Best and Worst Positions for a 360 AIO, Phase 1 Results (TPCEA)

Variance of Tubes on Block Orientation

• Please note that for the tests with the tubes going to the bottom of the rad (front and side mounts), I had to turn the block so that the tubes exited the right side of the block, which gave enough slack that the tubes reached the bottom.
• For all other tests, the tubes exited the top of the block.
• For all tests, the graphics card was on the vertical mount (see below).

AIO

AIO used was the Thermalright Frozen Notte 360. Pump was set to 100%. Fans were set to Turbo. Note that the pump runs at 5,300 RPM. I did run a test where I replaced the stock fans with Super Flower Megacool 120s, but it made very little difference.

When top mounted, the tubes exited at the front of the case.

Exhaust Fan

1 Noctua NF-A12x25 was set to normal and was mounted in the rear position.

Dust Filters

When I had the AIO fans on intake, the dust filter for all positions were in place.This most likely impacted the results so it should be noted that filters for exhaust positions should be removed.

When the AIO fans were on exhaust, the dust filter for that position only was removed.

Software & Benchmarks/Torture Tests Used

• HWiNfo64

1. First: Prime 95 (one hour and 2 minutes ;) )
2. Second:Cinebench 2024: CPU Multi-Core (10 minutes), which is an all-core test
3. Third:3DMark: Time Spy (with demo) (7 minutes)

Tests were run to completion. If too much time (>1 min) elapsed from the end of the test until taking a screenshot of the HWInfo64 results, I reran it. Tests were run consecutively with time being taken between only to save the screen shots. I have spent about 3 months on this, revising the methodology, correcting for errors, and retesting several times.

Temperatures

Although I recorded all cores and several other temperature measurements for the CPU, GPU, mobo and VRM, plus the RPMs of the fans, I am focusing on only the following:

• Enhanced CPU Package (from the CPU), results from Prime 95
• GPU Hot Spot Temperature (from GC), results from Time Spy
• Mobo (from mobo), results from whichever test had the highest result; most of the highest temperatures were from Time Spy, but front, exhaust down was a 3-way tie (35^o C), Cinebench 2024 had 2 and Prime 95 had 2.
• VRM (from mobo), results from Prime 95

System Configuration

• Corsair iCUE 5000x RGB Mid-Tower ATX Case
• i7-12700k, undervolted
• Asus Tuf Gaming H670-Pro Wifi D4
• Patriot Viper Steel 3600 MHz 2x32 Dual Channel GB DDR4 18/22/22/42/68, XMP on, tRFC 990, CR 2T
• 4 PCIe Gen 4x4 NVMe M.2 SSDs = 8 TB
• Seagate Expansion 6 TB HDD
• XFX Speedster Merc 319 Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB mounted on EZDIY-FAB vertical mount on top of the PSU shroud set with the fans angled upwards (this was done so that I could get the tubes to the bottom of the rad)
• Corsair RM850x PSU
• Wifi connection
• Windows 11 Home

If anything is unclear, or I have forgotten something, please ask.

RESULTS

I will add infographics ASAP.

Worst For (in order, worst first):

Mobo: (1) Top-mount, (fans) intake; (2) Front-mount, (fans)intake, (tubes) down; (3) Side-mount, (fans) intake, (tubes) down; (4) Front-mount, (fans) exhaust, (tubes) up   Spread: 7^o C

VRM: (1) Front, intake, down; (2) Side, intake, up; (3) Side, intake, down; (4) Front, exhaust, up   Spread: 15^o C

CPU: (1) Front, exhaust, down; (2) Front, exhaust, up; (3) Front, intake, down; (4) Top, intake   Spread: 2^o C

GC: (1) Top, intake; (2) Side, intake, up; (3) Side, intake, down   Spread: 1^o C

Best For (in order, best first):

Mobo: (1) Side, exhaust, down; (2) Top, exhaust; (3) Front, exhaust, down   Spread: 1^o C

VRM: (1) Top, exhaust; (2) Top, intake; (3) Side, exhaust, down; (4) Side, exhaust, up   Spread: 13^o C

CPU: (1) Side, exhaust, up; (2) Side, intake, down; (3) Side, intake, up; (4) Front, intake, up; (5) Side, exhaust, down; (6) Top, exhaust   Spread: 4^o C

GC: (1) Side, exhaust, down; (2) Side, exhaust, up; (3) Front, exhaust, down   Spread: 2^o C

Temperature Spreads Between Best and Worst

Note: Spread in C (Actual temperatures in delta C, lowest-highest)

Mobo: 44^o C (34-78)

VRM: 25^o C (56-81)

CPU: 8^o C (81-89)

GC: 7^o C (91-98)

Scores & FPS

This is useful in determining whether you'll have to modify your fan setup and maybe use ducting to improve your graphic card performance.

