Radiator Mounting

[tuco]

I am thinking of liquid cooling my CPU and possibly my graphics board, but I have run into space issues. I have enough room for all of the components except the radiator. My Antec Nine Hundred case does not have enough room anywhere to mount a 2x120 mm radiator. However, I do have room to mount 2 single 120 mm rads in different places. One on the side panel, one on the rear exhaust mount. I am wondering whether this would cool as well as a single 2x120 mm rad, or even more effectively. All suggestions appreciated.

 

[PV5150]

Do you not have enough room to mount it externally on the rear of your case?

 

[WinMXer]

You would have to compare the heat capacity of each rad, measured in watts. You should be able to get this onfo from the manufacturers site. Here are some specs for the PA120 range from Thermochill.

Judging by this info the heat capacity of a PA120.1 is pretty much half that of the PA120.2. I can only presume this is the case for most other makes of rad.

 

[tuco]

Do you not have enough room to mount it externally on the rear of your case?

It would interfere with connectors or add-in slots. I may be able to modify the case door to fit a 2x120 mm, an option which will be explored.

 

[BigFatCat]

Looking at the figures provided about radiator size vs performance, it would look like there's little to be gained between having a single 120.2 or a pair of 120.1s: It might make accommodating them easier, but what effect on flow rate or pressure would there be?

And then factor in the cost of lots of little rads

 

[tuco]

From what I've seen, the cost difference between one rad and two would be less than $20. If the only way that I can fit that amount of cooling is with multiple units, the cost is fine as long as the performance is not considerably less.

 

[Scarlet Infidel]

What pump will you be using? As long as you have a decent pump (most modern ones fall into this catagory) id think you would be able to keep a high enough flow rate to get the most out of your waterblocks (again assuming you have modern blocks that are very flow tolerant).

I think you would be fine with two single radiators if you really cant fit a double.

 

[tuco]

I am thinking about the Swiftech MCP655, a fairly powerful unit. My setup has been put off, I am spending money that was set aside for a cooling setup to replace a failing PSU.

 

[Scarlet Infidel]

That pump would definately be strong enough. Sorry to hear about the PSU (I reccomend the Corsair HX series btw).