Where should your radiator or fans be placed?
Where should your radiator or fans be placed?
I have a case (Apevia X-Sniper 2) where above my motherboard, there is JUST enough clearance between the roof of the case and the motherboard to fit my radiator. I for sure don't have enough room to put my 120mm fans below the radiator, so I have the fans on top of my case, and the fans are blowing through the holes on the roof of my case, directly at the radiator. I COULD put my radiator on top and either put my fans in the case or on top of the radiator that would be on top, but I sincerely don't know what the best option would be. I have CORSAIR Hydro Series H105 Extreme Performance 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler. Also I'm not sure which way my fans should be blowing in any of said orientations. Please give me some direction
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USAFRet:
The setup is flipped quite a bit here.
It appears both directions are working effectively.
One method improves CPU cooling but raises other components more.
Generally, use INTAKE for the liquid cooler if you struggle with CPU temperature, or opt for an EXHAUST and let things run warmer to keep everything else cooler.
In his situation, he’d likely need to mount the radiator on top of the case—which isn’t ideal because it might require cutting holes—and the fans can probably handle running through existing openings without issues.
Avoid just swapping fans to act as exhaust; you must actually force air through the radiator.
I reviewed a YouTube video about your situation and noticed it seems to use a smaller radiator/fan combo that attaches to the back. This arrangement drains air from the case. To maintain the existing radiator, you can keep the top fans but modify them so they expel air from inside the case.
RADIATOR as INTAKE:
Air intake helps cool the CPU more effectively, but it can increase internal heat. Depending on your case cooling and graphics card, setting it as exhaust might be preferable. It could also lead to poor airflow over DDR3/4 memory sticks.
RADIATOR as EXHAUST:
This is the reverse approach.
(the rear exhaust is 80mm?)
Considering side-mounting or not? It's a bit unusual, but I could try this arrangement:
1) Two 120mm front units (intake)
2) One 120mm radiator on the side (exhaust)
3) One 120mm top unit (exhaust)
- to create some airflow across the memory system
photonboy :
RADIATOR as INTAKE:
Cooling the CPU with air is effective, but it can increase internal heat in the case. Depending on your case and graphics card setup, an EXHAUST configuration might be more suitable. It could also lead to poor airflow over the DDR3/4 memory sticks.
RADIATOR as EXHAUST:
This is the opposite approach. (The rear exhaust is 80mm?)
Should I consider using the side for exhaust or avoid mounting anything there?
It's an unusual situation, but I might try this arrangement:
1) Two 120mm front fans (INTAKE)
2) One 120mm radiator side fan (EXHAUST)
3) One 120mm top fan (EXHAUST)
- To ensure proper airflow across the memory modules
Yes, the rear exhaust is 80mm, I'm already pushing air into the case. My two 120mm fans are positioned to direct air toward the radiator they're placed on. However, my radiator is 240mm, so it's unclear where else I could fit it without compromising cooling.
I reviewed a YouTube review and noticed it suggests using a smaller radiator/fan combo that fits on the back. This method forces air out of the case. To retain your existing radiator, you can keep the top fans but adjust them to draw air in from the back. Regarding your 2 120mm fans positioned above the radiator, they should direct air in the opposite direction for optimal performance.
USAFRet:
The setup appears reversed in your description. In reality, it works both ways. One method improves CPU cooling while increasing heat elsewhere. Generally, use INTAKE for the CPU liquid cooler only if you struggle to keep it cool; otherwise, opt for EXHAUST and let it run slightly warmer to maintain cooler conditions for other parts like the graphics card.
In your situation, he might need to position the radiator on top of the case, which isn’t ideal because it could require cutting holes for tubes. Fans can probably be run through existing openings instead.
Do not just swap fans to act as exhaust. You must push air through the radiator, not draw it in. For effective exhaust, fans should be positioned on the opposite side of the radiator, directing air outwards to outside air.
As per my note and the mention of a 240mm radiator, I assumed this was the intended configuration. This aligns with the reference: http://www.apevia.com/productsInfo.asp?KEY=X-Sniper2-BL "..2 x 120mm fan - side (optional)".
Possibly the radiator isn’t compatible or looks unsuitable, but it could be an alternative to mounting fans on top. I was considering having the radiator on the left side of the case so air could flow through it and exit the left side.
In that scenario, front and top fans would work as INTAKE, or two front fans could serve as intake while the top fan handles exhaust, ideally placed near DDR memory sticks for better airflow.