how do I calculate the max cooler height a box can take?

[swapjim]

Can I trust the numbers that the manufacturers mention? If the height of the cooler is 5cm less than the "height" (whatever you call that dimension) of the case, does this mean it'll fit?

I'll be specific.

I want to buy the Corsair 230T box, which has dimensions 505 x 212 x 440 mm.

And I want to pick the Artic Freezer i30 cooler, which has a height of 161cm.

21.2cm is larger than 16.1cm, so I'm cool. Yes?

 

[Charlie98]

Looks like it will, it will fit a 212 with room to spare.

 

[swapjim]

Oh, so that 212mm is the size of the cooler it can take? So I can put a cooler with a height of 212mm?

 

[aigomorla]

Oh, so that 212mm is the size of the cooler it can take? So I can put a cooler with a height of 212mm?

212 is the entire messurement of the side on the case.

Since the motherboard sits ontop of standoff's and the back panel is spaced out a bit, your safe to assume you have about 80-85% of that number.

~180mm heat sink would be acceptable.... Anything more, and you risk it hitting the side panel.

 

[MrTeal]

212mm isn't the size of the cooler it can take. I think Charlie98 was implying that the case can take a Coolermaster Hyper 212, which is a very popular budget cooler. The 212 Evo is 158.5mm high though, so if it fits with room to spare you should be fine.

 

[swapjim]

Thank you guys!

 

[Charlie98]

212mm isn't the size of the cooler it can take. I think Charlie98 was implying that the case can take a Coolermaster Hyper 212, which is a very popular budget cooler. The 212 Evo is 158.5mm high though, so if it fits with room to spare you should be fine.

Yes, that is correct. Sorry, I always assume everyone knows what a 212 is. :$ OP, the 212 (+ or EVO) is considered the generic standard for aftermarket air coolers. It's not all that efficient, but it's a reasonable step up from the factory cooler, and is usually the bargain leader against better (sometimes larger) designs.

 

[aigomorla]

I'll be specific.

I want to buy the Corsair 230T box, which has dimensions 505 x 212 x 440 mm.

21.2cm is larger than 16.1cm, so I'm cool. Yes?

212mm isn't the size of the cooler it can take.

im pretty sure he was implying the size of the case.

That is why i said he can take about 80-85% of that number which width is given (212cm) and use that as a baseline to what max height heat sink his case could support.

Since the motherboard sits ontop of standoff's and the back panel is spaced out a bit, your safe to assume you have about 80-85% of that number.

~180mm heat sink would be acceptable.... Anything more, and you risk it hitting the side panel.

then looking at the evo..

The 212 Evo is 158.5mm high though, so if it fits with room to spare you should be fine.

so 180mm > 158.5mm so as teal said you would have room to spare.

 

[mv2devnull]

Corsair's site has specs for 230T:

Maximum GPU Length 360mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height 165mm
Maximum PSU Length 200mm

If they measure the same way as Arctic, who demands 161mm, then there is room.

Then again, on some larger coolers the fan is over RAM modules and fits only if moved upwards, increasing the total height of the cooler. Not a case here though.


External dimension 212mm; declared cooler clearance 165mm. Ratio of 78%. Some cases leave ample space behind the motherboard's backplate for arranging cables neatly out of sight. That space is naturally away from the cooler.