How do I make cooling better?

[Soreen]

Hi
I just installed 2 Noctua NF-A12x15 (120 mm) at the top of my case as exhausts, but as I have a Gamemax Expedition Micro ATX case, I cannot mount any fans in front of my case. The problem now is that the exhaust fan at the back is not getting any air out (which kinda makes sense as the Noctua fans are a lot more powerful) and I only get about a 3 degrees difference for my GPU (Went from being 85 Degrees C to 82-83 + it climbs a lot slower). I was wondering is there any other way I could increase airflow at all?
Other specs:
Ryzen 7 3700X
Nvidia RTX 2060
2x8 3000 Mhz RAM

 

[EarthDog]

Try the rear as intake... otherwise it is what it is...

Temps are OK, that is where that card normally operates anyway. So long as the CPU is in good shape, you are too.

 

[kayjay010101]

Hi
I just installed 2 Noctua NF-A12x15 (120 mm) at the top of my case as exhausts, but as I have a Gamemax Expedition Micro ATX case, I cannot mount any fans in front of my case. The problem now is that the exhaust fan at the back is not getting any air out (which kinda makes sense as the Noctua fans are a lot more powerful) and I only get about a 3 degrees difference for my GPU (Went from being 85 Degrees C to 82-83 + it climbs a lot slower). I was wondering is there any other way I could increase airflow at all?
Other specs:
Ryzen 7 3700X
Nvidia RTX 2060
2x8 3000 Mhz RAM

With all as exhaust you're currently in a negative pressure setup with air being drawn in through the cracks of the case. Some people find merit in this sort of setup. I tend to disagree with that notion though, as you get no airflow, just air "seepage", if that makes sense.

You'd get a better direct airflow path over the motherboard area/CPU by setting the rear as intake, but you'd get practically zero airflow over the GPU. This would likely result in higher GPU thermals, lower CPU and motherboard thermals.

Equally, setting the top fans to intake and rear as exhaust would do the same but reverse the air direction and skew towards a more positive pressure setup (more air is pushed in than can be extracted, so air is pushed out of cracks. negative means air is dragged in through cracks). This would be the setup with the most positive pressure, as more air is taken in (two powerful fans as intake vs. one less-powerful fan as out = more in than out = positive pressure). This might be the best for GPU thermals even though the airflow avoids the GPU, as since the exhaust won't be able to vent all the air some cold air will make its way throughout the rest of the case and cool down the GPU as a result.

So personally I'd just get a new case with an actual decent airflow setup (that includes front fans!), but if that's not an option then set the Noctua (top fans) as intake, and the less-powerful fan (rear fan) as exhaust.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Cooling can always be a problem with smaller cases. Sadly, it appears that µATX does not support any front panel at all. So the only intake appears to be on the bottom, but that is for the PSU. I assume you have the PSU's intake vent over that bottom case vent.

As EarthDog notes, technically, according to the specs, 88°C is the max temp allowed for that graphics card. So 83°C is pushing it, but still okay. But I don't know how high you mean when you say 83+. And I assume that is when the computer is being pushed.

But also as noted, your CPU temps are important too. What do they look like?

If turning the rear fan around does not help, I would look at replacing it with another that has a higher CFM capacity.

Remember, so much depends on your ambient (room) temperature too.

If that still does not work, and if your temps remain too high, then I agree with kayjay and your only recourse is to get a new case that offers better cooling. In the mean time, you can remove the side panel and blast a desk fan in there.

 

[Vya Domus]

That case is basically sealed in the front, you'll never get good airflow no matter what you do.

I tend to disagree with that notion though, as you get no airflow, just air "seepage", if that makes sense.

No matter how the fans are set up you always get the same amount of airflow in and out. You get no airflow if you have no fans.

 

[phanbuey]

You can move the noctua to the bottom front intake and leave the back exhast without a fan as you already have 2, or
move the top exhausts as front intake... The top 240mm is good as an intake for an AIO if you have one, with direct air going to the gpu from the front.

 

[kayjay010101]

No matter how the fans are set up you always get the same amount of airflow in and out.

I worded that badly, what I meant was directed air currents (front to back is a common and ideal setup) instead of just air going anywhere it wants. The total airflow is the same, of course. My bad.

 

[dragontamer5788]

You might want to do the ol "flip the power supply" trick, so that the power supply blows (hot) air into your case. This can turn your power-supply fan into an intake fan, which should get more air flow across your GPU.

That case doesn't look like a good airflow design at all. So you'll need every trick you can get. Normally cases don't want hot air from the PSU blowing into the case, but... this design is clearly looking for more intakes somehow.

