In my case, internal vertical clearance from the mobo to the case is ~70mm with no venting above the mobo. It has intake vents to the side (but no fan) and an 80mm exhaust fan and vent to the other side.
I currently use the Scythe Kozuti from my previous HTPC build that was in a Silverstone ML-02. Kozuti fan is 80x10mm mounted under the cooler.
I planned to increase the cooling capacity by mounting a 120x25mm fan on top so, out of interest, I cable tied a Noctua 80x25mm fan to the top to see what would happen. This left me with ~5mm clearance to the case which, by my reckoning means only 30% of the air it could pull freely is available with the 80mm fan, and only 20% for the 120mm.
If I mounted a 92x14mm fan, i'd have ~16mm clearance and ~90% of the air it could pull freely would be available.
So, the question is, do I go for the 92mm fan or...bin the whole lot in favour of a Zalman CNPS8900? The Zalman would give 10mm clearance BUT i'd assume it could pull air through the sides also.
Only other issue is I can't run a backplate for a cooler so I'd have to mod the Zalman.
(picture taken with outer case/lid off and turned upside down)
I currently use the Scythe Kozuti from my previous HTPC build that was in a Silverstone ML-02. Kozuti fan is 80x10mm mounted under the cooler.
I planned to increase the cooling capacity by mounting a 120x25mm fan on top so, out of interest, I cable tied a Noctua 80x25mm fan to the top to see what would happen. This left me with ~5mm clearance to the case which, by my reckoning means only 30% of the air it could pull freely is available with the 80mm fan, and only 20% for the 120mm.
If I mounted a 92x14mm fan, i'd have ~16mm clearance and ~90% of the air it could pull freely would be available.
So, the question is, do I go for the 92mm fan or...bin the whole lot in favour of a Zalman CNPS8900? The Zalman would give 10mm clearance BUT i'd assume it could pull air through the sides also.
Only other issue is I can't run a backplate for a cooler so I'd have to mod the Zalman.
(picture taken with outer case/lid off and turned upside down)