CORSAIR 2800X: Best fan configuration

Fan setup might sound straightforward for mid to full tower chassis, as those cases have plenty of room where air can move around and circulate, but for compact, mini-ITX and micro-ATX PC builds, like in a CORSAIR 2800X case, having a more streamlined airflow can be challenging due space restrictions and fan limitations.

The 2800X PC case may be compact, but it excels at maximizing airflow and keeping components cool. Its smart internal layout optimizes space and functionality. While it supports multiple 120mm fans, the key to effective cooling lies in proper fan configuration. You need to identify which fans will draw in cool air (intake) and which will expel warm air (exhaust). This setup ensures that warm air is efficiently removed, preventing it from lingering inside the case.

Since the case does not have front fan mounts, we’ll start with the 3x 120mm side fans, which will act as front fans in a more traditional PC chassis. You want these fans to be intake, pulling fresh air into the case and onto your components to keep their temperatures in check.

Now let’s see what the best configuration for the 3x 120mm top fans. If you have an AIO Liquid CPU Cooler in your PC build, whether a 360mm, 240mm or even a 280mm rad spec, the only location you can place them is on the roof of the case. You want those fans to be configured as exhaust, so you keep a streamlined airflow, where fresh air coming from the side then gets expelled on the top. And as a reminder, you want to mount the radiator first onto the roof of the case, then mount the fans below it.

For the 1x 120mm fan, we’ll keep it pretty standard like most PC builds, you want it to be an exhaust fan, like the 3x 120mm on mounted on top.

There are additional optional 120mm fan mount locations, allowing for customization based on your preferences and the graphics card you choose. There are a total of three 120mm fan mounts: two positioned on top of the PSU shroud and one located at the bottom, adjacent to the front panel. If you wish to enhance your build with fans, particularly RGB fans for added aesthetic appeal, feel free to do so. The 2800X case supports up to 10x 120mm fans, so maximizing your cooling potential is definitely an option.

As far as configuring those 3x 120mm fans, you want all 3 to be intake fans, giving your PC a steady airflow where fresh air gets pulled from the side and bottom, while the top and rear fans are responsible for expelling warm air, which by definition, is a positive pressure setup.

The only caveat when you want to populate the PSU shroud with 2x 120mm fans in a 2800X, is that you shouldn't use a graphics card that takes 4 PCIe slots, as clearance is going to be an issue. For example, this PC build is running a Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5080 Master, which takes 4 PCIe slots. You will notice that there isn’t enough space between the GPU and the PSU shroud to mount fans.

Always remember, proper airflow in compact cases like the 2800X is crucial for cooling your CPU, GPU, and other components. Good airflow helps prevent overheating, which can damage your hardware over time. A well-ventilated case allows cool air in and warm air out, improving performance and extending the lifespan of your components by reducing the risk of failure.

CORSAIR has a wide variety of PC cases, from small form factor, to mid-tower, all the way up to super full-tower, loaded with different types feature sets for all types of PC builders - all can be seen on our official website, or our PC Builder page.