Case and Fan setup for cooling

[Dron3]

Hey gents and ladies

I currently have an NZXT H440 but my 2080ti is a real tight squeeze because of the HD Bay that is not removable so decided to finally buy a new case.

two reasons for purchasing new case:
1) Fit my GPU better (the actual card fits but the power plugs are under the HD cage which is bending the power cords of the GPU)
2) I would like to have better airflow (find I run a 10 degrees less if I open my side panel which I obviously don't want to do)

So after tons of looking around I have decided on Phanteks p360a. Was tempted to get the p500a but decided to save bucks

I am looking at buying two Phantek 140 fans and putting those in the front for intake,
then move the 2x 120 fans to exhaust from the top
then my Corsair H6o liquid cooler at the back as intake

Oh and then also want a modular PSU so looking at the below:
Fractal Design-fd-psu-ionp-860p
coming from a Corsair CX750 non modular and I think its Bronze rated. I like the Fractial because reviews seem pretty good and its platinum rated, and with it being 860w it should future proof me.

So I wanted to get peoples advice to find out if I am doing the right thing fan setup wise (ie. 2x 140 front intake, 2x120 top exhaust, 1x 120 intake for CPU liquid cooler), any objections to the case or PSU?

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

What 2080Ti do you have?

 

[Dron3]

What 2080Ti do you have?

MSI

 

[Dron3]

Incase any of this makes a difference for power usage, etc.

I have not overclocked anything. also running an i7 8700k with that Corsair h60 cooler on it.
Also have:
1x 3.5 HD
2x SSD's
1x NvME m.2

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Case and PSU fine. Back intake is a strange choice though. I understand that you want cold air on your radiator but depending on the placement of your case, back intake/top exhaust might be performing worse than back exhaust/top intake.

The P360A also has dust filters on top, so if you were to do top exhaust it would not be ideal to get the air out (unless you remove the filters, I'm assuming you don't want to.

 

[_Zed_]

I had a P350x (P360a is basically this but with the mesh I think) with a 2080 gaming x trio.... I had a 280mm AIO on the front as intake with two ML140 Pros, two Noctua 140mm fans on top as exhaust and a Noctua 120mm at the back as exhaust.

I played around with different fan setups and found that to work best for me.

My temps were fine for the card when compared to online benchmarks.

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Incase any of this makes a difference for power usage, etc.

I have not overclocked anything. also running an i7 8700k with that Corsair h60 cooler on it.
Also have:
1x 3.5 HD
2x SSD's
1x NvME m.2

I just want to make you aware of the size constraints with PSUs and hard drives in the bay. It is a tight squeeze, I took the bays out of my P300 as there just wasn't enough space for the cables and I was too lazy to route them correctly. Just be mindful of the order you build in then it should go fine.

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

I had a P350x (P360a is basically this but with the mesh I think) with a 2080 gaming x trio.... I had a 280mm AIO on the front as intake with two ML140 Pros, two Noctua 140mm fans on top as exhaust and a Noctua 120mm at the back as exhaust.

I played around with different fan setups and found that to work best for me.

My temps were fine for the card when compared to online benchmarks.

Yeah I don't think temps would be an issue.

 

[JollyJamma]

I have not overclocked anything.

 

[Dron3]

Case and PSU fine. Back intake is a strange choice though. I understand that you want cold air on your radiator but depending on the placement of your case, back intake/top exhaust might be performing worse than back exhaust/top intake.

The P360A also has dust filters on top, so if you were to do top exhaust it would not be ideal to get the air out (unless you remove the filters, I'm assuming you don't want to.

Hmmm. Maybe have back exhaust and tip exhaust? My only concern is that I would have 3x 120 exhausting and only 2x 140 intake so it might exist quicker than it bring air in. Only reason I was thinking of back intake instead of doing top intake is because my cooler is a single fan, so if I did top intake I would have 2x 140 front intake, 2x 120 top intake and only 1x 140 back exhaust

Sent from my ELE-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Dron3]

I just want to make you aware of the size constraints with PSUs and hard drives in the bay. It is a tight squeeze, I took the bays out of my P300 as there just wasn't enough space for the cables and I was too lazy to route them correctly. Just be mindful of the order you build in then it should go fine.

I noticed that when looking at reviews, hoping there will be enough space to work in without issues but am a little worried that the bay is a pain. I do however plan on doing the routing properly, I am a little OCD with that hahaha, just need to think of the order I will build in. So tempted to spend the extra cash and go the p500a but I just feel it would be overkill for my setup and it seems to be a bigger case than I need, plus I would like the smaller case incase I decide to get a small side table to keep my PC on a desk instead of hidden away on the floor

Sent from my ELE-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Dron3]

lol, pretty sure I would need a better cooler than the Corsair H60 before I consider overclocking?

 

[JollyJamma]

lol, pretty sure I would need a better cooler than the Corsair H60 before I consider overclocking?

Have you tried and seen the temps yet?

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Just sell your H60 and get a 240mm AIO to mount at the top.

The P500A is way too large, correct.

 

[Dron3]

Have you tried and seen the temps yet?

I havnt looked at them at all

 

[Dron3]

Just sell your H60 and get a 240mm AIO to mount at the top.

The P500A is way too large, correct.

Any AIO's you suggest that wont break the bank?

 

[Dron3]

Just sell your H60 and get a 240mm AIO to mount at the top.

The P500A is way too large, correct.

Will it really make that much of a difference?

 

[JollyJamma]

Will it really make that much of a difference?

Yes. Especially at 5ghz.

A single fan AIO is good for low noise applications but can’t handle the heat output of a proper overclocked system.

