hdts1283.php) and an Antec P182 case, and I am wondering if I should mount the cooler vertically or horizonally on the CPU? What configuration gives the best result with regard to airflow, if there's any difference?

 

[DSF]

Generally people mount them so that air is pulled from the front of the case to the back. The logic there is that you don't want to send hot air up into the PSU intake if you don't have to.

I'm not sure it makes a whole lot of difference, but that's the way the majority of builders do things. If you don't get much response here after a couple days, you might try posting the Cases and Cooling forum.

 

[AmberClad]

He already said it was a P182, which has a bottom mounted PSU, and fan mounts on top of the case. I would just mount it vertically so that the fan on the cooler draws air over the RAM as well.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
He already said it was a P182, which has a bottom mounted PSU, and fan mounts on top of the case. I would just mount it vertically so that the fan on the cooler draws air over the RAM as well.

Reading comprehension FTW. I didn't catch the P182.

 

[Foxery]

Case link with pictures. Is there a fan in that top blowhole?
http://www.antec.com/us/produc...ails.php?ProdID=81820#

Generally speaking, orient it whichever way will get the hot air out of the case most easily. This usually means horizontal, so air can flow from the front to the rear. Vertical might work in your case, but horizontal seems optimal, IMHO.

 

[ther00kie16]

You can always try both ways to see which produces lower temps.
I have a friend who goes by tobias, but I didn't know he was on anandtech, nor that he was building a new computer. hmm...

 

[T0bias]

Foxery:
Yes there's a fan in the top, and one at the rear too, close to the top fan.
Horizontal arrangement of the cooler would make the air flow from the bottom of the case and out through the top fan? Is that what you mean?

ther00kie16:
I'm not the only Tobias in the world

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: T0bias
Foxery:
Yes there's a fan in the top, and one at the rear too, close to the top fan.
Horizontal arrangement of the cooler would make the air flow from the bottom of the case and out through the top fan? Is that what you mean?

Er, miscommunication here. I'm imagining air flow rather than the actual product

The way I figure it, you'll have a video card blocking most air flow that would try to come from the bottom of the case. Draw inwards from the "front" in general, and push out through the back. See the ribbed pattern that goes up the whole front of the case? Once you pop out the metal placeholders in front of the CD bays, air is free to flow in at any height, rather than the traditional diagonal line concept of cheaper cases.

 

[T0bias]

Ah ok. Thanks for the answers to all

 

[Jakeisbest]

Originally posted by: Foxery
Case link with pictures. Is there a fan in that top blowhole?
http://www.antec.com/us/produc...ails.php?ProdID=81820#

Generally speaking, orient it whichever way will get the hot air out of the case most easily. This usually means horizontal, so air can flow from the front to the rear. Vertical might work in your case, but horizontal seems optimal, IMHO.

Wouldn't the hot air want to travel up (vertically) rather than horizontally?

 

[hooflung]

Originally posted by: Jakeisbest

Originally posted by: Foxery
Case link with pictures. Is there a fan in that top blowhole?
http://www.antec.com/us/produc...ails.php?ProdID=81820#

Generally speaking, orient it whichever way will get the hot air out of the case most easily. This usually means horizontal, so air can flow from the front to the rear. Vertical might work in your case, but horizontal seems optimal, IMHO.

Wouldn't the hot air want to travel up (vertically) rather than horizontally?

If you pull from the front you will pass air over the memory too. Blowholes are best served to be just that. 2 large fangs are ok if they pull air from the front/bottom and pass air over all the parts but just 1 on the P182 might interfere with the memory getting cool.

My Xigmatec comes today for my C2D too \0/.

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: Jakeisbest
Wouldn't the hot air want to travel up (vertically) rather than horizontally?

You're thinking about the rule "hot air rises" - it doesn't rise quickly enough for our purposes. It needs to be forced out with fans, and most cases are designed with a fan on the rear end, and the power supply usually blocks the top of the case. (Does not apply to the OP's setup)

 

[toadeater]

Originally posted by: T0bias
Hi,

I am about to assemble my new pc (only waiting for the memory). I bought a Xigmatec s1283 cooler (http://www.xigmatek.com/product/air-hdts1283.php) and an Antec P182 case, and I am wondering if I should mount the cooler vertically or horizonally on the CPU? What configuration gives the best result with regard to airflow, if there's any difference?

It works better facing the most powerful exhaust fan you have. If you have one on the back, it should point horizontal, if you have one on top, then point it at that.

It does make much more of a difference on the HDT-D1284. You must mount it horizontally, otherwise you will lose about 6-8c of performance. Seems to be some kind of flaw with Xigmatek's design, other top-down coolers can be mounted in any direction.