H100 fan configuration testing

As some of you may know, I recently received my RMA replacement H100 unit. Taking this opportunity, I decided to try out a few different fan configurations (and options) to see if I could match (or beat) the cooling of the stock setup on the "high" fan speed setting, while reducing overall noise levels. To aid in this, I ordered the following items:

 

1x Technofront AirBox 240mm acrylic fan shroud: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9130/cpa-280/Tecnofront_AirBox_240_-_Acrylic_.html

 

4x Noiseblocker NB-Multiframe M12-S3HS fans: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8410/fan-518/Noiseblocker_NB-Multiframe_M12-S3HS_120mmx25mm_Ultra_Silent_Fan_-_1800_RPM_-_27_dBA.html?tl=g36c15s60

 

For the testing I tried a few different fan configurations. To simplify things, I will be referring you back to the following picture:

 

http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1036/corsair_obsidian_airflow2.jpg

 

The initial set of testing used only the stock fans. The second set used the Noiseblocker fan units and the AirBox fan shroud.

 

For the first test of this series, I used the H100 as an "exhaust", hooked up to fan spots 6 & 7 (see pic above). the 140mm unit in the rear (fan 5) was set as an "intake", drawing cool outside air into the path of stock H100 fans, which were set up to push air through the radiator and outside the top of the case.

 

The second test reversed this configuration, by sandwiching the stock H100 fans between the radiator and case fan slots 6 & 7. The fans are still pushing air through the radiator, but this time they are drawing ambient air from the top of the case, through the radiator and out the back, since I also made the rear 140mm unit (fan 5) an exhaust.

 

The third test involved switching the stock fans for two of the Noiseblocker units and the AirBox shroud. I had intended to try the shroud in this manner on both sides of the radiator, however the cheapness of the shroud's construction made that a task I did not want to undertake. Thus, I only ended up testing the shroud with only one configuration. That would be with the two Noiseblocker units hooked up to fan slots 6 & 7 as intake units, and with the fan shroud between the fans and the H100 radiator. In theory this would eliminate any "dead spots" created by the center hub of the fans. I should also note that I intended to try a push-pull configuration with the shroud, however there was not enough space between the bottom fans and the motherboard. Needless to say, this shroud is a POS and is very cheaply made. I would not recommend it to anyone simply based on that standpoint.

 

The fourth test consisted of using all four Noiseblocker units, but without the shroud. As I previously stated there was simply not enough room in the case for a push-pull setup in conjunction with the fan shroud. At this point, I was getting tired and lazy, so I only tested this configuration as an "intake". Of note, I did try hooking the fans up to the H100 to see how well they acted. Not very well is the answer. Only 2 of the 4 fans would spin up at idle temps, and even those were intermittent. Apparently the minimum voltage applied by the H100 is less than what these motors start at. I am assuming if I used the PWM Noiseblocker models, I might not have had that issue. In any case, I managed to find motherboard headers for all the fans to plug into.

 

So what's that you say? You want the results? Well here they are my friend!

 

Testing parameters:

 

Intel i7 930 (D0) CPU running at 4.01GHz w/ 1.376 VCore (hyper threading on)

EVGA E770 Classified Motherboard

Corsair 800D case

2x EVGA GTX-480 GPUs in SLI

Bottom and rear 140mm fans were replaced with 140mm Noiseblocker Black Silent-Pro PK-3 models (fan 1 & 5) http://www.noiseblocker.de/en/BlackSilentPro140.php

 

Ambient room temp: 73*F/22.778*C (AC controlled)

 

Idle temps were done after 15 minutes of CPU "idling".

Load tests were done using the Prime95 "torture test" (in-place large FFTs) for 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Test #1 (stock fans as exhaust):

 

Idle -

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5525/idlestockexhaust.jpg

 

Load -

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6605/loadstockexhaust.jpg

 

Test #2 (stock fans as intake):

 

Idle-

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/165/idlestockintake.jpg

 

Load-

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1804/loadstockintake.jpg

 

Test #3 (2x Noiseblocker fans w/ shroud as intake):

 

Idle-

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2198/idle2xnbintake.jpg

 

Load-

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2228/load2xnbintake.jpg

 

Test #4 (4x Noiseblocker fans in push-pull as intake - no shroud):

 

Idle-

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/210/idle4xnbintake2.jpg

 

Load-

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3654/idle4xnbload.jpg

 

 

In summary:

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

Now, with that out of the way it looks like we have a winning configuration! That being said, however, I am only using basic testing methods in a minimally controlled environment. YMMV.

 

In any case, it looks like I was able to meet my goal of beating the stock fans cooling capacity while significantly reducing overall noise levels. With all four Noiseblocker fans going at 100%, the sound level is at least as quiet as the stock fans at idle speeds. Basically all I can hear is the wind noise as a large amount of air is pulled through the vents and pushed/pulled through the radiator, all while beating the cooling performance afforded by the stock fans on their highest (and very loud) setting. This was done for both idle and load temps as well. Not bad at all, unless you factor in the extra $90 that is added to the cost of the H100 by purchasing 4 of the NB fans! Of course if price is not a big issue for you, I whole heartedly suggest going with this setup. You get amazing performance with unmatched acoustics. Not a value modification to be sure, but a damn effective one!

