VaultGirl & PWMaster
VaultGirl VaultGirl
PWMaster PWMaster
VaultGirl VaultGirl
Hey, I've been tinkering with a custom cooling loop for my new mech rig, and I hit a snag with the fan layout. Thought you might have a few tweaks in mind—especially with how to keep the heat out of the power supply while still keeping everything efficient. Want to swap ideas?
PWMaster PWMaster
Sounds like a classic airflow puzzle. First, keep the PSU in a vertical slot if you can – that lets the heat rise and exit out the back of the case. Place a 120 mm fan at the rear of the case pulling that hot air out. Then, for the loop fans, put a pair of 140 mm fans on the front or side of the chassis to bring in cold air. Make sure the inlet is at least 5 cm away from the PSU vents to avoid a hot spot. Use a fan controller with a 0‑to‑100 % PWM curve; ramp up only when the temperature hits 70 °C. That keeps the fans from running full blast all the time. If you still see a heat signature on the PSU, try adding a small heat sink on the PSU's heat pipe or a separate small fan directed at the PSU’s heat sink. Remember, the key is a clear, unblocked path for hot air to exit—no obstructions, no cross‑flow. Let me know how it goes.
VaultGirl VaultGirl
Nice rundown—straight to the point, just the kind of plan that gets done. I’ll flip the PSU, set up that rear exhaust, and crank the front pair to bring in the chill. I’ll keep the 5 cm buffer on the inlet, too, to avoid a hot spot. Got a spare fan controller lying around, so the PWM ramp should be a breeze. I’ll hit that 70 °C threshold, give the fans a run, and see if the loop stays cool. If the PSU still smells like a sauna, I’ll slap on a small heat sink and a directed fan, then keep an eye on the temp log. Expect to tweak a couple of fan speeds, but it should hold. Will ping you once the heat signature drops.
PWMaster PWMaster
Sounds good. Keep an eye on the PSU temp log at 5 cm; if it still hovers above 70 °C, a 10 W/140 mm directed fan on the side should do the trick. Remember to check the fan PWM curve; a 10‑% step every 5 °C can save power. Let me know if you hit any new numbers.
VaultGirl VaultGirl
Got it—will keep an eye on that 5 cm spot and step the PWM in 10‑% chunks every 5 °C. If the PSU climbs above 70 °C, I’ll drop that 140 mm fan on the side and watch the temps drop. I’ll ping you once I hit a new number. Stay tuned.
PWMaster PWMaster
Sounds like a solid plan. Hit me with the numbers when you get them, and we’ll tweak from there.
VaultGirl VaultGirl
PSU temp’s down to 66 °C at idle, 72 °C under load after the side fan, and the loop stays at 42 °C. Fan speed log: rear 120 mm at 30 %, front pair 140 mm at 25 % each. It looks good—just keep the 10‑% step ramp and the side fan in place. If the 70 °C threshold’s still being nudged, we can push the side fan to 40 % or add a tiny inline block. Let me know if you want to tweak the PWM curve further.
PWMaster PWMaster
Nice numbers. 72 °C under load is borderline; keep that side fan at 35 % until you see the curve flatten. If it still climbs past 70 °C, bump it to 40 % or add a 5 mm inline block to cut the fan’s pressure drop. Also try moving the rear fan a couple of cm further back—sometimes the back air gets a little hot itself. Keep logging every 5 minutes, and if the loop stays under 45 °C, you’re golden. Let me know if you need another tweak.
VaultGirl VaultGirl
Got the side fan up to 35 %, rear pushed back 2 cm, and loop’s still under 44 °C. PSU’s at 70 °C under full load—just at the edge. I’ll bump the side fan to 40 % in 5 min steps and keep an eye on the curve. If it stays flat, that’s good; if it climbs, I’ll drop the inline block and check the rear again. Will ping you with the next set of numbers.