I have received an all-in-one water cooler for Christmas. it did not fit in my pc case so I bought a new case. The only problem is, I can fit in the radiator, but not the fans. the system seems to be running ok but it is getting very hot, even when idle. when it is idle, it is usually at around 20 - 27 degrees. however, once I start gaming. it has gone as high as 82 degrees. right now it is at 40 degrees as I have just finished gaming on it and it is cooling down. The system has 8 fans, 2 front intake, 1 rear exhaust, 2 pushing down onto the PSU and HDD (bit worrying) and the two on the graphics card. I want to put some fans on top of the radiator at the top of the case, but there is no room for them. if I do put some on top, it will cost a bit to get some super thin fans to push down onto the radiator and then have all the heat pushed out the back The fans will cost around £15 is I something I should purchase or do you think I will live without
You definitely need some fans for the radiator of the cooler. I'm sure you probably know already, but how they work (or my best explanation of them) is, basically cold water goes to the CPU, and the heat from the CPU 'transfers' to the water, cooling the CPU down. Then, the water is moved to the radiator, where the heat goes from the water to the air being pushed through the radiator, which cools the water down. Then the cycle repeats. Without fans on the radiator, there isn't alot of air going through it atall, which means the water doesn't cool down once it's past the CPU. This means the water is much hotter when it gets back to the CPU, and not as much heat can move to it. Honestly, I think it'd be better, if possible, to go back to an air cooler for the CPU until you can get fans for the radiator, because you'll probably get much better cooling than you currently are --- Post updated --- ++ Also, you say there are 2 fans 'pushing down' onto the storage and PSU? Could you explain this abit more? Because since heat rises, you wanna try to avoid pushing air down at all times. And out of curiosity, would the radiator not fit on the front with fans?
yeah, the fans at the bottom don't really do a lot and if hot air rises, it is not an issue. I cant mount it at the front as it is too big
++ Also, you say there are 2 fans 'pushing down' onto the storage and PSU? Could you explain this abit more? Because since heat rises, you wanna try to avoid pushing air down at all times. It's just a thought, but would the radiator be mountable anywhere on the outside of the case? I know someone who had to do that to make theirs fit, and while it doesn't look the best, it atleast works for now. Also, is there venting below the case that the bottom 2 fans would be able to use? Because it'd be a better idea if they were pushing air up through the case. (But ofcourse, bottom intake fans also increase dust alot, so you'd need to keep up on that more). Plus, it currently looks like all those 2 fans are doing, is taking hot air from above it in the case, blowing it down, then letting the heat go back up again. Could I also ask what the fan in your second picture is? Also, I don't know what a good work around for it would be, but you've got lots of air going into the case, and only one exhaust fan. With the radiator on top (especially while it's got no fans) I imagine that there's probably alot of air in the case, without anywhere to go. Sorry I can't really explain it as well as I'd like to. Honestly, I don't know much about this atall
Put the fans on the outside. It's by far the easiest solution. Just cut the separator between a couple of vent holes to pass the cable through. Or make literally other fan slot an input so that the case has positive air pressure and the air will be forced to escape through any available exit. Radiators work through airflow.
Really not an issue, people have used pro airflow measurement gear and found a fan has so little issue pushing air heated with over 300W downwards that you cant even record the difference in airflow on the gear. Reason being fairly simple, the *mass* of air shifted by a fan in a second is actually remarkably high and the total temperature difference inside case from ambient isnt hugely significant, its like 5c or so, enough that to your hand it feels warm sure, but its not going to be rising significantly. --- Post updated --- Basically, anywhere you can stick the radiator and get fans on it will be pretty much fine. Like I just said, the temperature difference inside case from outside case is only 5c at most. I currently have *top intake* through a 240mm radiator blowing onto my GPUs (my case is inverted micro ATX and so GPUs are at top). The GPU actually runs cooler than when it had no radiator and fans above it, yet it now has fans pushing air downwards through a radiator (heating that air up slightly in the process), its just the fans on the radiator increase the *mass* of airflow to the GPU so much that the 2c or so difference I've measured across the radiator is a non issue. Equally if my radiator was exhausting, well the CPU wont be dumping heat into the case itself so you'd only have the warmth from drives and GPUs now, so the air inside case will again be even cooler than it usually would in there and wont impact temperatures inside the radiator too much. Also doesnt matter a whole lot whether you have fans on the back of the radiator or the front. --- Post updated --- Not surprised you reached 82c without fans. You'll be heating the water up in the CPU block, but without airflow over the radiator, wont be cooling it down a lot.
The whole point of the liquid in the radiator is to carry heat. When the liquid is spread out in the radiator, it is in prime position to have the heat removed from it by air running over it. For this process to work, air must be running over it. It is imperative your radiator has fans on it. Storage does not need fans, you may be able to make sacrifices in that area.
Couldn't you buy a 120 radiator and put it in the rear? I have it in that position and I have no heat issues at all. I'd suggest you to return the 240 radiator and buy a smaller one that can fit in the case WITH fans. Or if you want to keep it there are two options: a bigger case with space for a big radiator; fans on the outside (which is quite dangerous imo)
