When we are guided by logic, we have to think that when we insert the radiator in the front of the box, the fresh air outside will cool it much better than when we put it on the roof, because in this case the radiator will not enter the fresh air directly outside, but the hot air already in other parts, especially the graphics card.
But how much does it affect the temperature? Let's see for ourselves, for temperature tests With radiator installed both on the roof and in front of the box, to determine the best location.
Temperature Testing: radiation of the roof and front
To perform the tests and to find out which is best for installing an AIO liquid cooling radiator, we used a processor Intel Core i7-8700K with all its 4.4 GHz cores, with a liquid cooling kit Corsair H100i Platinum RGB and its standard fans (Corsair ML120 RGB) controlled by PWM. The box used has always been Corsair Crystal 680X.
To emphasize the processor and generate heat, we used Prime95 64-bit in Blend mode, while also emphasizing the graphics card, using Furmark in its latest version. Temperatures were measured using Corsair software CUE, and that should be said and The room temperature throughout the experiment has been 24 ° C.
We wanted to take part in the test and emphasize the graphics card for a simple reason: if we use it, in a game for example, it will emit heat and part of it stay inside the box for release by the backdrop.
With a cooling radiator installed on the roof, this will affect its temperature, in the same way that we have a radiator installed in the front we will be putting hot air directly inside the case, which affects the GPU temperature and other elements.
Let's go there, as a result of the test:
In tests of thermal performance the result is obvious, and we can draw conclusions.
It is best to install a radiator on the roof
At least if you have a dedicated graphics card. Let's look at the conclusions we draw from this experiment:
I have a radiator before:
- The processor temperature is better, as fresh air goes directly into the radiator.
- The temperature of some things is worse, because they get hot air leaving the radiator.
- GPU temperature is caused not by rest, but by the CPU responsible.
- With the CPU + GPU loaded, the graph reaches the temperature limit and shifts.
For radiators on the roof:
- Processor temperature is very bad.
- Other components, including the GPU, are stored at better temperatures.
- Nothing touches any part.
The conclusion we can draw from this experiment is that in the end, it is better to install the radiator on the roof of the box because although the processor temperature is worse, the thermal performance of all other components greatly improves. In fact, in our test the GPU reached the temperature limit and skipped the automated system it brings, slowing down its performance to maintain its integrity, something no one wants to happen.
And in the end, even though it is against what may sound reasonable, if everyone puts a radiator on the roof there is a strong reason to do so. And as we have seen in this comparison, there is.
