Have we been doing it wrong all along?!

Summary

The video explores the optimization of a custom PC cooling setup, focusing on fan configurations, airflow, and temperature management. The creator tests various setups, such as updraft cooling and side panel modifications, to balance cooling efficiency and noise levels. They note the small temperature differences across setups and discuss how cooling configurations impact GPU and system performance. The speaker theorizes that specific airflow strategies, including rear intake fans, could provide better cooling, especially for the GPU. Future adjustments include using larger fans and refining the fan speeds to further optimize the system.

Takeaways

• 😀 Different fan configurations can significantly impact temperatures and cooling performance, but the changes may be small (around 2°C).
• 😀 Fan speed choice is crucial for balancing cooling and noise, with 65% fan speed offering a good compromise for real-world scenarios.
• 😀 The updraft configuration, despite its initial higher temperatures, ultimately provided the best cooling results after the system equilibrated.
• 😀 Testing with and without side panel modifications revealed that open side panels slightly improved cooling performance in certain setups.
• 😀 While temperature changes were observed, they did not significantly affect clock frequencies, indicating minimal impact on performance.
• 😀 The back plate of the GPU plays a vital role in dissipating heat, which may explain why certain configurations performed better.
• 😀 Using rear intake fans might provide better cooling for the GPU, as it allows cooler air to directly interact with the GPU's backplate.
• 😀 The impact of airflow direction and fan placement should be considered to avoid negative effects like heat buildup from warm air circulating around critical components.
• 😀 Future changes include using a larger fan (QX140) for increased airflow and experimenting with fan speed adjustments to optimize cooling.
• 😀 The lack of a fan filter during tests prevented interference with airflow variables, ensuring cleaner results to compare configurations accurately.
• 😀 The speaker hints that traditional intake and exhaust configurations might still be the most effective for overall system cooling, provided there’s sufficient airflow to key components.

Q & A

What was the fan speed set to during the cooling tests, and why?

The fan speed was set to 65% during the cooling tests. This was chosen because it balanced cooling effectiveness with noise levels. The fans used are 2400 RPM, and higher speeds would have made them too loud.

How did the different cooling configurations affect the system temperatures?

The different cooling configurations resulted in slight temperature differences: the normal updraft configuration had a max temperature of 57°C, the side panel open with updraft configuration dropped to about 55°C, and the 'all intake with rear exhaust' configuration resulted in 53°C.

What was the significance of the coolant temperature in this experiment?

The coolant temperature ranged between 38°C and 41°C across the different tests. This difference reflects the impact of ambient temperature on the cooling system, showing how fluid temperature rises as the system heats up.

Did the temperature differences have a noticeable impact on the system’s performance?

The temperature differences of 4°C between the hottest and coldest tests had minimal effect on system performance. The clock frequencies remained almost the same, indicating that the cooling variations didn’t significantly impact performance.

Why did the 'all intake with rear exhaust' configuration result in lower temperatures compared to other setups?

The 'all intake with rear exhaust' configuration performed better because the cool air from the rear intake fan directly flowed across the GPU backplate, improving heat dissipation. This airflow helped lower the overall system temperature.

What role did the GPU backplate play in the cooling performance?

The GPU backplate absorbed a significant amount of heat from components like the GPU core and VRMs. The backplate dissipated this heat, and the rear intake fan helped enhance this cooling effect, making the system more efficient.

What does the speaker suggest could improve the cooling performance further?

The speaker suggests replacing the current fan with a QX140 to increase airflow (CFM) and potentially adding a heat sink to the GPU backplate. They also plan to adjust the fan speeds and possibly switch back to the updraft configuration with the rear intake fan.

Why was the filter removed during testing, and what impact could it have had?

The filter was removed to eliminate it as a variable that could affect airflow. If the filter had been included, it could have reduced airflow and altered the results, making it unclear whether temperature changes were due to the airflow configuration or the filter's impact.

What is the speaker’s ultimate conclusion about the cooling configuration?

The speaker concludes that the traditional intake and exhaust setup makes the most sense for cooling, provided enough cool air is directed to the top radiator. The rear intake fan and updraft configuration seem to offer the best overall cooling solution.

How does the speaker feel about the software controlling the RGB lighting in the system?

The speaker is frustrated with the software (Corsair IQ) used to control the RGB lighting. The software has sometimes malfunctioned, failing to maintain custom settings and switching to random colors, which is an annoyance.