Need new case - where to put radiator?

[sfryman]

I've been watercooling my rig for awhile now. Been using the same radiator for several years, but I've been replacing other components now and then. I bought a MPC-600 pump a couple of years ago (works GREAT), and got new water blocks from Dangerden when I upgraded to an Athlon X2 3800+ and a 7800GT vid card.

I've recently decided to get a new case. My current case is a generic tower, and it's a pain to install anything, doesn't have any front ports for USB or headphones. The annoyance that drove the nail in the casket for me was when I tried to install an extra drive and couldn't find any extra drive rails. So I decided it's time to upgrade the case finally. I've been eying Lian-Li for awhile. I particularly like the look of the PC-A10:

Lian-Li PC-A10

The problem is - I'm not sure what to do with my radiator. It's an old heater core, approx 7" square by 2" thick. It's been working fine, keeps the rig nice and cool, but I don't think it will fit easily in any modern case. I had it at the bottom front of my old case, which is basically just open space, with a shroud and quiet 120mm fan pulling air through the old beast. If I go with the lian-li in that spot, I will at least have to lose the 3-bay hd rack, and probably will have to cut up some of the case in that area to get it to fit. As you may be able to tell, I don't like the idea much.

An alternative I thought might be one of these new 120mm radiators (Black Ice?) and putting it in the 5.25" bays. 120mm seems awfully small, so maybe I would need a couple of them. I got an idea looking at one of these 3-bay 5.25" hdd racks:

Lian-Li EX-34A

With some minor modification, I could probably put 2 or 3 120mm radiators in series into this hdd rack. I'd like some feedback on the idea, or maybe some of you guys could let me know where people put the radiator nowadays.

I'm also concerned about noise...the loudest component in my rig atm is the water pump, and it's not what I would consider loud. My rig is quieter than my Dell at work and I'd like it to stay that way.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Zepper]

The gigabyte Aurora has space at the rear for a 2x120 radiator. I've seen many mount radiators in the top of their case but you'd have to break out the nibbling tool/Dremel/etc. to do that on most cases.

..bh.

 

[VinDSL]

Get a Mountain Mods U2-UFO. End of problem!

This is the one I own.

This is the one I inspired -- The VinDSL Special.

Anything else?

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Get a Mountain Mods U2-UFO. End of problem!

This is the one I own.

This is the one I inspired -- The VinDSL Special.

Anything else?

Not a convenient shape/size.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
Not a convenient shape/size.

It's a clever illusion! They only look big. These things are a lot smaller & lighter than ppl think!

Hell, they're only 18x18x18 inches & weigh 12.5 lbs! They just look like they're 43x43x43 inches & weigh 50 lbs...

*edit*

As a basis of comparison, I just measured my portable TV.

My Opti-1203 is approx the same size as my 13-inch Sony which, BTW, has been discontinued because ppl think it's too small.

Anyway, the (ahem) larger point is, these things come pre-drilled for ThermoChill PA 120.3 radiators. It wasn't an afterthought!!!

Throw 6-120s on your rad, and you're ready to rock n' roll...

 

[sfryman]

This cube-style case is interesting, but a bit expensive and possibly overkill for what I need.

6-120mm fans I'm sure will give a lot better performance than what I have, but couldn't possibly be as quiet.

Hasn't anyone mounted a radiator in a traditional tower-style case recently? I can't imagine this is the only option.

Thanks.

 

[WoodButcher]

matx case, 2x 120 fans
http://aloader.com/files/65/DSCF0502.JPG
another matx, an old toshiba case
http://aloader.com/files/65/DSCF0408.JPG
boths rigs are my current system but I recently built my own case. None on the market fit my needs so I took the time and made my own. In both pics you can just see a nightstand I built years ago. My new case takes its place, glass, acrylic, aluminum and oak.
If you can mod you should be able to get a radiator in most any case.

 

[Zepper]

Most any good-sized mid-tower can be modded for it if you're willing to cut metal. The Coolermaster Mystique comes with fittings for tubing on the rear panel, etc. Some Thermaltake cases are pre-fitted for one of their WCing kits. There are forums that specialize in WCing where I'm sure you could get more ideas.

Considering how far air cooling has come, WCing is pretty much an e-PeePee any more...

.bh.

 

[aigomorla]

hey op, just to let you know,

2x120mm radiator > 2 1x120 radiator.

With that in mind, if you want to internally mount a large class radiator, its best to get a large case.

Before i can recomend a case to you, i need to know exactly how many components you have or wish to have.

Anyhow, the 2 large case i know that would fit and i highly recomend in that LL price range would be either the TT Armor or the CM Stacker RC810.

The CM STacker has a 120x2 fan mount on the rear just like the gigabyte. And it doesnt look as ugly in RL like the Gigabyte does.

The Armor allows you to mount a 120x2 radiator in front, and have 3 drive bays aval. Actually its 4, but the armor requires the top bay for the power switch/floopy/reset. Thanks to a rear Hard drive cage next the the PSU, you can mount 3 hard drives in the rear and not use your front bays except for fan controlers and opticals.


