Corsair Air 5400 is trash for high-end. Need a new case that actually cools RAM with a 5090 Astral installed.
Posted by No-Lunch-8326@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I need to replace my Corsair Air 5400. While the triple-chamber design sounds nice in theory, it is completely overwhelmed by an ASUS 5090 Astral.
The Astral is so massive that it blocks the entire airflow. The top and bottom fan mounts have basically become useless because the card sits in the case like a dividing wall. As a result, my RAM gets way too hot (70°C+), because absolutely no air reaches above the GPU unless I manually crank up the 5090's own fans.
It's a shame, because I actually expected a lot from the Triple-Chamber design... but it seems the folks at Corsair, as well as various reviewers, completely ignored the RAM temperatures.
Do you know of any cases, or are you using cases, that effectively cool the RAM even when a giant club like the Astral 5090 is installed?
Specs:
- GPU: ASUS Astral 5090
- CPU: AMD 9950X3D cooled by Corsair Link Titan AiO
- RAM: 64GB Corsair Vengeance 6000-CL30
- PSU: Corsair HX1500i (potentially relevant due to its length)
- Mainboard: ASUS Crosshair X970E Hero
Everything I’m looking at right now "might" work, but I'm not in the mood for another experiment. I want decent temperatures, not marketing promises.
Miguelb234@reddit
Phanteks nv9
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
hey just for you to know: corsair support reached out for me and i'm really curious if we can work out a solution, i'll keep you posted!
shrralis@reddit
Any news yet?
Legitimate_Weekend_9@reddit
For all intents and purposes, I have a very similar build to yours (9950X3D cooled via Titan, Astral 5090 OC)
If I'm not using my astral (so zero RPM fan profile), my RAM's temp is 48 degrees and my NVMe is around 50 degrees.
Under a 10 minute Furmark 4K load, my NVMe temp peaked at 56 degrees at the 6 minute mark, and no notable difference with the RAM (delta of 1 degree). Astral's temp remained consistent at 68 degrees, with VRAM at 76 degrees. At the time of writing this sentence, 15 minutes in and no observable change in temps across the board.
Maybe a pic of your build would be useful to at least get an idea of what the GPU chamber's present airflow actually looks like. I agree completely that astral's obnoxious size sits directly over the bottom intake's plastic insert, but I feel like there should be enough of a gap to get the air moving? But it's all theory before actually seeing it.
The rest of my build as a reference, in case there's anything that could help point you into a new direction:
- CPU: same
- GPU: OC, but the same exact thing
- RAM: 64 GB Kingston Fury (same specs as your Vengeance)
- PSU: Corsair 1000x (ATX 3.1 version)
- Mobo: Gigabyte Aorus Elite x870e
- Fans: As of this comment's writing, 3x RX120 Max RGB/3x RX120 non-max RGB in push/pull configuration on the Titan's radiator (there is JUST enough clearance that doesn't force the plastic up against the PSU door; you need to drop the fan/rad/fan combo down within the frame and use 4x screws instead of 12x with no observable impact to stability or noise), 3x RX120 Max RGB as bottom intake, and 3x LX120s as top exhaust.
Tomorrow, I'll be replacing the 3x LX120s for RX120 Max's and testing the effects of having 1x RX120 max on the rear spot (exhaust vs. intake vs. no fan).
At the conclusion of this comment's writing, I'm now 30 minutes into the same Furmark session and VRAM temps dropped to 74 degrees :) and sad it took me 30 minutes to write this. I'll see how the temps fare when running Star Citizen so the conditions can be more realistic, but I'm not expecting to see too much of a change.
If you need more info, just let me know
EconomistNaive42@reddit
Furmark is not the same as gaming. Some games are very heavy on the memory use. You need to try it while gaming. I had the titan and all lx120 fans. Just wrote a message on top about my experience with this case.
EconomistNaive42@reddit
I tested this case but had to return it due to damage to the glass panel. I was running a 4090 Strix with a 14900K and overclocked memory—equipped with the memory fan included with the Encore—and I noticed that the memory temperatures were significantly higher than in my other case, the ASUS GT302. Memory temperatures jumped from 49°C to 56°C during gaming sessions. I even tried installing the rear fan as an intake, but that proved completely useless. I’m currently running a 5090 Astral and was considering purchasing this case again. However, even in the GT302, memory temperatures rose from 49°C to 52°C solely due to the Astral. I’m glad I came across this post, as attempting to build my setup with the Astral might turn out to be a terrible idea. Even when undervolted, that beast generates an enormous amount of heat.
Guildwarsbard@reddit
Skill issue.
VeryGenericD@reddit
Does it help to install the back fan and configure it to blow into the chamber, across the CPU and RAM?
seraphinth@reddit
Back in 2007 Corsair made fans that mount directly above ddr2 ram modules so they can be overclocked to an EXTREME 1250 mhz. if you have access to vintage computer shops try looking for Corsair Dominator/Vengenance airflow fans and make sure to post it on social media to get it viral, it'll be funny if they revived an old product because of their new case.
