HTPC Airflow - 3 options, 1 build
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:04 am
Most of the parts & pieces for my HTPC have been decided on.
However, after the article on the LC17 & GD01, I reconsidered the initial cooling plan.
The important bits for the build, cooling-wise are:
- Case: Silverstone LC16m - 2 80mm rear exhaust fans; optional: 2 92mm HDD bay fans & 1x 80mm side exhaust fan.
- CPU: AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 - 45W to cool.
- GFX Sparkle SF-PX86GTS256D3-HM Cool-pipe II - Passive (Zalman VNF100) Heatsink on CPU Side; Placed either in 1st or 2nd PCIe slot, depending on clearance.
- PSU Corsair CMPSU-520HXEU - Low noise, intake from outside of case.
That leaves me with the following layout, if I don't add CPU cooling and additional fans (note, al pictures are top down views):
My initial cooling plan involved a top down CPU cooler and filling all the optional fan locations. The cooler I had in mind was the Thermalright SI-128 combined with a Nexus 120mm.
The plan was to see how well this worked and add ducting if either cooling performance of noise was unsatisfactory. As this involves turning the case into a wind tunnel, I reconsidered. Also, the HDD fans would make everything I tight squeeze, perhaps to tight for the CPU Cooling.
The two alternatives I'm considering are:
1) Thermalright Ultima90-based: Simple front to back airflow, with a 90mm fan (see picture below).
- Possibly adding a simple duct from cooler to exhausts, if temps are high.
- Con: Possible lack of GFX cooling?
2) Scythe Minja-based: 92mm fan draws air from GFX over CPU toward side exhaust (see picture below).
- Improved GFX cooling?
- Possibly adding a simple duct from cooler to side exhaust fan.
- Cons: Cooling CPU with preheated air, interferance from rear exhaust?
I'm in need of a reality check, as I see no obvious best solution. So:
- Should I worry about the airflow? Might I be overdoing it?
- What would you do in my situation?
- What have your experiences been with parts like these?
However, after the article on the LC17 & GD01, I reconsidered the initial cooling plan.
The important bits for the build, cooling-wise are:
- Case: Silverstone LC16m - 2 80mm rear exhaust fans; optional: 2 92mm HDD bay fans & 1x 80mm side exhaust fan.
- CPU: AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 - 45W to cool.
- GFX Sparkle SF-PX86GTS256D3-HM Cool-pipe II - Passive (Zalman VNF100) Heatsink on CPU Side; Placed either in 1st or 2nd PCIe slot, depending on clearance.
- PSU Corsair CMPSU-520HXEU - Low noise, intake from outside of case.
That leaves me with the following layout, if I don't add CPU cooling and additional fans (note, al pictures are top down views):
My initial cooling plan involved a top down CPU cooler and filling all the optional fan locations. The cooler I had in mind was the Thermalright SI-128 combined with a Nexus 120mm.
The plan was to see how well this worked and add ducting if either cooling performance of noise was unsatisfactory. As this involves turning the case into a wind tunnel, I reconsidered. Also, the HDD fans would make everything I tight squeeze, perhaps to tight for the CPU Cooling.
The two alternatives I'm considering are:
1) Thermalright Ultima90-based: Simple front to back airflow, with a 90mm fan (see picture below).
- Possibly adding a simple duct from cooler to exhausts, if temps are high.
- Con: Possible lack of GFX cooling?
2) Scythe Minja-based: 92mm fan draws air from GFX over CPU toward side exhaust (see picture below).
- Improved GFX cooling?
- Possibly adding a simple duct from cooler to side exhaust fan.
- Cons: Cooling CPU with preheated air, interferance from rear exhaust?
I'm in need of a reality check, as I see no obvious best solution. So:
- Should I worry about the airflow? Might I be overdoing it?
- What would you do in my situation?
- What have your experiences been with parts like these?