Installing AIO (first time)

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

Thanks to @bobkn for the AIO. . I'm in the process of installing it.

My case has to 280mm exhaust fans. Can I leave those as is and install the AIO and install the AIO fans for intake, and use the 280mm fans or should I just use the 120mm fans and completely take out the 280mm fans that I have?

Basically i'm asking can I use all of them, or would it be best if I just use the AIO fans only?

PerpetualCycle · Sep 9, 2023

You can adjust the fan curves to match the output cfm to the input cfm.. Just use the ratio of their CFM and speed to make a slight positive pressure in the case. Negative pressure will result in more dust getting sucked in.

I have three a 360 aio for intake on the front and a single 140 in the back as output, running slow, so I have plenty f positive presssure. But I have a mesh case so that is OK.

If you use the aio as intake, that will give you the best cpu cooling, especially with the fans in a pull configuration (pulling the air in through the radiator, ie fans on the inside). However it will dump warmer air in your case which will raise your GPU temperature.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

geneo said:
You can adjust the fan curves to match the output cfm to the input cfm.. Just use the ratio of their CFM and speed to make a slight positive pressure in the case. Negative pressure will result in more dust getting sucked in.

I have three a 360 aio for intake on the front and a single 140 in the back as output, running slow, so I have plenty f positive presssure. But I have a mesh case so that is OK.

If you use the aio as intake, that will give you the best cpu cooling, especially with the fans in a pull configuration (pulling the air in through the radiator, ie fans on the inside). However it will dump warmer air in your case which will raise your GPU temperature.

Yeah i have the fans as intake screwed to the bottom of the radiator, like you would normally do. . My 280mm fans would mount to the top of the PC case. . . I don't know how to explain. lol

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

Front and back fans are INTAKE. . .
AIO fans are intake
2 fans you see at the top (what i'm asking about) can those be exhaust?
i also have an intake fan on the side panel (not pictured)

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

I tightened the screws finger tight on the CPU. Do I need to use a screw driver to tighten them a little more?

PerpetualCycle · Sep 9, 2023

That doesn't look like a good idea. When you say aio is intake, does that mean you are pulling air into the with the aio fans. In any way though, it doesn't look good.

1. If the aio is pullling air into the case, it will fight with the fans above it that are pulling air our of the case. It would not be effective cooling and will shorten the life of the fans.
2. If the aio fans are blowing air out of the case, their airflow may not match the fans on top of the case, which can shorten the life of the fans and potentially not be as effective.
3. If the fans on top of the case are off, they will interfere with the airflow of the radiator fans.

But you need some exhaust somewhere, just not there.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

geneo said:
That doesn't look like a good idea. When you say aio is intake, does that mean you are pulling air into the with the aio fans. In any way though, it doesn't look good.

1. If the aio is pullling air into the case, it will fight with the fans above it that are pulling air our of the case. It would not be effective cooling and will shorten the life of the fans.
2. If the aio fans are blowing air out of the case, their airflow may not match the fans on top of the case, which can shorten the life of the fans and potentially not be as effective.
3. If the fans on top of the case are off, they will interfere with the airflow of the radiator fans.

But you need some exhaust somewhere, just not there.

ohh I get what you mean. . .

I have the AIO Fans where it's blowing air UPWARD. It's taking the air inside the case and blowing it upward (i have the arrows that are on the fans pointing upward). . . So, I i guess what i'm asking is can I put those big fans (top of the case and have them point upwards as well?

bobkn · Sep 9, 2023

I don't follow what you're doing, but I get the impression that it's not correct.

If the radiator is mounted in the top of the case, its fans would typically be mounted as exhaust. The two large fans up top are presumably exhaust as well. Hot air rises (convection), so the fans should reinforce that, not fight against it.

I'd expect the fan in the rear of the case to be exhaust. The fans in the front and side of the case would be intakes.

As regards the screws on the AIO block, you can tighten them as much as you like (without stripping them). They'll bottom out. The AM3/4 bracket provides the springiness that sets the amount of clamping force.

Did you have any trouble getting the hooks onto the AM4 mounting ears? That was a bit of a learning curve for me.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

bobkn said:
I don't follow what you're doing, but I get the impression that it's not correct.

If the radiator is mounted in the top of the case, its fans would typically be mounted as exhaust. The two large fans up top are presumably exhaust as well. Hot air rises (convection), so the fans should reinforce that, not fight against it.

I'd expect the fan in the rear of the case to be exhaust. The fans in the front and side of the case would be intakes.

