Quick Question about Water Cooling Radiator Fan direction

[KayKay]

I've heard that having the FAN on the radiator blow cool air from outside, across the rad and into the case, is a better option, than vice-versa.

Any thoughts?

 

[Noubourne]

The radiator is there to exhaust heat. If you blow it back into the system, then it's not the ideal solution. Some people mount the rads inside the case, and since some rads are very restrictive, it's hard to blow air out the case through them. Plus air in the case is heated, so their best solution might be to cut holes in the top and blow the cold outside air over the rad and into the case.

This is not ideal. You want the rad mounted outside the case altogether, because ambient temps are always lower than internal case temps. Blow cold air from outside the case out and away from the case, not into it, for the most ideal setup. It only takes an inch or so of space between the case and the rad to create enough room for ambient air to flow through the rad.

For some people aesthetics are #1, and they may not need the extra degrees this method gives them, so they may choose to mount it in a way that is not ideal from a cooling perspective just so it looks good and/or is more quiet.

 

[KayKay]

excellent insight, thanks!

 

[Snooper]

I just remote mounted my radiator when I went water. My computer is in my bed room and the computer desk sits right next to the closet (sliding door type), so I just used longer 1/2 ID hose for the supply and return lines and put the radiator/shroud/fans on a frame I build in the closet. With the door closed (or at least ALMOST closed), I can't hear the radiator fans at all. And water in the system always stays just a few degrees above ambient thanks to the large radiator and cool supply of air.

Of course, it does have the downside of not being neat and easy to move around with the radiator and pump mounted outside the case. But I can easily live with that.