My loop inside a Armor

Heres another one

Basically my loop is not something you should recreate. Its a complex loop that has a secondary heat exchanger, (120x1 radiator), in between the CPU and GPU to allow a slight cooler water temp b4 it hits my GPUs. Also im on a dual pump layout which isnt something a noobie should attempt on his first build.

My watercooling components which are all internal are:
2 x D5 Liang Pumps
120x2 HWL Black Ice GTS
120x1 HWL Black Ice GTS
Swiftech Micro Rez.
2 x DD Maze 4 GPU's
Roughly 8-9 Feet of Masterkleer 7/16ID tubbing.

My computer components are as follows:
2 Raptors
1 750 Seagate 7200.10
1 zalman fan controler
2 NEC DVD+/-RW
Floppy for my Raid

Yup, all that fits nicely in my case and is all kept really cool.

My CPU and Video Load Temps at 30 min



Anyhow if you have a bigger budget and price range, the UFO is a great case. Only its extremely expensive, and not to mention.. ummmm... BIG... and ... well... i think its straight up ugly. Looks like a coffee stand with fans on the side to me.

the TJ-07 is also a extremely beautiful case.

Another case i want to get my hands on is the Kandolf LCS editition. REason on this is because you can easily strip the stock TT watercooling, and mod drop an aftermarket one. Also its one of the only cases, minus the UFO, where no modding is needed to install a 120x3 radiator up front, and NOT lose any bays. The bays behind the radiator is mesh so the air does not get trapped behind like in the pictures.

If ya need more help drop me a pm. I'll be glad to assist. and yeah all my computers listed in my sig are watercooled. Even the retired X2 thats now my NAS. They all have intigrated watercooling, and there all off 3 different cases. QX= TJ-07 MC = Armor NAS= CM STacker Limited Blue.

The NAS's stacker isnt the RC810, its the old version where you can mount the radiator on the rear with a upgrade at performance-pcs.com part. its only 19.95 + ship. But it allows you to mount a 120x2 radiator on the bottom, and no your motherboard is not blocked, because it takes the spot of the 2nd PSU in the stacker which you arent going to use unless you want dual PSU's.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
Anyhow if you have a bigger budget and price range, the UFO is a great case. Only its extremely expensive, and not to mention.. ummmm... BIG... and ... well... i think its straight up ugly. Looks like a coffee stand with fans on the side to me.

Them's fightin' words, boy!

Here's the deal...

Mountain Mods cases are designed from the ground up to be water-cooled. They don't install a couple of 2-cent rubber grommets in the backwall and say, "Look, it's water-ready!"

If you're gonna go air-cooled, Mountain Mods cases are a waste of money, yes. You might as well buy a Lian Li, or whatever.

However, if you wanna water-cool a regular case, it's like trying to stick 20 pounds of manure in a 10-pound sack! It ain't gonna work without looking MAD GHETTO!

Then again, this guy is using a heater core off a '86 Buick, or whatever, so no reason to fight amongst friends, right?

 

[sfryman]

Yes, it's an old heater core, but I bet it works as well or better than the $60+ 120mm radiators I see on the market today. The only reason I might consider switching to the 120mm design is for convienance. I can see how the 120mm radiators could be mounted in the fan openings of a case, where mine won't quite fit. But do I really need/want to spend the big bucks for a new radiator(s)?

Can anyone point me to an actual comparison study on radiator performance in a PC? If I can get better performance in addition to convienence, I'll buy a new rad.


Slightly OT, but why would this be true:

Originally posted by: aigomorla
hey op, just to let you know,

2x120mm radiator > 2 1x120 radiator.

It seems to me that there should be little difference between using 2 1x120 mm rads and a 2x120mm rad, assuming equivalent design.

Anyways, thanks for the input.

 

[aigomorla]

OT: flow and restriction of second radiator.

yeah if 2 rads each rated at ~500 btu, you were to add 2, you should get 1000btu. That math works, but if you calculate the flow rate, you get more of a drop in pressure from 2 rads then 1 rad. Plus i dont see why you would need more then a 120x2 at ~ 1700RPM fans, unless ur TECing, or u want to even more quiet. Then the next upgrade would be a 120x3.

I dont know how to explain it more then that. You should consult to the treads over at XS. Theres acurate models and calculations on this topic as guys over there are seriously crazy about h2o cooling. The concesnsus there was DONT dual radiator, unless you seriously exceed the BTU max on your Rad. And according to Marci <owner of thermochill> it takes quite a bit to stress a 120x2 radiator, and good luck stressing there 120x3, as it is very hard to do without TEC's

As i have explained, my second radiator really doesnt do anything. The 120x2 is more then capable of expelling heat from my system. The only reason why i have the second rad is for greed in cooling the GPU's. I wanted that extra 1-2C on the GPU's and i had a extra 120x1 laying around.

 

[raincityboy]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
However, if you wanna water-cool a regular case, it's like trying to stick 20 pounds of manure in a 10-pound sack! It ain't gonna work without looking MAD GHETTO!

uhhh what? I'm not a big fan of cube cases, and if your good at modding a regular case will turn out better, IMO. It will also be cheaper.

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Then again, this guy is using a heater core off a '86 Buick, or whatever, so no reason to fight amongst friends, right?

That is the bang for the buck cooling. Nothing wrong with that.