Top Mount Radiator - Intake or Exhaust fans?

[Nasha]

Hi all,

I have been playing this one over in my head and i can't come to a solid decision on which way to go.

Does it come down to personal preference, or is there some logic behind which way i should go?

This is my first custom WC build, and top mount is the best place in my case.

Currently running 2x AIO CPU rads top mounted, 1 intake, 1 exhaust because i couldn't decide! But the impact there would be negligible, however the custom loop is going to pull in some graphics cards and cooling efficiency is going to become a priority.

So, let me know what your thoughts are, and why you choose that option, or just vote in the poll if you don't have time to explain

Thanks!
Nasha

 

[dlerious]

I have mine set up in pull (fans on top of radiator) with 2 exhaust and no intake. I have a Caselabs S8 case with plenty of ventilation to pull cool air in. I had the fans in push (exhaust) under the radiator, but it got to be a pain removing the fans to clean cat hair buildup. I don't remember what the differences were now, but it was only a couple degrees C at most. I'm cooling CPU and GPU with 2x360 rads.

 

[Nasha]

Hmmm, i hadn't considered push vs pull into the intake vs exhaust argument! If exhausting, i will be pushing, so my fancy lights shine into my case Is there actually a noticeable difference in push vs pull on a rad?

So basically you've always ran exhaust, but instead of push you now run pull, and that actually helps with cat hair buildup? Curious... To me the airflow direction is the same, so instead of gunked up fans, now you should be getting a hairy rad?

You're either running a serious overclock... Or you like things big! I was planning on sharing a 360 between 2x 295x2's. Now you're making me think i dont have enough rad space!

 

[dlerious]

I'll bump things up occasionally, but I usually run with mild overclocks - computer can be unattended for days sometimes. The more rad space, the lower I can run my fans. A single 360 might be pushing it, I think I've seen recommendations for 240 for a 295x2.

The hairy rad is quick to clean and I get the bonus of seeing how bad it looks instead of waiting until one of my fans slows down from getting gunked up. Differences between push and pull were minor - maybe a little over 1 degree C.

 

[Nasha]

I'll bump things up occasionally, but I usually run with mild overclocks - computer can be unattended for days sometimes. The more rad space, the lower I can run my fans. A single 360 might be pushing it, I think I've seen recommendations for 240 for a 295x2.

The hairy rad is quick to clean and I get the bonus of seeing how bad it looks instead of waiting until one of my fans slows down from getting gunked up. Differences between push and pull were minor - maybe a little over 1 degree C.

Well the aftermarket 295x2's come with a 120/140mm Rad, so based of that, one would assume that 240 would be sufficient for 2. Im going to 360 to make sure, and i may even throw a 240 in the mix too. Go with a 360 in exhaust to knock out as much of the heat as possible, then a front or side intake 240 bringing the temp down nice and low

 

[dlerious]

Here's a review comparing stock 295x2 with full cover block. https://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2014/08/06/water-cooling-the-amd-radeon-r9-295x2/1

 

[Nasha]

Here's a review comparing stock 295x2 with full cover block. https://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2014/08/06/water-cooling-the-amd-radeon-r9-295x2/1

Wasn't as exciting as i had hoped it would be! TLDR; custom water cooling is better than stock lol

 

[dlerious]

It would depend on your ambient temps whether you'd need to go custom (he had a 16 degree C difference). I had a little computer room I could use to heat the entire floor. Never did get around to checking if I paid more for the cooling in summer than I saved in the winter.

 

[aigomorla]

The difference between push and pull is very small.

I would however always have the fan pull air from the outside of the case to inside.
You do not ever want the fans pulling air from the inside of case to outside, as the air will be hotter inside the case vs outside.