CM Elite 430 fan setup

[tony_ong]

Hi,

like to check what setup for the fans for this case will be better?

currently i have installed 3 fans (including the original one).
added 2 CM 90CFM fans one at the rear (exhaust) and one at the front (intake).
moved the original (40 CFM i suppose) to the bottom of the case as intake.
is it better for the fan to be at the bottom or at the side window?

or is there any other recommendation?

the idle temp right now is about 40C for the processor and GPU.
will hit max of 70C for GPU and 62C for the processor when i am playing Dota2 according to HWM

thanks!

 

[dinosau4]

depends if you want a positive or negative air pressure inside the case.

~Also don't expect Excellent cooling form stock cooler. They are just there to make sure the chip don't get burnt.

if GPU reading is kinda warm for you maybe you should install a side vent fan ? Plus i think avg 60+ is kinda all right

 

[tony_ong]

depends if you want a positive or negative air pressure inside the case.

~Also don't expect Excellent cooling form stock cooler. They are just there to make sure the chip don't get burnt.

if GPU reading is kinda warm for you maybe you should install a side vent fan ? Plus i think avg 60+ is kinda all right

read abit about positive and negative air pressure. not sure with one will be better.

actually i m not sure if the temp for the GPU is ok or not.

i understand that for the processor, the stock cooler wont really do much to the temp other den preventing it from over heating.

 

[morgankell]

actually cable management is also important so as not to impend the air flow. the 430 doesnt seem to have much cable mx options

 

[tony_ong]

actually cable management is also important so as not to impend the air flow. the 430 doesnt seem to have much cable mx options

i had sort of put all the cable at the bottom beside the fan so that wont really block the air.. regreted not getting a modular psu last time.

is my fan set up and the temps ok?

 

[morgankell]

Your temperatures are ok. Just cable tie your cables to keep them neat

 

[tony_ong]

Your temperatures are ok. Just cable tie your cables to keep them neat

I see. Done that when setting up the rig when I got it.
Thanks!

 

[tony_ong]

I suppose there is no need to add more fans?

 

[ah hui]

I suppose there is no need to add more fans?

More fans in the CM Elite 430 will cause more dust build up. I used to use the Elite 430, alot of dust....

 

[tony_ong]

More fans in the CM Elite 430 will cause more dust build up. I used to use the Elite 430, alot of dust....

Ohoh. I put dust filters for the intakes

 

[barra90210]

I'm still using the 430 and have tried various fan intake/outtake combinations before finalising with my current set-up. A 140mm (Aerocool 96cfm 1500rpm) for the front, a 120mm (Aerocool 82cfm 1500rpm) on the side window, 2X 120mm (Aerocool 82cfc 1500rpm) on the top as intake (I've cut out the rear fan exhaust grill so there's just a big hole with no fan there). Just keeping to your 3 fans, you should put the included low rpm 120mm CM fan in the front to cool your HDD, one 90CFM 120mm on your side window and the second 90CFM 120mm as your rear exhaust.

When you have a fan blowing directly at your graphics card the temp will drop dramatically. I have also removed all the unused PCI panels on the case so that hot air from the graphics card can exhaust more easily.

For your info my 2500K, which is OCed to 4.2GHz, runs at about 53C when I'm playing Crysis 3, which is quite CPU heavy. My 7970 GPU which I OCed to 1150MHz reaches about 67C. I'm not using the aircon and my room temp is about 29C on average. All my fans are managed by my ASUS motherboard using FanXpert and I've set them to run at about 40% rpm (950rpm) at idle and will reach about 60% while I'm gaming. So the fans are not running at max rpm for me to achieve those gaming temps.

On a side note, regarding the 90cfm CM fans you have, try not to place them horizontally since most CM fans are sleeve-bearing models (I have 2 120mm CM Xtraflo fans for my CPU cooler). The reason is that whatever grease that's used to lubricate the fan's shaft will migrate downwards over time due to gravity and the constant fan blade vibrations. The result will be a fan that will rattle quite audibly. For horizontal placements you are better off using ball-bearing or fluid-dynamic bearing fans. These fans typically have MTBF (mean time before failure) of 100,000hrs and above.

Hope this helps ... cheers.

 

[tony_ong]

I'm still using the 430 and have tried various fan intake/outtake combinations before finalising with my current set-up. A 140mm (Aerocool 96cfm 1500rpm) for the front, a 120mm (Aerocool 82cfm 1500rpm) on the side window, 2X 120mm (Aerocool 82cfc 1500rpm) on the top as intake (I've cut out the rear fan exhaust grill so there's just a big hole with no fan there). Just keeping to your 3 fans, you should put the included low rpm 120mm CM fan in the front to cool your HDD, one 90CFM 120mm on your side window and the second 90CFM 120mm as your rear exhaust.

When you have a fan blowing directly at your graphics card the temp will drop dramatically. I have also removed all the unused PCI panels on the case so that hot air from the graphics card can exhaust more easily.

