I have a Fractal North case featuring an air-cooled GPU and a Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler. I'm considering upgrading to a 5090, but most options are too long for my case. I'm leaning towards the 5090 Suprim Liquid, which has a 360mm radiator that I plan to mount at the front. Currently, I have two top fans set up for intake and exhaust based on Noctua's recommendations. My concern is whether this setup might starve the CPU of cool air. Has anyone tried something similar?
1 Answer
A radiator generally only raises the air temperature by 1-2°C, which shouldn’t cause problems unless your CPU is already on the edge. Just make sure your radiator fans are running continuously. Alternatively, as another user mentioned, consider getting an air-cooled 5090 that fits your case; they usually operate quiet and cool, regardless of their cooling type.
I figured I’d need to manage the fans myself since GPUs often have a fan stop feature at low speeds. It’s not a huge hassle, especially since I plan to upgrade to Phanteks T30 fans eventually! I have some experience with custom loops, but I appreciate the input, especially as I want the Suprim for its known quietness—my current 3090 Gaming X Trio is louder than I’d like!