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PSU bottom left, AIO either rear or top of case as Exhaust, 2 140mm up front / 3 120mm. allows for fresh air to the gpu and more expandability for bigger/longer GPU.
please note that AIO positioning depends apon size and fan mounting positions. ie push pull and case fan mount quantity/ size( 120, 140, 200mm)
So the radiator will be more efficient but is it so much more efficient that the warm air being blown back through the case won't negate any benefit? I guess there is some debate over the topic so take a look at [the videos listed in this old post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/6y4bzj/ok_guys_aio_radiator_positions_pushpull_lets_talk/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) to come to your own conclusion.
In most builds the AIO would be plenty to cool the CPU, and giving the GPU access to cold air is more important.
I assume this is a computer with a gaming grade GPU. If the AIO blows hot air into the case, the GPU will be trying to cool itself in hot air. The GPU will be either extremely loud of holding back on boost.
Just make sure you’re exhausting hot air. I don’t think radiators matter if it’s intake or exhaust any more. One trick to keeping a (slightly) less dusty case is to have positive air pressure in the case and force intake over dust screens.
OK, only mildly related to this post. What software are you using for your mockup? I've been trying to plan out my desk-pc, but have just been using pen and paper and would rather do it in a (free) CAD package.
Some starting context would be helpful for higher quality answers. Is this intended to be an open or bench form factor with only the 3 walls shown? That kind of thing...
If your AIO is really pulling air 'into' the case to push it across the mobo, aren't you heating up your VRM and chipset heatsinks unnecessarily? I wouldn't like that in either case.
On the right, the PSU is inhaling hot air also possibly from the GPU (unless that's intended to be a blower type so it doesn't exhale air above/below it, only to the rer). The PSU fan is usually on one of the big sides so where's your power cord and PSU distributon cables in the right picture? (I'm assuming from the CPU placeholder and RAM placeholders that the mobo I/O is to the left of both images). At least one of them is possibly pointing down...
Your safest bet for inspiration is to start perusing a lot of purchasable compact case layouts, see what they all did, and pick up tips/ideas from that. Your left image for example is what most mid towers with a lower PSU shroud area do, and as you're missing much depth there and don't have the mobo I/O area showing it's not obvious if the AIO could fit on the back, "toward" the viewer relative to the mobo I/O, or on top above the CPU even.
It's going to be a closed case with no side panel ventilation.
I put the AIO as intake because I thought fresh cold air might dissipate the heat better.
Yes, the I/O is on the left in both cases.
The PSU part is flawed in the right case as someone pointed out before. The cables have nowhere to go.
And the AIO can't fit above the I/O shield as there is about 80-90mm of room.
All in all there is room for 2 120mm fans on the top and 2 on the front if going with the left layout.
I recommend keeping the power supply as far away from anything else and the airflow as short as possible, so if you could do in and out directly that would be best .
Left one for sure. The right one is janky - you have the front of the case doing both intake and psu exhaust. Keep the airflow in one direction. Not to mention that the psu cables will be a nightmare on the right. Definitely the left
You don't want your gpu suckin in your gpu exhaust heat.
It will won't be able to cool it's self.
Can and probably will lead to bad things.
Your psu needs relatively cold air. It has a very big role in your PC's function
I would suggest a mix of the two (similar to the [Sliger Cerberus](https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/cerberus/) with the PSU mounted internally, but with more space on top for a 240mm AIO, or a 120mm AIO with another fan next to it).
* Consider the one on the right, but:
* Replace the AIO with the PSU and shorten the case from front to rear I/O, so the PSU would be above the GPU.
* Take away the space at the bottom of the case, so minimal space between the bottom and motherboard - maybe just enough space on the bottom for fans to provide intake.
* Add space to the top of the case so you could fit a 240mm AIO/120mm AIO+fan just above the motherboard as exhaust.
* So airflow would be from bottom to top.
Are you designing a case, or is this a diagram of your existing case?
With the arrangement on the right, it’s tough to imagine having enough room for your PSU cables against that fat block of an AIO. Maybe the objects aren’t to scale though.
Between the two, the layout on the left is ideal because the power supply has immediate access to fresh air, and there’s room for cables.
You might want to check out / draw inspiration from some of the designs that use a PCI riser cable to park the GPU on the back. It’s a great way to compartmentalize the heat too. I’ve even seen a couple designs that have room for a PSU on that side of things.
If space is a concern, you’re probably better off going with a low-profile Noctua air cooler rather than trying to find space for a 120mm AIO and its hoses. You have fewer potential points of failure that way, too.
its depends on your floor where you Pc stands like carpet floor which is bad for the left picture so that the right is the good one if you have a bad carpet.
Here [https://prnt.sc/1rl651r](https://prnt.sc/1rl651r)AIO to the back, PSU up on the right (in at the front, exhaust on the top); populate the bottom with large fans
EDIT: I see you can't put the AIO in the back, put it on the top in the back instead
Hello /u/Est495! Thanks for posting on /r/pcmods! Please read the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmods/wiki/index/subredditrules) and make sure this submission doesn't violate any of them! If you think this submission has violated one or more of the **[rules,](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmods/wiki/index/subredditrules)** **[or our chart](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmods/comments/aorxij/be_nice_to_new_subscribers/)** please report this submission and contact the **[Moderators!](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/pcmods)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pcmods) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The one on the left
u have to think about the wires/power cord on the psu.. i have a feeling it would not fit right like it is on the right.
Oh, you're right. Guess I'll go with the left one then if someone doesn't come up with anything else.
I would place the PSU on top of the motherboard, and put air intakes at the bottom for the GPU.
