Modder TrashBench conducted a series of thermal tests on a desktop PC equipped with an RTX 3080 GPU and a 360mm AIO CPU cooler. The initial baseline was established using a conventional setup with the GPU in the standard PCIe slot and consistent fan RPM settings under loads from 3DMark Time Spy and 7-Zip.
The experiment involved repositioning the GPU to the bottom of the case and vertically to the side, while also testing different airflow configurations for the CPU radiator. The modder utilized various lengths of PCIe riser cables to facilitate these alternative hardware placements during the testing process.
The final optimized configuration involved mounting the CPU vertically against side intake fans and placing the AIO radiator in an exhaust position. This setup resulted in a 3.3 degree Celsius reduction in CPU temperature and a 14 degree Celsius decrease in the GPU hotspot temperature compared to the baseline.