 

As for the shroud... it does it's job, however the fact that it is so poorly manufactured makes me loathe to suggest anyone buy the product. It is only ~$13 USD, so go for it if you don't mind using a file or a Dremel to get all the pieces to fit properly. IMO, its not worth my time/effort. Also keep in mind that it would be very hard to have the shroud and make it a push/pull setup unless you have a custom case or use 20mm thick fans.

Nice, thanks for the info and time spent doing this :)

For us visual people...

For us visual people...

 

Thanks for that! If it is okay, I will add the graph to the OP.

Well done Mistermister, do you also have the Indigo Xtreme installed?

No IX yet. I was unsure if I was going to need to remount the block while changing fan configurations (I didn't). The testing above was all done with the stock TIM.

good work mistermister. I'm currently working on a head to head comparison of the Gentle Typhoon AP-15 and NB Multiframe S-3s.

That should be an interesting match up. Honestly I would have bought AP15s if there were any in stock from US retailers... at anything close to MSRP.

 

I also took GPU temps while doing the above testing. I don't have the exact numbers on me, however I can tell you that the stock intake and the NB P/P setups gave the best GPU idle temps (tied). I did not have time to test any of this with the GPUs under load. I do know, however, that I'm maxing out at 80*C on the top GPU (the hot one by far) while folding at 99% GPU and CPU load.

 

Now, that may sound really hot, but remember these are SLI GTX480s. One of the most power hungry and hottest running GPUs on the market. Nvidia states that load temps of 90-100*C are "normal".

performance pc's has several in stock at 17.95 ea sleeved and aquatuning.us has more than 250 at 14.81 ea. Shipping is also pretty reasonable from aquatuning (3 day for $6)

 

I'm running 6870s in crossfire...gpu temps shouldn't be a problem at all..

Thanks for that! If it is okay, I will add the graph to the OP.

That's what it's there for. Thanks for doing all the hard work!

Would this configuration work or is it any good?

 

Top is going to be H100 in push/pull config air going out

Rear fan is going to be intake

 

http://i51.tinypic.com/9uptoo.jpg

Personally, I would reverse the top h100 fans and set the rear fan to exhaust. You're not going to increase the temps inside the case with that rear fan sucking the air from the rad out so quickly. You will see better cpu temps too.

Agreed. Given my testing, having the H100 as an exhaust gave the best temps for both my CPU as well as my GPUs.

Like this?

Sorry i meat 2 Top and 2 Bottom fans in the picture

 

http://i51.tinypic.com/wcog34.jpg

Nice, I just changed my four H100 fans as exhaust and will be using the Indigo Extreme, just waiting on my memory which should be here in a day or so, I will post my results, I did not do any extensive tests pre Indigo but My temps we pretty good so I have high hopes for when I fire this thing back up, I also added a second GTX570 so I am excited to see my results.

Like this?

Sorry i meat 2 Top and 2 Bottom fans in the picture

 

http://i51.tinypic.com/wcog34.jpg

 

That looks good, yes.

mistermister: did you have a chance to test with the push pull exhausting yet? I'm testing mine out now and going from exhaust to intake lowered temps by 1c across the board.... but again I may have two factors going against me, crappy fans and the Arctic Silver 5 not working as well as the corsair default thermal paste (I have some noctua thermal paste I am goign to test tonight).

 

Right now my config is a 650D 200mm fan bottom front intake (replaced stock corsair with coolermaster megaflow blue led), 120mm rear fan exhaust, and originally had H100 with stock as exhaust, then ended up changing CPUs to test for overclock, then moved to push pull with some fans that were decent at first but then seemed to weaken with time.

 

I'm expecting the new fans tomorrow :) ordered these:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2915

 

I had an account through tigerdirect so had to order through them lol. The static pressure seemed good, CFM seemed decent compared to noise. I can also run them lower if too noisy and these should work better than the fans that are crapping out now (thermal take 1225 blue led)

 

I did not take a look at GPU temps though during any testing

 

(workign on filling out system specs today)

 

and BTW with the H100 block what method would be best for applying thermal paste? small pea size dab in middle of CPU, then squish cooler on to spread thermal paste (hopefully less chance of air pockets with this method). small pea sized dab spread thin over CPU then put block on (possiblity of air pockets if not spread perfectly even).

I did not try the P/P as an exhaust for one simple reason. I want to maintain positive case air pressure. That will allow the best cooling for all of my components and not just the CPU.

 

As for the TIM, I would just go with whatever the manufacturer suggests for the application method. Not all TIMs spread the same way, so the best application method may differ from type to type.

That looks good, yes.

 

Thanks for confirming, I will be getting my H100 soon:D::cool:

Ever get that H100?

Ever get that H100?

 

Actually i just got it today, will post some pictures later this week.