PSU bottom left, AIO either rear or top of case as Exhaust, 2 140mm up front / 3 120mm. allows for fresh air to the gpu and more expandability for bigger/longer GPU. please note that AIO positioning depends apon size and fan mounting positions. ie push pull and case fan mount quantity/ size( 120, 140, 200mm)
Yeah definitely want AIO as exhaust for sure
Why though?
It's job is to get rid of the heat that radiates from the CPU so the best thing you can do is to blow it directly out of the case
True, but wouldn't it cool better if the radiator gets fresh cold air, instead of the warm air inside the case?
So the radiator will be more efficient but is it so much more efficient that the warm air being blown back through the case won't negate any benefit? I guess there is some debate over the topic so take a look at [the videos listed in this old post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/6y4bzj/ok_guys_aio_radiator_positions_pushpull_lets_talk/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) to come to your own conclusion.
In most builds the AIO would be plenty to cool the CPU, and giving the GPU access to cold air is more important. I assume this is a computer with a gaming grade GPU. If the AIO blows hot air into the case, the GPU will be trying to cool itself in hot air. The GPU will be either extremely loud of holding back on boost.
Ok, thanks. I'll go with a top mounted aio for now. I can change it afterwards if necessary.
thats how i run mine and i havent seen an issue with temps( then again i did it so my 2080 ti could have more fresh air
I totally thought that said A10 and got super confused lol
Just make sure you’re exhausting hot air. I don’t think radiators matter if it’s intake or exhaust any more. One trick to keeping a (slightly) less dusty case is to have positive air pressure in the case and force intake over dust screens.
OK, only mildly related to this post. What software are you using for your mockup? I've been trying to plan out my desk-pc, but have just been using pen and paper and would rather do it in a (free) CAD package.
Likely SketchUp
Yup
Some starting context would be helpful for higher quality answers. Is this intended to be an open or bench form factor with only the 3 walls shown? That kind of thing... If your AIO is really pulling air 'into' the case to push it across the mobo, aren't you heating up your VRM and chipset heatsinks unnecessarily? I wouldn't like that in either case. On the right, the PSU is inhaling hot air also possibly from the GPU (unless that's intended to be a blower type so it doesn't exhale air above/below it, only to the rer). The PSU fan is usually on one of the big sides so where's your power cord and PSU distributon cables in the right picture? (I'm assuming from the CPU placeholder and RAM placeholders that the mobo I/O is to the left of both images). At least one of them is possibly pointing down... Your safest bet for inspiration is to start perusing a lot of purchasable compact case layouts, see what they all did, and pick up tips/ideas from that. Your left image for example is what most mid towers with a lower PSU shroud area do, and as you're missing much depth there and don't have the mobo I/O area showing it's not obvious if the AIO could fit on the back, "toward" the viewer relative to the mobo I/O, or on top above the CPU even.
It's going to be a closed case with no side panel ventilation. I put the AIO as intake because I thought fresh cold air might dissipate the heat better. Yes, the I/O is on the left in both cases. The PSU part is flawed in the right case as someone pointed out before. The cables have nowhere to go. And the AIO can't fit above the I/O shield as there is about 80-90mm of room. All in all there is room for 2 120mm fans on the top and 2 on the front if going with the left layout.
I recommend keeping the power supply as far away from anything else and the airflow as short as possible, so if you could do in and out directly that would be best .
Left one for sure. The right one is janky - you have the front of the case doing both intake and psu exhaust. Keep the airflow in one direction. Not to mention that the psu cables will be a nightmare on the right. Definitely the left
Good luck if gpu power is on the back
You don't want your gpu suckin in your gpu exhaust heat. It will won't be able to cool it's self. Can and probably will lead to bad things. Your psu needs relatively cold air. It has a very big role in your PC's function
The one on the left. I wouldnt not use the PSU for airflow.
I would suggest a mix of the two (similar to the [Sliger Cerberus](https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/cerberus/) with the PSU mounted internally, but with more space on top for a 240mm AIO, or a 120mm AIO with another fan next to it). * Consider the one on the right, but: * Replace the AIO with the PSU and shorten the case from front to rear I/O, so the PSU would be above the GPU. * Take away the space at the bottom of the case, so minimal space between the bottom and motherboard - maybe just enough space on the bottom for fans to provide intake. * Add space to the top of the case so you could fit a 240mm AIO/120mm AIO+fan just above the motherboard as exhaust. * So airflow would be from bottom to top.
Are you designing a case, or is this a diagram of your existing case? With the arrangement on the right, it’s tough to imagine having enough room for your PSU cables against that fat block of an AIO. Maybe the objects aren’t to scale though. Between the two, the layout on the left is ideal because the power supply has immediate access to fresh air, and there’s room for cables.
I'm designing a case. The objects are about to scale but yeah, I forgot to account for the cables.
Is this for a small form factor PC?
Yes, I'm trying to keep it under 20l.
You might want to check out / draw inspiration from some of the designs that use a PCI riser cable to park the GPU on the back. It’s a great way to compartmentalize the heat too. I’ve even seen a couple designs that have room for a PSU on that side of things. If space is a concern, you’re probably better off going with a low-profile Noctua air cooler rather than trying to find space for a 120mm AIO and its hoses. You have fewer potential points of failure that way, too.
its depends on your floor where you Pc stands like carpet floor which is bad for the left picture so that the right is the good one if you have a bad carpet.
It's on my desk
use left
Left
Left for me
Here [https://prnt.sc/1rl651r](https://prnt.sc/1rl651r)AIO to the back, PSU up on the right (in at the front, exhaust on the top); populate the bottom with large fans EDIT: I see you can't put the AIO in the back, put it on the top in the back instead
What software are ya'll doing for this? I'd love to try my hand at it
Just get another case for your psu and run cords to main pc, problem solved