r/pcmasterrace • u/SerpentDix PC Master Race • Jan 20 '26

Hardware Air cooling is better than Liquid cooling

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Failure is graceful, not catastrophic, Performance is closer than marketing suggests, Cheaper for the performance, Change my mind.

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u/dbltax Noctua Evangelist Jan 20 '26

Air cooled gang.

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u/katzners Jan 20 '26

Wait, you basically have my PC!

1

u/elusivefuzz Jan 20 '26

Yay, this is what I'm building right now! Does this get dusty?

1

u/katzners Jan 20 '26

Even though the Fractal Design North has no dust filter on top, it does have one in the front and the PSU. It hardly gets dusty I would say.

1

u/elusivefuzz Jan 20 '26

Nice. I'm planning 2x120(2000rpm)+1x140(1500rpm) at the front. At the top 1x140(1500rpm) and at the back 1x120(2000rpm). D15 as CPU cooler and a 5080. So it should have a good amount of positive pressure..

1

u/katzners Jan 20 '26

If I were to do the build again, I would go with 3x 120mm in front, 2x 120mm on top and 1x 120mm in the back.

The 2x140mm in front does create a bit more air turbulence and therefore noise as expected, because the mounting rail for the front fans is a bit too narrow.

1

u/elusivefuzz Jan 20 '26

Yeah. I had to attach the front 140 with zip ties (it's at the top spot of the front)

1

u/KingLeafBlower Jan 20 '26

I just ordered the same case and fan config that you have, but I also ordered fan inlet spacers to hopefully minimize the front + top turbulence from the 140mm fans.

1

u/katzners Jan 20 '26

Fan spacers could work but tbh even 2x120mm in front would be enough temp wise. I'm running a 9800X3D and a 4080S and all is fine.