What position should I place my radiator for optimal performance?
What position should I place my radiator for optimal performance?
I'm evaluating the EK Custom loop setup and considering the placement of the radiator. Think about the top option only accommodating a 240mm rad, while the front can hold a larger 360mm rad. Decide which fits better for your cooling needs. If the front's larger 360mm rad offers superior performance, you might want to position it at the top and use three fans there to draw more air in, with the smaller 240mm rad above handling the loop. This setup aims to maximize cooling for your overclocked i5 9600k and rtx 2080.
It used to be the straightforward solution to mount the radiator front. Adjust the rad fans so they push cool air across the radiator, directing hot air out through the case. The top and rear fans would then expel the warm air outside.
It had been widely accepted that GPUs could manage the mildly heated case air better than CPUs handling the much hotter air from the GPU. However, with the 2080 model burning up and overclocked CPUs pushing thermal limits, this approach may no longer be effective.
Changes could be made. A water block for the 2080 should be added and integrated into the design.
It was once considered straightforward to mount the radiator directly. Adjusting the rad fans to push cool air across the radiator while directing hot air out through the case, and using top and rear fans to expel heat.
It had been widely accepted that GPUs could manage the mildly heated case air better than CPUs handling the much hotter air from the GPU.
However, circumstances might have shifted—especially with the 2080 model overheating and overclocked Intel CPUs pushing thermal limits.
There could be alternatives.
Perfectly, a water block for the 2080 should be installed, integrated into the cooling system with a 360mm front mount and possibly a 240mm top mount.
The investment in a custom loop would make the 2080 worthwhile.