Fractal Define XL + Corsair H80 build

[Bryf50]

Just finished my rebuild of my system.

The case is awesome. Thing weighed like 50 lbs empty and is covered with noise insulation. The H80 is doing a good job of cooling my modest OC with temps at 52-53C after a few linpack runs. But the stock fans are bit loud once the cpu sees some load.

 

[RussianSensation]

Great build. Excellent components and cable management. I wish I knew how to rewire my PSU like that. I guess you can't control the fans on the H80 unless you get Corsair Link? If your CPU runs at 52-53*C at load, you could afford to spin those fans at lower RPMs and let the temps rise a bit.

 

[Bryf50]

On the cpu block there is a button that lets you set the fans in 3 different states. But the difference between each state is pretty extreme. At low the fans will stay quite but hardly move any air even when the cpu gets hotter. The temperatures were still acceptable but I'd like to increase my overclock a bit now that I have a higher-end cooler. Maybe I'll change them out for some Gentle Typhoons but they don't come cheap.

 

[Idontcare]

On the cpu block there is a button that lets you set the fans in 3 different states. But the difference between each state is pretty extreme. At low the fans will stay quite but hardly move any air even when the cpu gets hotter. The temperatures were still acceptable but I'd like to increase my overclock a bit now that I have a higher-end cooler. Maybe I'll change them out for some Gentle Typhoons but they don't come cheap.

Can't you just wire the fans to a fan controller anyways and bypass the water block connections altogether?

Gentle typhoons get good ratings but supposedly (per xbit tests) you really want to get the noiseblockers.

 

[RussianSensation]

Can't you just wire the fans to a fan controller anyways and bypass the water block connections altogether?

Gentle typhoons get good ratings but supposedly (per xbit tests) you really want to get the noiseblockers.

I quote: "the fins in a radiator are much more densely packed than they are on heatsinks or fan grilles. This means that a radiator fan not only has to have a high airflow (cfm), but also needs a lot of static air pressure to push the air between the fins."

The the best performing case fans can lose half of their airflow when strapped to a radiator. But still, the Gentle Typhoons are at least quiet. There should be a huge review for the best 120mm fan for a radiator setup, somewhere....

 

[mv2devnull]

There should be a huge review for the best 120mm fan for a radiator setup, somewhere....

By MartinM210, I presume.

 

[dbrons]

hmmmm the h80 works a little differently than my h-60 which has the fan(s) plug right in to the 4 pin pwm sockets on the mb. That way the speed is controlled by Asus utility which I kinda like.

But anyway, yeah I thought the Corsair fan was too loud so I replaced it with two Akasa Apache Blacks and my system is really quiet. They may not move enough air to suit your system, but they are perfect with the h60 in my Fractal R3.

Dave

 

[Majic 7]

I use two Scythe SFF21Fs on my H70. Also tried two Noctua P12s. With both of these I used the Noctua mid resistors. You get an annoying whine from the push fan if you don't. Temps are a little better with the Scythes. 32c idle, 60 to 65c running Prime95. Noctuas are a couple of degrees warmer. I also have to hook up to the cpu header. Noctuas are a little quieter, but not much. The brown just doesn't fit with the new system. Hope the newer Scythe fans are comparable in case anyone is interested in changing stock fans.

 

[RussianSensation]

Hope the newer Scythe fans are comparable in case anyone is interested in changing stock fans.

I really enjoyed my Scythe S-Flex F fan, but I wish it was a little quieter. I see that Scythe discontinued the S-Flex line though . Do you know which fans are replacing them? It's often difficult to find the Gentle Typhoons in stock (esp. the AP-14 and AP-15 variants).

 

[Majic 7]

I really enjoyed my Scythe S-Flex F fan, but I wish it was a little quieter. I see that Scythe discontinued the S-Flex line though . Do you know which fans are replacing them? It's often difficult to find the Gentle Typhoons in stock (esp. the AP-14 and AP-15 variants).

There are some Scythe Kama fans with FDB bearings at Newegg. I assume these are the replacements. Wish Xtremesystems still had the fan thread going. Lots of usefull comparisons there.

 

[Interitus]

I would say even AP-13's would be enough. A lot of people undervolt the AP-15's anyways.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I didn't know fractal made a bigger case like that.

Very clean build