AIO fan flow
AIO fan flow
I am assembling a new computer with a Strix Z790-e wifi II board. In fact, this is two queries, but the main focus is on the AIO cooler setup. Currently, my configuration includes five intake fans and four exhaust fans. Three of the exhaust fans are located on the AIO radiator, and I watched a video that made me reconsider this arrangement. The AIO is positioned at the top of the case with the fans below directing air upward through the radiator. Should the fans be reversed so they act as intake fans and draw outside air down through the radiator? This is my first experience with radiators, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regarding the second point, I’m wondering why a pair of DIMM modules are placed in the A2 and B2 slots before the A1 and B1 slots. My logic suggests the first slots should be filled before the subsequent ones.
If you proceed that way, you'll experience high positive pressure and localized hotspots within the PC, because the airflow configuration leads to a situation where: 5x intake (estimated as 3x front and 2x bottom, or 4x front and 1x bottom) plus 3x fans on top (rad fans) equals 8 intake fans and 1 rear exhaust fan.
However, maintaining the original setup still follows a general airflow guideline—intake at front and bottom, exhaust at top and rear—which results in a slight positive pressure.
Given:
3x front intake
2x bottom intake
3x top exhaust
1x rear exhaust
this creates an additional intake fan compared to the number of exhaust fans.
With a radially mounted fan, I would place case fans between the PC case and the rad, rather than positioning them at the bottom of the rad. While placing fans at the bottom offers better visual airflow (especially with unicorn puke fans), from a maintenance perspective it is actually more problematic.
This is why:
(at 03:45)
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyC3lZ5WFMk#t=3m45s
In daisy-chain topology, which most MoBo RAM slots use, the further RAM slot is typically preferred over the closer one. That’s why RAM is placed in A2 and B2 slots instead of A1 and B1 slots.
Additionally, a more detailed explanation is available here:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQwGGbW1AE
Regarding AIO cooling, the ideal spot to cool the CPU is the radiator positioned in front with the intake on the side. This applies regardless of configuration. Radiator fans also play a role in overall case cooling, making the back and top areas suitable for exhaust fans and thus radiator fans. Maintaining balanced airflow is essential; if radiator fans act as intakes at the top, the rear fan must function as an intake, while front or bottom fans should handle exhaust, which can be tricky. Most cases are designed for traditional setups with front/bottom as intakes and back/top as exhausts.
For RAM placement, most current motherboards have the primary memory channels set on A2 and B2, which is the standard arrangement for RAM sticks. These slots are typically the second and fourth positions from the CPU end. As RAM modules become taller, the first A1 slot can start affecting the airflow around the CPU coolers.