Time Spy

Best score: (1) Top, in; (2) Side, exhaust, up; (3) tie: Top, exhaust & Front, in, up   Spread: 23 points

Worst score: (1) Side, in, down; (2) Side, exhaust, down; (3) Front, exhaust, down  Spread: 362 points

Best graphics: (1) Front, in, up; (2) Top, exhaust; (3) Side, exhaust, up  Spread: 14 points

Worst graphics: (1) Side, in, down; (2) Side, exhaust, down; (3)Front, in, down  Spread: 312 points

Best CPU: (1) Front, in, down; (2) Top, in; (3) Side, in, up  Spread: 144 points

Worst CPU: (1) Side, in, down; (2) Top, exhaust; (3) Side, exhaust, down  Spread: 448 points

Cinebench 2024 Multi-core CPU

Best score: (1) Front, in, up; (2) Top, exhaust; (3) Front, in, down; (4) front, exhaust, down  Spread: 23 points

Worst score: (1) Top, in; (2) Side, exhaust, down; (3) Side, in, up  Spread: 12 points

Score Spreads Between Best and Worst

Note: Points/FPS (lowest-highest)

Time Spy

Score: 1,200 points (18,061-19,261)

Graphics: 1,366 points (18,770-20,136)

  Test 1: 8.52 FPS (123.52-132.04)

  Test 2: 8.18 FPS (106.71-114.89)

CPU: 728 points (14,879-15,607), 2.45 FPS (49.99-52.44)

Cinebench 2024 Multi-core CPU

Score:  64 points (1,149-1,213)

I hope this will prove useful. At some point in the future, I hope to revise this test by removing filters from all exhaust positions.

The 2nd phase of my testing will, perforce, be in a different case.

My apologies for any errors.

Case fans used and where placed and what make and how many and what size and of course how much RGB is used to help increase performance?

Assuming the testing was with the same fan and pump speeds across the board; and how about noise levels any detectable difference in the various locations?

Tests could be done with both the graphic card horizontally and vertically placed, as horizontal is the most used or common.

EDIT: Filters (mesh or screen) used and where are these located and is this case open in the front or a solid panel?

Edited by 0lds0d, 18 March 2024 - 06:06 AM.

Thank you for your inquiry! This was a test of which positions provide the best cooling. I added in the mobo and VRM because I know some people are interested in that info. I didn't use any lighting. I am trying to verify and expand upon MSI's article about placement. No noise testing to place. 

Phase 2 will be in a separate case with the GC mounted on the mobo. 

All other info is already provided above or available on product pages. The 5000X has glass panels on all sides (even the right, which is dumb).

Edited by RevGAM, 18 March 2024 - 07:38 AM.

Try the testing without the front glass panel. Something silly as fans too close to the front filter (or the side or bottom for that matter) or to the front solid panel does effect the air pressure and flow. 

I knew that the top mounted AIO as exhaust has slightly lower temps for graphic card and slightly higher CPU temps, as the front AIO mounted as intake has better or lower CPU temps and slightly higher graphic card temps, but was not clued in about the AIO on the side configuration.

I prefer the AIO on the top as exhaust, not in the front as an intake.  And use the front case fans as intake. Cases with a top screen (often some silicon junk) I always remove as I use the top as exhaust and that screen does seem to restrict the exhausting air flow - besides which  the metal case's bare top does looks very cool (no pun intended).

Also MSI did a 'how to' blog about this a few years ago: https://www.msi.com/blog/how-to-place-your-liquid-cooler something to check over if you haven't done so already. OOPs you have already referenced this blog!

Edited by 0lds0d, 18 March 2024 - 08:25 AM.

"I added in the mobo and VRM because I know some people are interested in that info..."

True and some are even interested in the temps of the NVMe drives and probably even more so in the future with the advent of the newest PCIe 5 drives that are more than likely going to run 'hot' or hotter than the previous PCIE 4 and 3 drives. I suppose when DDR6 RAM arrives it too will be even hotter than either DDR4 or 5.

Edited by 0lds0d, 18 March 2024 - 08:31 AM.

Try the testing without the front glass panel. Something silly as fans too close to the front filter (or the side or bottom for that matter) or to the front solid panel does effect the air pressure and flow. 

 

I knew that the top mounted AIO as exhaust has slightly lower temps for graphic card and slightly higher CPU temps, as the front AIO mounted as intake has better or lower CPU temps and slightly higher graphic card temps, but was not clued in about the AIO on the side configuration.

 

I prefer the AIO on the top as exhaust, not in the front as an intake.  And use the front case fans as intake. Cases with a top screen (often some silicon junk) I always remove as I use the top as exhaust and that screen does seem to restrict the exhausting air flow - besides which  the metal case's bare top does looks very cool (no pun intended).

