Optimizing ventilation in a less efficient budget model
Optimizing ventilation in a less efficient budget model
Hi, your Aerocool Bolt case has a budget build setup. It seems the airflow isn’t performing well, so you didn’t think about it then. You’ve added two Noctua intake fans on the front and one exhaust fan at the back. The acrylic side panel is there—should I suggest drilling holes for improved airflow? Check the case details at the link you shared.
You can install one or two fans at the bottom of the case to push air toward the GPU or case. Do you use an AIO cooler or an air cooler? Are your parts getting too warm, is that why you're seeking extra cooling?
I'm using the ID-COOLING SE-214-XT cooler and added an extra fan for dual cooling. The fans are pointing in the exhaust direction, should I adjust their orientation? My goal is better cooling to support overclocking my Ryzen 5 3600. Temperatures are high on synthetic workloads like Cinebench R23, usually around 95°C or less, but drop during games.
IMHO, just 1, and not the one ontop of PSU. If there's an actual intake holes on the bottom / front of the case that is... edit : From what I've seen on their website... seems the only intake holes on the bottom of the case is only for PSU. First... make sure there's a proper sized intake holes for your front fans :x If there aren't any, the front fans you put gonna be useless. As much as I want to check it myself, kinda hard to find proper documentation of your pc case.
Are both fans directing air in the same direction? Yes, they seem to be aimed toward the back of the case. The temperature reading is quite high, likely because the front panel is mostly sealed. Removing the acrylic side panel would probably cause a noticeable drop in temperature. The front panel appears to be mostly closed, so the fans aren't contributing much there.
From what you're seeing in that video, it seems the front intake isn't properly designed. (CMIIW, you're the one with the case and can verify directly afterward.) If you really need to keep using the case, try drilling holes in the front cover and possibly the side panels. If drilling isn't an option, use the rear exhaust holes—especially if your GPU isn't too tight. Position the CPU cooler fan facing forward, and add an exhaust fan on top front. Just remember, if you can't fit a fan on the rear PCIE bracket, your GPU might not function well.
There are no openings on the front panel, just a small gap on the cover. I had to remove the cover to fit the two fans, and I’ll include a photo of the setup.
The two CPU fans are pointing at the back of the case. I noticed some better performance without the acrylic side panel and the front cover removed compared to when they were in place. However, if I take both off, it could create a dust problem.