X-bit labs

Roundup: 11 Fans for Two Super-Coolers and One System Case (page 16)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 04/07/2008 | 07:35 PM ]

System Case Tests: Air Intake/Exhaust

It seems to be the most ambiguous and interesting part of our today’s test session. Ambiguous because it depends a lot on the internal configuration of the system case, components location and airflow circulation. ASUS ASCOT 6AR2-B system case that we are using on a regular basis for our cooler reviews is not the best choice for efficient cooling, however, it is a pretty popular model, even among overclocking fans. We didn’t plan to test the fans in cases of different types and form-factors.

At first let’s check out the processor temperature when it was heated up with OCCT:

As you can see, nothing has really changed. Those fans that can create the maximum airflow and/or ensure high static pressure are the winners.

Now let’s look at the GPU and graphics card temperatures (the card equipped with Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 heatsink):

The results obtained inside a system case with a passively cooled processor and graphics card turned out pretty intriguing, because equipping Scythe Ninja and Accelero S1 with fans is easier and will ensure much more efficient cooling than with two fans installed on the system case panels. For example, by putting a 120-mm fan with 800RPM rotation speed on top of the Accelero S1 you can reduce the GPU temperature by more than 20ºC, which is greater than the difference between the highest and the lowest result on the diagram above. Nevertheless, the obtained results allow concluding that the fans with high airflow and static pressure rates are still the best.