Radiator size advice

[Azrul]

Im on a dilemma at the moment on getting a new case whether is going to be a Corsair 650D or 600T? Honestly, i prefer the looks of the 600T but I found some issue of it on water cooling setup due to the limited spacing of the top of the case.

So the setup that I'm planning to do is not really a total high end. Thinking of just overcloking an i5 2500k and get a single gpu or perhaps two if there's sufficient room. I'm wondering with this kind of hardware cooling, how big is the radiator that I should use? Let just say enough to have a stable system with 30-35% overclocking.

 

[Master&Puppet]

Well you will need a minimum of a 360x60mm rad for a cpu and single gpu and obviously more if you want sli/xf, probably another 240mm rad.

 

[Azrul]

Well you will need a minimum of a 360x60mm rad for a cpu and single gpu and obviously more if you want sli/xf, probably another 240mm rad.

Let say if i trim down the cpu radiator size and have a separate radiator for the gpu, would it work? Or perhaps just use a h100 for the cpu?

 

[Master&Puppet]

I'm not an expert on the corsair cases but I think you are going to struggle to get 2 radiators in there, whether one is a H100 or not.

There's no point buying an H100 if you are going to buy a pump anyway for the gpu loop - you are paying for two pumps! If you can only fit one 240 rad in the case then it's not worth trying to cool both the gpu and cpu on it - it wil be loud and hot.

The simple option would be to get a H100 for the cpu and leave the gpu on air - just get a model with a decent air cooler and be done with it! Also replace the h100 fan with something like a scythe gentle typhoon. A better fan will do wonders.

To get the benefit of water (i.e. cooling and silence) you really need to be thinking bigger or else it's actually better being on air.

To cool the cpu and gpu youll need space for at least a 360x60 or 2x 240mm rads (one of which needs to be thick).

 

[Master&Puppet]

Just had a read - the 650D watercooling support is one 240 or 280 thin rad in the top and a 120 thin rad at the back.

That doesn't leave you with much flex. You could only cool one item with those sensibly and I'd pick the cpu. You could stick a 280x30 in the roof and it would handle the cpu and even add the 120mm to that loop as well for really nice temps but that is an awful lot of effort for the gains you'll be making I think.

If I were you I'd consider these 3 options:

1. 600T because you prefer the looks and get a NH-D14 cooler and a decent air cooled gpu.

2. 650D with a cpu on H100 with a decent air cooled gpu.

3. Consider a different case for full on watercooling.

 

[Azrul]

Hmm.. If that's the case, then my water cooling adventure will halt down again. Do you have any particular case suggestion that could handle water cooling? At the same budget as the corsairs of course and maybe have similar looks as the corsairs. It's really difficult to find an all in one case i guess, if there is then the price would be monstrous. Maybe that's how the world works. lol..

 

[Damien c]

Well the 650D is around £150 so you could go for a NZXT Switch

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt...ance-case-with-usb-30-and-side-window-w-o-psu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LHjJ8sPe_8

Remove the bottom hdd cage if you don't need them and you can fit a 240mm rad in the bottom with iirc from TTL's review push/pull fans, you can also fit a 360mm rad in the roof with iirc from TTL's video again the rad and fans on the inside.

Then you could go for a Xigmatek Elysium

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/xigm...-mounted-usb-30esataaudio-hdd-docking-w-o-psu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICPvEjUDgz0

Which can fit a 360mm rad in the roof with 1 set of fans inside and 1 set on the outside if you wanted push/pull, which is what I have done, and you can also fit a 240mm rad at the bottom as well with push/pull fans without removing any of the hdd cages.

Obviously there is the Silverstone TJ107 and Silverstone TJ11 if you wanted to spend the extra money and get creative that can all fit rad's in the roof and bottom section.

There is also as well the Coolermaster Cosmos 2 which can have around 5 rads fitted inside it if you again get abit creative.

Cosmos 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkQ5Y6RlAwU

 

[Master&Puppet]

Hmm.. If that's the case, then my water cooling adventure will halt down again. Do you have any particular case suggestion that could handle water cooling? At the same budget as the corsairs of course and maybe have similar looks as the corsairs. It's really difficult to find an all in one case i guess, if there is then the price would be monstrous. Maybe that's how the world works. lol..

Yea I'm not the best person to advise you on that bit since I tend to use test benches!

Look for something that has, as a minimum, 360x60mm radiator support plus a set of fans - so you'll need at least 85mm depth. If you want to add a second gpu then you'll need a 240mm rad, preferably 45/60mm deep too (again plus space for 25mm deep fans).

Damien's switch 810 link is a good shout.

 

[Azrul]

Hmm. looking at the cosmos 2, I think I'm quite interested on that. Haven't made up my mind yet at the moment since just now had quite a lot of choice in one go. lol

I'll try n see which suits my needs and I might be buying the 600t though for my other build and stick with air cool for that. For the watercooling, need a lot of thought on it first.

.. Many2 thanks for the advice!!