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Airflow Question: 2x120mm or 2x140mm Front Intake

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Case to be used is NZXT manta, building a 8700K+FuryX build with mild overclocking on CPU only. See sketch for illustration. The default setup has 2x120mm front intake fan. However with my radiator setup there will be 2x140mm CPU exhaust and 2x120mm GPU exhaust. Would just 2x120mm intake be sufficient? Or should I do 2x140mm intake?

Or should I just relocated the CPU radiator to front intake position? I assume positive pressure is better than negative pressure right?

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FreedomEclipse

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If you can relocate your cooler to the front then that would be the best option. you will see a major difference in temps compared to if you just stuck it on the roof of the case.

If i could completely build my machine from scratch again. I would probably do the same too, but i got great airflow with my 760T so im not hugely fussed
 
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If you can relocate your cooler to the front then that would be the best option. you will see a major difference in temps compared to if you just stuck it on the roof of the case.

If i could completely build my machine from scratch again. I would probably do the same too, but i got great airflow with my 760T so im not hugely fussed

Corsair 115i has 2x140mm fans. Meanwhile I dont want to waste the stock 120mm fans. Would it be beneficial to do a push/pull between a set of 140mm fans and 120mm fans?
 

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Corsair 115i has 2x140mm fans. Meanwhile I dont want to waste the stock 120mm fans. Would it be beneficial to do a push/pull between a set of 140mm fans and 120mm fans?

Nope. The fans have different CFMs, RPMs and Static Pressure ratings. Stick the fans at the top of the case instead or toss them all out for some corsair ML140s or Noctua NF-P14 Redux PWM fans.

Its only 2 fans anyway... I bought 6 Corsair ML120/140mm fans. Dont even start telling me that fans are expensive :laugh::laugh:
 
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140mm intakes, 120mm exhausts.
 
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I'd just put the rad in the front and be done. Let the air exhaust where it wants. An 8700K is not going to heat up the air coming off of the rad that much. The real heat is from the GPU and it's being directly exhausted.
 
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Most folks install their AIO fans backwards... follow Corsair's written instructions and the 2nd law of water cooling:

1st law - No mixed metals, Corsair already violates that one with copper block / aluminum radiator ... if not purchased, Id suggest the Swiftwch H240 series, better across the board, no mixed metals, 10 times as powerful pump, better aesthetics and you can expand the loop.

2nd law - Rad fans always blow in, no exceptions.

The biggest mistake AIO users make is installing the fans as exhausts. Remember intake fans lose flow volume to the resistance... and that resistance grows daily due to dust buildup. A fairly clean dust filter can block up to a third of air flow. So, generally, you will want to have 1.5 intake fans for every exhaust fan.

This is made even worse of you have a blower style GFX card. Let's look at your scenario ... CPU will push 90 - 130 watts depending on OC. So with two front 120mm intake fans blowing in, 1 rear blowing out and 2 140s blowing out....

At the same rpm, the 140s will push 35% more air ... a 120mm behind a filter will push about 67% as much air. let's use the rear exhaust as a baseline and give it a value of 1.00 EF (Equivalent Fans)

Rear = 1.00 Out x 1 fan = 1.00
Top = 1.33 Out x 2 fans = 2.67
Front = 0.67 in x 2 fans = 1.33 In

That's 1.33 In and 3.70 out ... add in a bit more if ya have a blower style card. That's a very significant negative pressure. Dust is only a secondary concern here ... the biggest concern is the heat getting sucked into your case. Most cases have a rear case grille that is a bit part of the cooling system. What happens then with the air balance, any difference between the air in and air out is "balanced by the grille". And what happens is the air exhausted thru the AIO is sucked in thru that rear case grille. So, in order to get that 90 - 130 watts of CPU heat out of the case, you are sucking in the hot exhaust from the 750 (?) watt PSU and the 300 watt GFX card id getting sucked back into the case thru that rear grille.

Again, is sticking with the H115, Id buy a pair or matching fans

But let's look at your case diagram ... the Fury blocks the only potential grille space and its forcing air out ... there doesn't appear to be any open space for the air balance (in versus out) to equalize. How about the bottom ? Any air inlet there ? If not I don't think the case choice works with the AIO installed as an exhaust ... nor even as an intake.

If sticking with this case, and if you have the room to install push / pull, I would install the AIO on the front having the 4 fans push air into the case and let what doesnt go out the rear get pushed out the top with just the interior case pressure. I would either use the same Corsair 140mm fans that it comes with or replace them all with 1500 rpm Phantels MPs or BeQuiet's Silent Wings 3's
 
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Most folks install their AIO fans backwards...
Most folk install their AIO fans the way they see fit.
There is no right or wrong way.
If you choose to follow instructions blindy without being able to think logically yourself, so be it.
I prefer to exhaust hot air from the case, for ME, that is the correct method, NOT blowing hot air in to a case.
Others can do as they please.
 

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