So the rear and top fans remain the exhaust. Your intakes would be the PSU and front-fans. Yeah, the front is basically sealed but... pushing air with some fans would still help with the intake. Or maybe you can drill some holes into the front so that your intakes pass more air through.

 

[EarthDog]

You might want to do the ol "flip the power supply" trick, so that the power supply blows (hot) air into your case.

Your intakes would be the PSU and front-fans.

Typically, power supplies EXHAUST air out the back. Where the fan sits is INTAKE and the back where the switch and plug is exhausts. The chassis also has that panel separating the HDD and PSU anyway. While it isn't air tight, the flow pattern is wrong in two ways.

That said, to get more airFLOW, flip the PSU up and it will be another exhaust (along with flipping the rear to intake).

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah just take out all pci-e slot covers will let air out a little easier.

 

[dragontamer5788]

Typically, power supplies EXHAUST air out the back. Where the fan sits is INTAKE and the back where the switch and plug is exhausts. The chassis also has that panel separating the HDD and PSU anyway. While it isn't air tight, the flow pattern is wrong in two ways.

That said, to get more airFLOW, flip the PSU up and it will be another exhaust (along with flipping the rear to intake).

Hmmm... I think you're right.

So I guess these pictures are a better idea of what the PSU options are, and what the overall airflow design of the case is. The right picture looks like it has an air-vacuum. So I'd prefer the left picture.

EDIT: The right picture is terrible, because as EarthDog notes, there's a panel that blocks the air in that orientation.

 

[EarthDog]

The PSU fan is almost negligible in most scenarios anyway.. especially with it separated out as it is in his case. PSU orientation doesn't matter much for airflow, typically.

 

[dragontamer5788]

The PSU fan is almost negligible in most scenarios anyway.. especially with it separated out as it is in his case. PSU orientation doesn't matter much for airflow, typically.

It was wishful thinking on my part.

This case clearly needs more intake somewhere, somehow. All these cases without a clear path for front-fans to draw in air just boggle my mind. I guess its just fashion right now, but the front of the case really should be more open.

 

[EarthDog]

Case is trash... trashy case (for airflow)... no doubt.

Some just aren't meant for overclocking.

 

[Caring1]

Buy a better case, use airconditioning, or move to a colder climate.

 

[kayjay010101]

Buy a better case, use airconditioning, or move to a older limate.

Yeah, the new limates suck.

 

[Bill_Bright]

All these cases without a clear path for front-fans to draw in air just boggle my mind.

Blame the marketing weenies. That case never should have been marketed as a gaming case. What's flabbergasting to me is the first line in the description, as seen here (my bold underline added),

GameMax Expedition（H605） is a compact PC case made for Maximum cooling,

or move to a older limate.

Ummm, something happen to your "c" key?

 

[Caring1]

Ummm, something happen to your "c" key?

Some of the keys play up, but at least they take it in turn.

 

[HD64G]

Agreed with the 3rd post of the thread about inverting the top fans as intakes. It will work much better for the case airfolw especially the board VRMs and GPU.

 

[Soreen]

Agreed with the 3rd post of the thread about inverting the top fans as intakes. It will work much better for the case airfolw especially the board VRMs and GPU.

I’ve done that and it didn’t have much of a change really, it just went up to those temperatures faster.

 

[ThrashZone]

I’ve done that and it didn’t have much of a change really, it just went up to those temperatures faster.

Hi,
Exhaust on top would be pulling unfiltered air from the back of the case and all cracks closest to the fans
Intake all and all air is forced out the back... plus it's filtered air except for the top rear which you could remove or leave exhaust doesn't matter lower rpm.

Take the pci-e covers off.

 

[Vya Domus]

Your only solution, like it or not, is to change the case. There is nothing reasonable that you can do to improve things in a noticeable manner, you need front intakes that push fresh air into your case.

I’ve done that and it didn’t have much of a change really, it just went up to those temperatures faster.

Of course it didn't, that air never reaches your GPU because the air is obstructed and dispersed by the CPU cooler which just generates a hot spot anyway not to mention that hot air rises to the top of the case. Your current setup, with all fans as exhausts is actually the most optimal configuration for that case, it's still horrible though and far from ideal.

 

[dragontamer5788]

you need front intakes that push fresh air into your case.

A side intake would also do. But side intakes don't seem to be "in fashion" right now. Have all your fans set to exhaust, then drill a few holes into the side of the case roughly on top of the CPU or GPU is. The fans / pressure will draw in air directly on top of the GPU or CPU, cooling them down more effectively.

Some older cases had explicit intake fans on the side. I wonder why it isn't popular anymore...