I'm putting together a new PC and bought an Asus Ryuo IV liquid cooler. I'd prefer to mount its radiator at the top as an intake rather than an exhaust, since I'm considering using the side panel for exhaust. The parts are still unopened, so I'd like to know whether the fans and radiator can be installed this way and whether there are any drawbacks.
2 Answers
Yes, you can reverse the airflow by flipping the fans so they pull air from outside the case through the radiator. Just make sure the fans are mounted securely and that the screws are the correct length. Top intake is workable, although it will bring the radiator’s warm air into the case, which could raise temperatures for the GPU and other components. A dust filter on the intake is also a good idea.
The radiator can stay mounted to the case while you change the fan direction. In a typical setup, the screws go through the case frame and fans before threading into the radiator, so use the supplied long radiator screws and check that they do not extend too far into the radiator. You can also flip the entire fan-and-radiator arrangement if the mounting space allows it, but the important part is that the fans are firmly holding the radiator and blowing in the direction you want.
My main concern is avoiding hot, dusty air being pushed upward into the room, so I was thinking of using the side panel as the exhaust instead.