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 | 13 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.
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!
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)