 

Also MSI did a 'how to' blog about this a few years ago: https://www.msi.com/blog/how-to-place-your-liquid-cooler something to check over if you haven't done so already. OOPs you have already referenced this blog!

I'm trying to stimulate what most people will do, which is not remove the glass or filters,  but I may put myself through the torture again some day. I have other things I want to do first, like verifying wee Eddie's assertion about exhaust being all that's needed. I'm also going to review all my large fans,  which turns out to be about 1/3 of my inventory, and SilverStone donated an Air Penetrator and 2 Shark Force. I also want to do a TIM comparison, review all my coolers and, of course, Phase 2. Whew! As long as I can keep my anxiety under control, I should have that all done in the next, ohhh, 10 years!  

A good only exhaust maybe all is needed if the case was entirely all mesh so to allow a very good intake (ASUS Prime 201 does this with one fan and has good temps and cooling improves even more with added fans) OR if the setup is for a low end desktop (integrated graphics only and a low to middle tier CPU). But with most other chassis or cases, no probably not as the intake is still required. Even if it is just one good front fan (at the bottom of the front) and one good fan at the top of the rear for exhaust, that would work for many, but not for some powerful gaming or workstation systems. JMO.

Although back in the day, front intake and rear exhaust only was OK, but airflow/cooling was greatly improved by a side vent on the side panel (before this glass/acrylic side panel trend) with a good fan blowing directly over the graphic card and the motherboard. Something that isn't sold anymore AFAIK and probably wouldn't sell since the present trend is for the panorama style case or a fancy case loaded with fancy features and all kinds of doodads and widgets or a case with some sort of gimmick feature.

Edited by 0lds0d, 18 March 2024 - 12:04 PM.

A good only exhaust maybe all is needed if the case was entirely all mesh so to allow a very good intake (ASUS Prime 201 does this with one fan and has good temps and cooling improves even more with added fans) OR if the setup is for a low end desktop (integrated graphics only and a low to middle tier CPU). But with most other chassis or cases, no probably not as the intake is still required. Even if it is just one good front fan (at the bottom of the front) and one good fan at the top of the rear for exhaust, that would work for many, but not for some powerful gaming or workstation systems. JMO.

 

Although back in the day, front intake and rear exhaust only was OK, but airflow/cooling was greatly improved by a side vent on the side panel (before this glass/acrylic side panel trend) with a good fan blowing directly over the graphic card and the motherboard. Something that isn't sold anymore AFAIK and probably wouldn't sell since the present trend is for the panorama style case or a fancy case loaded with fancy features and all kinds of doodads and widgets or a case with some sort of gimmick feature.

Thanks for the info!

btw, there are still some cases like that. 

Yes, and name a few please.

I'm at work but I believe SilverStone might have one. 

Like this? https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/PS13/

Does take 2 120mm fans on the side vent panel, but limited for CPU cooler height (max 157mm) and very limited for AIO installs (120mm only). Does take a good sized graphic card, so not that bad of a deal. 2 120mm fans on the front a 1 120mm fan on the rear and 1 120mm fan on the bottom are possible.

Not so bad but is a very narrow case thus limited CPU cooler height and if it was wider by at least 13mm it would be nice. Or be able to use a larger AIO would be nice.

But I tend to look mid tower or mATX/ATX cases. There are ITX cases that have side venting.

The Fractal Design North with the mesh side does have a bracket to install 2 120mm fans for the side, but apparently the 2 extra fans don't help the air flow or the temps.

Edited by 0lds0d, 19 March 2024 - 06:32 AM.

Just did a brief search. How about the Zalman T6, Apex T6-606-U3, CM N200, or Antec VSK4000E-U3?

Looks OK but not exactly what I was looking for TBH. Close though.

I keep thinking about building my own case, as I have the metal and wood skills.

I could even sand cast the parts  in aluminum or copper or brass as I have all the knowledge and experience required to make everything from patterns to the actual molding and the metal melting/pouring and the finishing and any machining.

But I have no shop or place or the tools anymore (I once had a nice but small shop many many decades ago).

Maybe instead I will make it out sheet metal/and/or wood I can easily do as that can be done in an apartment. Still doing the design work in my head ATM.

Edited by 0lds0d, 19 March 2024 - 09:08 AM.

Looks OK but not exactly what I was looking for TBH. Close though.

 

I keep thinking about building my own case, as I have the metal and wood skills.

I could even sand cast the parts  in aluminum or copper or brass as I have all the knowledge and experience required to make everything from patterns to the actual molding and the metal melting/pouring and the finishing and any machining.

But I have no shop or place or the tools anymore (I once had a nice but small shop many many decades ago).

Maybe instead I will make it out sheet metal/and/or wood I can easily do as that can be done in an apartment. Still doing the design work in my head ATM.

Sounds intriguing! What did you used to do?

I hope if you make it you'll put up photos!

A lot of different and varied things in the past.

Will do with the photos, of course.