Best 480 Rad For My Application

[Jeremy1998]

I am currently modding a Corsair 800D to fit a 480 rad in the bottom. I have found that a 120mm fan can barely fit down there; we're talking like a spare cm MAYBE. My original plan was for a Black Ice SR-1 480, but seeing that space down there, the SR-1 can not fit... It is simply too wide beyond the fans.

I have measured, and I can fit a radiator up to 60mm thick, roughly. The fans I will be using are Bitfenix Spectre Pro 120mm LED fans, so I probably need some sort of a low FPI. What would the best radiator be for me that is not much wider than a fan?

(By the radiator is wider, I mean that a Black Ice SR-1 rad has angles on the side, so the radiator is like 130-140mm wide, as opposed to 120mm wide. I need a ~120mm wide rad.)

 

[airdeano]

the alphacool UT60 480 will fit with an overall width of 124mm. only gotcha would
be the end tanks with the secondary bungs and plugs. sometimes they can interfere
with objects. other than that the XSPC RX480 (also 124mm wide) with no bung
issues. the XSPC is usually easier to find and uses 6-32 fan mounting hardware,
instead of alphas M3. hope this helps..
my SR1(s) will hopefully find that CaseLabs SM8 cabinet one day..

 

[Jeremy1998]

the alphacool UT60 480 will fit with an overall width of 124mm. only gotcha would
be the end tanks with the secondary bungs and plugs. sometimes they can interfere
with objects. other than that the XSPC RX480 (also 124mm wide) with no bung
issues. the XSPC is usually easier to find and uses 6-32 fan mounting hardware,
instead of alphas M3. hope this helps..
my SR1(s) will hopefully find that CaseLabs SM8 cabinet one day..

One thing about that Alphacool is one of the end tanks has this:

I'm wondering... Could I attach a valve to that and use it as a drain port? I mean, is there really anything stopping it?

BTW, the 800D has almost (or maybe even over) 600mm in length in the bottom compartment, so I can fit a 480 rad with pretty much the longest end tanks ever...

 

[airdeano]

yes, the end bung is great for bleeding, valving, drain ports, etc..
and where is your power supply going to be? many have tried to natively install
the 360/240 combo below the mid-tray and it gets really tough. espeically the
360, most have to blow out where the lower drives are and extend the tank(s)
into the area just behind the front panel. another thought is to use the Lian Li
PSU extender bracket to gain some mm(s) for better radiaotr/tube routing.
thats what i was going to do, till i just had enough of the 800D experience.
found that building a water-cooling case outta mass-marketed cases was futile
and now looking to a CaseLabs SM8 with none of the severe modding pains..

 

[jamesriley94]

What hardware are you looking to cool?

 

[Master&Puppet]

Phobya G-Changer 480 is another great pick.

Dimensions: (L x W x H): 532x125x60mm

I've got an alphacool rad myself and can recommend them highly too.

 

[Jeremy1998]

yes, the end bung is great for bleeding, valving, drain ports, etc..
and where is your power supply going to be? many have tried to natively install
the 360/240 combo below the mid-tray and it gets really tough. espeically the
360, most have to blow out where the lower drives are and extend the tank(s)
into the area just behind the front panel. another thought is to use the Lian Li
PSU extender bracket to gain some mm(s) for better radiaotr/tube routing.
thats what i was going to do, till i just had enough of the 800D experience.
found that building a water-cooling case outta mass-marketed cases was futile
and now looking to a CaseLabs SM8 with none of the severe modding pains..

I am going to do it almost like the Silverstone TJ07 and TJ11. I am going to have the rad standing up on one side, and then have the PSU sitting on its side. The pump will also be in the bottom compartment.

What hardware are you looking to cool?

For now, a 3930k and 2 670's. I will eventually have an Ivy Bridge-E processor, and probably the next gen Nvidia cards if they are worth it for me.


BTW, this is a workstation, where it could be running at full tilt for days at a time, and that includes the night. This is in the same room that I sleep in, so I want it silent. I know that a 480 +420 rad are overkill for just those components, but I want the fans to basically be either off or barely running at all times.

 

[jamesriley94]

Do you not think you'd be better in your current Switch with a 360 and a 240?

IMO, a 480 is more effort than it's worth if it requires modding, and the 800D isn't the best case for watercooling.

 

[Jeremy1998]

Do you not think you'd be better in your current Switch with a 360 and a 240?

IMO, a 480 is more effort than it's worth if it requires modding, and the 800D isn't the best case for watercooling.

Well, I have already bought and cut up the Corsair 800D, so I don't think I can change my mind...