If you lived at the North Pole and your room temp was a bitter 10 degrees C, a single fan AIO would be fine.

My view is that 2 times 140mm AIO is the best of performance and quietness - 120mm fans are slightly more noisy than 140mm.

 

[Dron3]

Yes. Especially at 5ghz.

A single fan AIO is good for low noise applications but can’t handle the heat output of a proper overclocked system.

If you lived at the North Pole and your room temp was a bitter 10 degrees C, a single fan AIO would be fine.

My view is that 2 times 140mm AIO is the best of performance and quietness - 120mm fans are slightly more noisy than 140mm.

So is that a no to a 240 AIO and I need to go a 280 AIO? Also what do you recommend if I don't plan on spending a small fortune on an AIO? As the get very pricey

 

[Dron3]

How does this look?
Gamdias AIO

If that is not good, then I came across this but it is more than I would have liked to spend:
Cooler Master AIO

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Wootware has some great ones

Fractal Design FD-WCU-CELSIUS-S24-BKO Celsius S24 Blackout Edition 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler - Wootware

Buy Fractal Design FD-WCU-CELSIUS-S24-BKO Celsius S24 Blackout Edition 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler at Wootware with fast shipping & superb service.

www.wootware.co.za

Dreamware has a couple other

InWin SR24 240mm RGB Closed Loop AIO Liquid CPU Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

Ice cold performance, red hot style.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Corsair Hydro Series H100x High Performance 240mm Liquid Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

The CORSAIR Hydro Series H100x is an extreme performance liquid CPU cooler that packs dual 120mm fans and a 240mm radiator into a simple, no-fuss package.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Thermaltake TH240 240mm ARGB Sync AIO CPU Liquid Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

TH240 is an all-in-one 240mm liquid cooler that supports 5V RGB compatible motherboards.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

 

[JollyJamma]

So is that a no to a 240 AIO and I need to go a 280 AIO? Also what do you recommend if I don't plan on spending a small fortune on an AIO? As the get very pricey

Either would be good. Depends on your chassis ability to hold the radiator part of the AIO and what performance you want.

Anything larger than a 280mm AIO is a waste - it doesn’t add more to the cooling capacity.

 

[Dron3]

Wootware has some great ones

Fractal Design FD-WCU-CELSIUS-S24-BKO Celsius S24 Blackout Edition 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler - Wootware

Buy Fractal Design FD-WCU-CELSIUS-S24-BKO Celsius S24 Blackout Edition 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler at Wootware with fast shipping & superb service.

www.wootware.co.za

Dreamware has a couple other

InWin SR24 240mm RGB Closed Loop AIO Liquid CPU Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

Ice cold performance, red hot style.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Corsair Hydro Series H100x High Performance 240mm Liquid Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

The CORSAIR Hydro Series H100x is an extreme performance liquid CPU cooler that packs dual 120mm fans and a 240mm radiator into a simple, no-fuss package.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Thermaltake TH240 240mm ARGB Sync AIO CPU Liquid Cooler | CPU Coolers | Dreamware Technology

TH240 is an all-in-one 240mm liquid cooler that supports 5V RGB compatible motherboards.

www.dreamwaretech.co.za

Legend, I like the price of the one from wootware

 

[Dron3]

Either would be good. Depends on your chassis ability to hold the radiator part of the AIO and what performance you want.

Anything larger than a 280mm AIO is a waste - it doesn’t add more to the cooling capacity.

Well there seem to be more options at decent prices for a 240 than a 280. checked and after a few hours of Warzone I have CPU temps between 60 and 71 then GPU temps at 80 with side panel open, runs hotter with side panel on because of this cases airflow.

So if I go a 240 AIO. what layout do you guys suggest I use for the p360a case?

- 240 AIO Exhaust from the top
- 2x 140 fans intake on the front
- not sure what to do at the back

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Well there seem to be more options at decent prices for a 240 than a 280. checked and after a few hours of Warzone I have CPU temps between 60 and 71 then GPU temps at 80 with side panel open, runs hotter with side panel on because of this cases airflow.

So if I go a 240 AIO. what layout do you guys suggest I use for the p360a case?

- 240 AIO Exhaust from the top
- 2x 140 fans intake on the front
- not sure what to do at the back

Top intake 240 AIO, front intake, back exhaust.

 

[Dron3]

Top intake 240 AIO, front intake, back exhaust.

This cooler is looking great to me, will go with the case but I would have to wait a while until it arrives

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

This cooler is looking great to me, will go with the case but I would have to wait a while until it arrives

That is a beautiful cooler. Didn't even know Phanteks made AIOs.

 

[Dron3]

That is a beautiful cooler. Didn't even know Phanteks made AIOs.

I know hey, but I also dont want the CPU AIO as intake so I have to go 240 and not a 280 with the p360a case.

This MSI looks really good, think I might go with this MSI Cooler, then I get to use my ebucks and takealot are easy to return stuff with.

I also have a MSI Krait gaming motherboard so that MSI cooler would be great

 

[Dron3]

So just to recap.
I have an i7 8700k, MSI 2080ti, z370 MSI Krait gaming MB.

I am getting the phanteks p360a case with an MSI 240 AIO. the fan setup seems like it should be:
- 1x 140 back exhaust
- Top is the 140 AIO as intake
- 2x 120 intake in the front (comes with the case)

Will only 1x exhaust be enough?

 

[Dron3]

Would it be easier/less hassle to just get the p500a case with the 3x 140 front intake fans, then I can easily put the 240 AIO exhausting top and a 120 at the back exhausting. like the option where if I am gaming and my GPU gets really hot I can easily open the side panel on that p500a as it works like a door and then when I am done gaming I can just push it closed.