InvaderJ@reddit
Jonsbo X400. I’m going to make a dedicated post about it but I can’t recommend it highly enough. Running Astral 5090 and 9850X3D. Whisper quiet and cool, and I don’t even have the front fans (Xeneon Edge is there) nor the rear fans. The baffle design pumping intake onto the board then up through the AIO rad is brilliant. AMA.
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
looking forward to your post, seems really interesting
InvaderJ@reddit
Ahead of writing the post, here’s a shot: https://imgur.com/a/cjsKDev
Bottom fans intake right into the GPU fans. Top AIO fans exhaust. Behind that baffle above the mobo (panel that says “guide cover” on the right) are another two fans on intake.
The baffle fans pull air in, direct it down onto the mobo, ram, vrm, etc. Then the AIO fans pull it up and out, using it for cooling the CPU - that air doesn’t get anywhere hot enough to not be perfect for cooling. So baffle fans cool components then feed the AIO.
Meanwhile the bottom fans are just blasting the GPU feeding it cool intake.
Whole thing is dead quiet. All case fans are on curves that max at 30%, 5090 fans max at 60% (that rear fan on it is 30% permanently), pump is like 2200 RPM which is about 40 or 50%.
Under load in 72 F room: - CPU: avg 68 - GPU: avg 65 - VRM: 40c - RAM: 41c - Mobo: 42c - Chipsets: 52c & 48c
p0Pe@reddit
First question would be if you are actually seeing instability? 70c sounds high though, is that in idle with low fan speeds or gaming - what is the case fan speed set to?
Some thoughts: -Remove the bottom shroud if the gpu effectively blocks the airflow. -Add a vrm fan module to your aio since that will also help on dram temps -Add a rear fan as intake as that will help on dram items (not exhaust) -Change the 6 fans in the gpu chamber to a gpu noisematched fan profile and set a minimum rpm of 600 and max rpm of whatever matches the noise level of your gpu at max load. Ser this to react on gpu load (below 50% should be 600 rpm, then ramp up to whatever value matches the noise from the gpu (I assume you have mounted another 3 in the top along with the 3 stock ones)
You will probably find that simply changing the case won't directly fix your issue which, if an issue, is no direct airflow over the ram.
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
Hi there,
yes, random crashes / bluescreens when gaming, case fans are around 70% when that happens, reacting to ram temps, not gpu temps as the gpu is really cool with the case design.
70°C is when gaming under "normal" load (30% cpu, 50% gpu), if i run OCCT with a standard fan profile on the 5090 it exceeds 80degrees and would rise higher, but i have aborted the test there.
will try to remove the bottom shroud and yes, i have 3 exhaust fans on top with the 3 intake fans on the bottom.
but i really don't like to tinker around with a $300 case (i will try, but i won't like it), so i guess it will go back to the vendor and i will opt for an Frame 5000D, that seems to tick all points for me when it comes to airflow.
p0Pe@reddit
The bottom shroud (and top) is meant to be easily removable, but you need to take your gpu out first since you have that motherboard).
I would try that first. The case is not really designed to have the gpu in that slot. I know it is the only option on that board, but that type of boards where not around when the case was designed 😁
The 5000 is a solid option as well, but the 4000 will also easily fit your hardware (I would put the aio in the side for best performamce if you go that route)
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
it was not about the difficulty, it was about "thats a freakin $300 case and i should not have to modify it"
but yeah i removed the two shrouds and gained 2°C, not really impressive sadly.
thanks for the hint with the side mounted radiator in the Frame 5000D, didnt know it was possible! i already ordered it after the failed test with the removed shrouds, would you put the radiator fans as intake or exhaust?
My Plan so far (i have 6 120mm and 2 140mm fans for now, +the 3fans of the radiator)
Top: 3x 120mm Exhaust
Side: Radiator 3x 120mm Exhaust/Intake
Rear: 1x 140mm Intake
Front: 3x 120mm Intake
i don't think its good to have more exhaust than intake, so i was wondering if i should put the radiator fans as intake also
p0Pe@reddit
Just for the sake of sanity, what happens if you open both the side panel and "front" glass panel so there is plenty of fresh air going into the air 5400? Before you go through the trouble of a new case and build, it would make sense to pinpoint your actual issue so you do not just end up with the same issue in another case.
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
ram temps dropping around 7°C, same when i manually turn up the 5090 fans
corsair support answered an hour ago that my case is not made for this card and they dont have a solutions for me
i had an hyte y70 touch before and the temps were better in that case (but its just ugly, so i got rid of it)
Slight_Profession_50@reddit
Just watercool your RAM bro, I know you can afford it.
/s
No-Lunch-8326@reddit (OP)
not anymore, hardware is expensive ;-)
j/k im really happy to bought the rig back last year before the world went crazy with hardware prices (okay, the astral was crazy before and is more crazy now)