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7/24/2025, 12:37:48 AM
I'm at a quandary with choosing case fans, the last part of my build. I've been stewing over this for a couple days and don't know what to do.
I have a fractal design north case, you can see the full build here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KH3t2x It's probably gonna run kinda hot and I want to optimize for temperature.
Noctua wrote up a guide for cooling this case here: https://noctua.at/en/best-fan-setup-fractal-design-north
Where they apparently tested a bunch of stuff and found the best result was with having 6 of their 60cfm fans in a configuration like this with 4 intake and 2 exhaust. I see their point about having the top intake, but it seems bizarre to aim for 2 whole fans worth of positive air pressure.
I'm also not going to just throw out the stock case fans and replace them with noctuas, I don't care that much about whatever noise they might make, so I'm keeping them.
I'm trying to decide if I should go with either:
A) 5 fans - similar to what noctua recommended, but only 2 front intakes (the stock 140mms, I'm not going to just throw out the fans that came with the case) instead of 3. Overall 3 intake, 2 exhaust, which results in the positive air pressure of 1 fan.
B) 4 fans - the conventional setup: Two front intakes (the stock 140mms), one rear exhaust, one top rear exhaust. No top front intake. Overall 2 intake, 2 exhausts which results in neutral pressure.
C) 5 fans - similar to (A), but going for really powerful back and top back exhausts like the arctic p12/p14 max, and an average top front intake like the arctic p12 pwm. Overall 3 intake, 2 exhaust, and while kind of wacky, would result in only slightly positive pressure.
I'm not set on the brand of fans yet, I'm just thinking of how I would set up the overall airflow for best temperature. Basically do I want to trust noctua on this top intake thing at the expense of high positive air pressure. I dont know how to do fan curves and want something that'll work without messing with them.
I have a fractal design north case, you can see the full build here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KH3t2x It's probably gonna run kinda hot and I want to optimize for temperature.
Noctua wrote up a guide for cooling this case here: https://noctua.at/en/best-fan-setup-fractal-design-north
Where they apparently tested a bunch of stuff and found the best result was with having 6 of their 60cfm fans in a configuration like this with 4 intake and 2 exhaust. I see their point about having the top intake, but it seems bizarre to aim for 2 whole fans worth of positive air pressure.
I'm also not going to just throw out the stock case fans and replace them with noctuas, I don't care that much about whatever noise they might make, so I'm keeping them.
I'm trying to decide if I should go with either:
A) 5 fans - similar to what noctua recommended, but only 2 front intakes (the stock 140mms, I'm not going to just throw out the fans that came with the case) instead of 3. Overall 3 intake, 2 exhaust, which results in the positive air pressure of 1 fan.
B) 4 fans - the conventional setup: Two front intakes (the stock 140mms), one rear exhaust, one top rear exhaust. No top front intake. Overall 2 intake, 2 exhausts which results in neutral pressure.
C) 5 fans - similar to (A), but going for really powerful back and top back exhausts like the arctic p12/p14 max, and an average top front intake like the arctic p12 pwm. Overall 3 intake, 2 exhaust, and while kind of wacky, would result in only slightly positive pressure.
I'm not set on the brand of fans yet, I'm just thinking of how I would set up the overall airflow for best temperature. Basically do I want to trust noctua on this top intake thing at the expense of high positive air pressure. I dont know how to do fan curves and want something that'll work without messing with them.
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