For your info my 2500K, which is OCed to 4.2GHz, runs at about 53C when I'm playing Crysis 3, which is quite CPU heavy. My 7970 GPU which I OCed to 1150MHz reaches about 67C. I'm not using the aircon and my room temp is about 29C on average. All my fans are managed by my ASUS motherboard using FanXpert and I've set them to run at about 40% rpm (950rpm) at idle and will reach about 60% while I'm gaming. So the fans are not running at max rpm for me to achieve those gaming temps.

On a side note, regarding the 90cfm CM fans you have, try not to place them horizontally since most CM fans are sleeve-bearing models (I have 2 120mm CM Xtraflo fans for my CPU cooler). The reason is that whatever grease that's used to lubricate the fan's shaft will migrate downwards over time due to gravity and the constant fan blade vibrations. The result will be a fan that will rattle quite audibly. For horizontal placements you are better off using ball-bearing or fluid-dynamic bearing fans. These fans typically have MTBF (mean time before failure) of 100,000hrs and above.

Hope this helps ... cheers.

Thanks for the info regarding the fans.

Hmmm so u suggest putting a 90cfm at side grill instead of what I have right now which is in front and jus keep the original fan in front instead of at be bottom?
Currently have a 90cfm at the rear to exhaust.

I am also running them at max. Didnt do any control to the speed as of now.

 

[barra90210]

Thanks for the info regarding the fans.

Hmmm so u suggest putting a 90cfm at side grill instead of what I have right now which is in front and jus keep the original fan in front instead of at be bottom?
Currently have a 90cfm at the rear to exhaust.

I am also running them at max. Didnt do any control to the speed as of now.

Yes I am suggesting precisely that.

From my experiments with the 430, a powerful front fan although very helpful in introducing cool air into the case, doesn't impact the graphics card as much as having a direct source from the side window. So it's best to just concentrate on cooling the HDD with the front fan, which an average one will do.

Using a bottom fan doesn't necessarily help in feeding cool air to the graphics card since the air will blow in all directions. Furthermore you are using the weakest fan in that position. Also, I believe there will be PSU cables blocking a third to half of the bottom fan's airflow. Just put your hand there to have an idea of how the bottom fan is blowing air upwards and you will see that the air doesn't blow vertically upwards but actually opening outwards so you will be having a lot of airflow hitting on your case window and heading upwards by-passing the graphics card altogether.

Just try my suggestion and feed your GPU direct fresh air. Also open up all the unused PCI panels so that hot air doesn't build up in the zone between your graphics card and your PSU. I believe that your GPU being a ASUS DirectCU model, shouldn't reach 70C temps unless it's running Furmark or some GPU benching software.

 

[tony_ong]

Yes I am suggesting precisely that.

From my experiments with the 430, a powerful front fan although very helpful in introducing cool air into the case, doesn't impact the graphics card as much as having a direct source from the side window. So it's best to just concentrate on cooling the HDD with the front fan, which an average one will do.

Using a bottom fan doesn't necessarily help in feeding cool air to the graphics card since the air will blow in all directions. Furthermore you are using the weakest fan in that position. Also, I believe there will be PSU cables blocking a third to half of the bottom fan's airflow. Just put your hand there to have an idea of how the bottom fan is blowing air upwards and you will see that the air doesn't blow vertically upwards but actually opening outwards so you will be having a lot of airflow hitting on your case window and heading upwards by-passing the graphics card altogether.

Just try my suggestion and feed your GPU direct fresh air. Also open up all the unused PCI panels so that hot air doesn't build up in the zone between your graphics card and your PSU. I believe that your GPU being a ASUS DirectCU model, shouldn't reach 70C temps unless it's running Furmark or some GPU benching software.

Ohoh. I see. Thanks. Will try it when I m home.

Ya its the DirectCU. Hopefully can cool down the card abit more.

 

[tony_ong]

Yes I am suggesting precisely that.

From my experiments with the 430, a powerful front fan although very helpful in introducing cool air into the case, doesn't impact the graphics card as much as having a direct source from the side window. So it's best to just concentrate on cooling the HDD with the front fan, which an average one will do.

Using a bottom fan doesn't necessarily help in feeding cool air to the graphics card since the air will blow in all directions. Furthermore you are using the weakest fan in that position. Also, I believe there will be PSU cables blocking a third to half of the bottom fan's airflow. Just put your hand there to have an idea of how the bottom fan is blowing air upwards and you will see that the air doesn't blow vertically upwards but actually opening outwards so you will be having a lot of airflow hitting on your case window and heading upwards by-passing the graphics card altogether.

Just try my suggestion and feed your GPU direct fresh air. Also open up all the unused PCI panels so that hot air doesn't build up in the zone between your graphics card and your PSU. I believe that your GPU being a ASUS DirectCU model, shouldn't reach 70C temps unless it's running Furmark or some GPU benching software.

btw, your graphic card is running on original cooler?

 

[tony_ong]

after trying what bro barra90210 said to put the 2 90CFM fans at the side panel and at the rear, the temp is still about the same or went abit higher by 1-2c.

sigh. now donno how to arrange the fans better..

 

[Entry Level PC]

Side window fan works better as outflow.
As inflow will push heat from your sibei hot GPU to your mobo.

 

[tony_ong]

Side window fan works better as outflow.
As inflow will push heat from your sibei hot GPU to your mobo.

hmmm.. so whats your recommendation for setup of the fans?