The traditional PC layout might not be the best: unusual GPU placement cuts temperatures by 17°C

A PC video channel conducted an experiment to explore unconventional GPU placement to improve cooling performance. They utilized an Asus ROG Strix RTX 3080 inside a dual-chamber computer case. The cooling system comprised three side-intake fans, a rear exhaust, and a top-mounted 360mm CPU AIO. By moving the GPU to reside next to the case's side intake, they achieved a 17-degree reduction in temperatures.

The experiment focused on maintaining fixed fan speeds while testing CPU and GPU temperatures with 3DMark Time Spy and 7-Zip on 12 CPU threads, with each configuration running for ten minutes before averaging the final five minutes. Initially, the GPU was placed on the floor of the case, but this configuration did not significantly alter temperatures.

However, moving the GPU against the side intake significantly improved cooling, dropping GPU core temperatures by 16.7°C, the hotspot by 19.3°C, and VRAM by 14°C. The motherboard VRMs, on the other hand, cooled by around 8°C, while the CPU only warmed slightly by 1.1°C. The GPU's placement behind the intake fans in the rear chamber provided better stock temperatures but did not match the previous arrangement.

Switching the CPU's radiator to intake and returning the GPU to its original position helped reduce CPU temperatures by about 6°C but caused the GPU to warm up due to the radiator's exhaust. Combining the intake radiator with the GPU beside the side intake yielded the best overall results, with a 3.3°C reduction in CPU temperature and a 14°C cooler GPU hotspot, albeit at the cost of some GPU cooling.

TrashBench cautions that the experiment was not scientifically rigorous and that different cases, fans, and placements might yield different results. Nevertheless, the video highlights the possibility that the conventional PC layout may not be optimal. The channel has previously carried out similar experiments, such as using dual CPU tower coolers on an RTX 2060, which dropped temperatures by 31°C.