Overkill for Ryzen?

[Mac29]

Gonna build a Ryzen box in 2 weeks. Starting w/a 1600, basic GPU but will upgrade cpu and GPU a few times. May use my Lancool K58, a FD Focus G mini or another case. Plan on (2) 140mm PWM fans in front, 1 120mm PWM on top and a 120mm non-PWM in back. Should give me slight positive pressure.

Front fans will be virtually unobstructed inside. I'm focusing on fans w/ about 60 CFM at less than 25 dBA no matter where I place them.

Think this is overkill for airflow? I may go 8 core down the road and have no idea how warm powerful cards are.



Thanks in advance for any interest,

Mac

 

[ClockHound]

Not overkill. Better to have 2 140mm spinning slower (quieter) and providing good air flow. The top mounted 120mm may or may not improve case airflow. IME, top mounting intake or exhaust fans hinder more than help when using an air cooler. Getting good clean front-to-back airflow is usually best. Can experiment from there.

You didn't state what cpu cooler you plan to use. Whether an air cooler (tower or pancake) or the devil's watering well. Going to assume you plan to use a good tower cooler like a D15/Thermalright Macho/Scythe Fuma/DR4.

Regarding the 25dbA requirement - fan noise specs are tested in free air. As soon as something is placed near them, like an intake grill or cooler fins, noise will increase. Have used the Lancool in the past and it's intake grills are fairly restrictive - can expect some noise from turbulence.

I use fan shrouds for intakes (either purchased or made from 'donor' fans - coolermaster 140mm case fans are excellent volunteers). Helps to reduce both noise and improve directed airflow. Shroud is mounted to the case - using soft rubber grommets. Fan soft-mounted to the shroud. I also use custom dust filters that are fairly restrictive - it's a dirty world - the shrouds help reduce turbulence through the filters.

Improving the case exhaust efficiency can be performed by removing pci slot covers and nibbling out the rear fan grille. Those metal grilles can block 20%+ of airflow. It also makes reaching around the case to tweak something at the back more exciting. ;-)

Haven't found any 140mm that can be run quietly above 1000-1200 rpm. Using 1300rpm+ 140mm intake fans will blow right past your 25dB goal.

You didn't state any fan brand preferences, so... have to go with my own. Noctua 140mm options abound (NF-A15+ULN, NF-P14s redux PWM, industrialPPC-24V-2000@12V). For a price. The redux models are a decent value tho.

The low speed BeQ Silent Wings 3 are very good, if pricey (ehume review). The Thermalright TY-147 sq is a good option as well. ehume's 15 case fan review has even more fans to consider...and then get a pair of the ones I suggested. ;-)

For the 120mm, the Noctua NF-P12 redux is great - smooth sounding fan - one of the best 120mm case fans - now redux-priced. Prefer the PWM model, as I like my systems to inhale and exhale in unison.

Note: Buy twice as many fans as you need. Probably 3 times as many. Building a good fan drawer collection is almost as satisfying as building the PC. ;-)

 

[Mac29]

Actually was going to go with a Dark Rock Slim. Seems to do a good job cooling, punches above it's weight. Not too heavy.

Your expertise re: dBA, fans & shrouds is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. I'd never heard of shrouds before.

Top choice is in fact the 140mm Redux. Not sure about the Cougar Vortex. It starts at 800 RPM, and a while back at least some had quality issues. Nanoxia DS PWM can't go below 700 RPM AFAIK and only have 2 yr warranty vs. Redux's 6 year.

I appreciate the links. A few others I was on the fence with were: Antec True Quiet 140 H, be quiet Pure Wings 2, Nanoxia deep cool 140 and Thermalright X-Silent.

Wasn''t sure how much airflow for out the back. That's one reason I figured another 1 or 2 up top would help. But want all 4p PWM.

Sounds like you have a fan fetish.


Thanks very much!

 

[ClockHound]

Festish? Nah... just an indecisive fan of fans. Enjoy experimenting - two similar fans can behave differently in situ. Tolerable noise profiles are subjective. Another reason why personal computers need to be personal.

Stick to the redux, but a few of the others mentioned will be a good start for your own fan drawer. I have a few available for nominal cost. ;-)

The X-silent is a great quiet fan - mounted in free air - mounted in a case behind a filter it's great, when replaced with a redux or TY-147. Low static pressure and only voltage controlled - lose the benefit of PWM and the system 'breathing' as CPU load increases/decreases.

Fans shrouds have been a mainstay of rad cooling. Usually in the pull position with fans with a large hub like a GT. I adopt it for intakes since the fan pulls air through the intake grille/filter. Not as critical for a less restrictive intake filter grille, but all the little tweaks help.

Little things like snipping out the case rear grill and removing pci slot covers. Those tweaks help air exhaust with the least resistance. I like to consider case intake fans as very early exhaust fans.

 

[Mac29]

Alright, let me think about trying a fan. Head aches from trying to find out what duty would be on importing a mobo today.