View attachment 70490

As regards the screws on the AIO block, you can tighten them as much as you like (without stripping them). They'll bottom out. The AM3/4 bracket provides the springiness that sets the amount of clamping force.

Did you have any trouble getting the hooks onto the AM4 mounting ears? That was a bit of a learning curve for me.

No i didn't have any problems at all with the Mounting Ears. . I was shocked, to be truthful.

As for the air flow, I guess what i'm asking is can I have my 2 280mm case fans HELP the AIO Fans EXHAUST??? As long as the arrows on all 4 fans are pointing UPWARD to take the air THROUGH the radiator and out of the case?

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

Apparently, I've connected it the correct way. . Already see a 15 degree temp drop.

Dru2 · Sep 9, 2023

JAM83 said:
Front and back fans are INTAKE. . .
AIO fans are intake
2 fans you see at the top (what i'm asking about) can those be exhaust?

Ideally, you'd want to front fans to intake, and rear fan to exhaust.
Yes, the fans at the top can be exhaust. However, if you have fans on the bottom side, they need to be exhaust as well otherwise they're fighting against each other.

The way I have my setup is exhaust...

Front 220mm fans intake air
The rear 140mm fan exhausts air out
AIO fans exhaust air out the top as the fans push air through the radiator

That's me, but there are other configurations, and also depends on case and fan mount options. Also overclocking may factor in. I don't overclock, so my system is a heat factory.

Regarding bobkn's comment on tightening screws on the radiator, be aware that radiators is aluminum so overtightening will definitely strip the holes. Been there done that. Tighten just enough to be tight.

JAM83 said:
As for the air flow, I guess what i'm asking is can I have my 2 280mm case fans HELP the AIO Fans EXHAUST??? As long as the arrows on all 4 fans are pointing UPWARD to take the air THROUGH the radiator and out of the case?

Yes, as I stated above, and is how I have mine.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

I left those 280mm fans off (the big fans that came with the case). . I'm pretty happy at the moment. . . @bobkn and everyone else. . Don't fall out of your chair when I say this.........I'M SOLD ON AIOs. . . . LOL

PerpetualCycle · Sep 9, 2023

JAM83 said:
ohh I get what you mean. . .

I have the AIO Fans where it's blowing air UPWARD. It's taking the air inside the case and blowing it upward (i have the arrows that are on the fans pointing upward). . . So, I i guess what i'm asking is can I put those big fans (top of the case and have them point upwards as well?

#2 in my previous response.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

geneo said:
#2 in my previous response.

Yeah i left them off just to be safe.

PerpetualCycle · Sep 9, 2023

JAM83 said:
Yeah i left them off just to be safe.

You can try different configurations to see what gives you the best cooling.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

Firefox, (4 tabs), iRacing, ATVO, Trading Paints, Photoshop. . All open at the same time. .

Before my AIO, temps were 110-130

Now, temps are between 90-101

HUGE difference

bobkn · Sep 9, 2023

JAM83 said:
No i didn't have any problems at all with the Mounting Ears. . I was shocked, to be truthful.

As for the air flow, I guess what i'm asking is can I have my 2 280mm case fans HELP the AIO Fans EXHAUST??? As long as the arrows on all 4 fans are pointing UPWARD to take the air THROUGH the radiator and out of the case?

That'd be OK, if you can mount things that way. May be unnecessary.

Some people mount a second set of fans on a radiator, in a push-pull configuration, like is done with some air coolers.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

bobkn said:
That'd be OK, if you can mount things that way. May be unnecessary.

Some people mount a second set of fans on a radiator, in a push-pull configuration, like is done with some air coolers.

Yeah i probably should have said "push/pull". . oh well. I have everything back together. I won't clean out the PC again until January. . lol

bobkn · Sep 9, 2023

JAM83 said:
Firefox, (4 tabs), iRacing, ATVO, Trading Paints, Photoshop. . All open at the same time. .

Before my AIO, temps were 110-130

Now, temps are between 90-101

HUGE difference

For internationalists/scientists/engineers,

43-54C

32-38C.

The higher temperatures were OK, already. If they never went above that, you didn't need a better cooler.

JAM83 · Sep 9, 2023

bobkn said:
For internationalists/scientists/engineers,

43-54C

32-38C.

The higher temperatures were OK, already. If they never went above that, you didn't need a better cooler.

I forgot to put Discord & Dreamweaver in there too. . Those made it spike pretty high.