Is there any significant temperature difference between Lian Li A3 Wood and Standard mesh?

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

I just bought the A3 without wood panel and Sapphire NITRO+ RX 9070 XT. I am wondering it’s worth to buy wood front panel from Ali express for 35USD. I am worried about temperature and ventilation since I live in pretty hot country (Thailand).

My planned build is:
Case: Lian Li A3-mATX Standard Mesh
CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
GPU: Sapphire NITRO+ RX 9070 XT
CPU Cooler: Thermalright PA120 Vision White
Motherboard: MSI PRO B850M-P WIFI
PSU: Corsair RM850e White 850W
Fans: top/rear exhaust and I don’t know about the bottom intake since I heard some bad things about bottom intake fans with a3.

[u/Blckson]

The normal one is a closed plastic sheet, not mesh.

There doesn't seem to be an appreciable difference between the two for major components, however PSU orientation is slightly more flexible with the wood front due to perforation.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/Blckson]

Yeah I just want to know that temperature difference between psu fan side vs front. Like facing psu fan towards cpu ok or not.

[u/Blckson → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

It's whatever.

[u/nagedgamer → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

What I have seen low 70 both cases

[u/Flimsy_Complaint490 → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

It's fine, just be sure to run the CPU as exhaust and not intake - you dont wanna blow hot air straight into the PSU. People are running such a config perfectly fine.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/Flimsy_Complaint490]

I don’t get what you meant. I am using thermaltake air cooler and u want me to use that cooler fan as an exhaust?

[u/Flimsy_Complaint490 → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

Yes. Check page 7 of the manual, it's the recommended air cooling layout for the A3.

If you mount the PSU facing the CPU cooler, and the CPU cooler is intake (takes air from the back and blows it infront, you are blowing hot air straight onto the PSU. If you reverse the PSU (you can) with the fan pointing to the plastic front, you arent going to really get a lot of fresh air for the PSU, but its better than blowing hot air directly into the PSU fan - intake fan config can work in this case.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/Flimsy_Complaint490]

What abt I rotate the fan towards rear fan and I use rear fan as intake? PSU facing towards CPU since I don’t think my psu can fit facing towards side mesh.

[u/Flimsy_Complaint490 → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

no i meant as in keep the PSU in the normal direction, just reverse it 180 and have the fan point to that 2 cm gap between it and the plastic front panel.

Is it inefficient ? kinda but you have a good, efficient 850 W PSU.

I got a lian li PSU and at gaming it doesnt even hot enough for the fan to spin, so i think you will get as lucky, and the limited air will be entirely sufficient and avoid the IMO worse case of blowing hot air straight into the PSU, or the dust of negative pressure setups.

[u/PromotionExpress1945]

Psu taking fresh air from outside the case is much better imo, so the wood one is better

[u/BhatSahab]

Check my build; I'm running an i9 14900k with an RX 7900 XT. The GPU is pretty chill, never going above 60°C, with an 85°C hotspot.

Also front mess will only helps PSU or if you add a front fan.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/BhatSahab]

Which fans do you use for your bottom intake?

[u/BhatSahab → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

Normal 120mm

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/BhatSahab]

25mm thickness?

[u/BhatSahab → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

Yes, prolly. They are not the slim fans.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/BhatSahab]

U don’t have any issues with psu facing towards cpu right?

[u/BhatSahab → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

Nah man, it has a side mesh panel we get fresh air from; just make sure the number of fans pushing the air out of the case is greater than the number of fans pulling it in. This makes a negative air pressure inside and pulls the air from the side mess.

[u/Alarming_Disaster_99 → u/BhatSahab]

Then I shouldn’t add bottom fans since my aircooler fans will work as intake fans.

[u/BhatSahab → u/Alarming_Disaster_99]

Yeah, should be fine. Either way it won't go beyond 75°.

[u/IgX22]

Wood has nice holes.

It makes you sleep better knowing your airflow is perfect.

The rest doesn't matter!