Radiator Help

[rack04]

I'm in the process of shopping for a watercooling replacement for my Thermalright SP-94 / Panaflo 92x25mm H1B HSF. This watercooling setup will be used to cool my AMD 2400 XP-M. I'd like the water block to have a universal mount so it could also be used on AMD Athlon 64 Socket 939 when I to upgrade. I'm hoping that I can fit all the watercooling components inside of my Kingwin KT-424-BK-WM (http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_detail.asp?LineID=&CateID=1&ID=153). Here is my current shopping list:

Swiftech Storm Waterblock
Swiftech MCP655 Pmp
Swiftech MCRES-Micro Reservoir
Panaflo FBA12G12M1A Radiator Fan
Masterkleer 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Tubing
Worm Drive Hose Clamp 7/16", 25/32" ID Range

Maybe someone can recommend a good performing radiator for a low noise Panaflo M1A. I'd prefer a radiator that will install inside my current case with minimal modifications. Thanks.

[meionm]

Your case is kinda bad to use the setup of yours with minimal modifications. The case doesn't have any openings for 120mm radiator. You could get 120mm or dual 120mm radiator and installed it on the top of the case. Though that will involve cutting that case for openings for fan/s.

[Lumen]

Like the guy above said, that case really isn't optimal for a 120mm radiator setup. You are probably going to have to hack on the case a little bit.

[rack04]

What would be a good case for a 120 mm rad?

[Xoligy]

alot on here will say the li lian cases there very popular but all depends on how much you want to spend i brought the antec p180 and ive only hacked two holes in it for the rad thats in my signtaure at the moment tho i still have work to do to it it's only 35% complet i still have to fully decide how to mount my rad or weather im going to change to a t-line that are fully recommended by users tho i have a rad right now (taking too much space), stackers are also used quite abit and so are the coolmaster cases

[jivetrky]

What would be a good case for a 120 mm rad?

What's your price range?

[rack04]

What's your price range?

Somewhere around $100 for the case, not including power supply.

[Jeff Moser]

This one Here (http://cool-cases-usa.com/Zen-Cart-v1.2.4/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=116) will fit a 120 single in the rear.

[jivetrky]

Coolermaster Centurion 3 120mm in rear 80mm in front (nice case, I've used one before) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=141774)

Thermaltake Soprano 120mm in front and rear, again a nice case (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370512)

Antec Solution Series Mid Tower 120mm front and back (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=140117)

^ Those 3 are conventional looking (IMO the Coolermaster and Thermaltakes are very nice looking with anodized aluminum fronts)
This one is more "outlandish" in style if that's your thing...

Aerocool AeroEngine II - 140mm front 120mm rear ...."interesting looking" :) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=372096)

But basically they can all fit a single 120mm RAD....the only think I'd say is that it would be better, performance wise, if you could use a dual 120mm RAD. But I wasn't able to find any cases under $100 that had built in dual 120mm. If you were able to spend a little more then you could get something like a Gigabyte 3D Aurora....but that is about $150 with shipping (BTW, the others above SHOULD be less than $100 with shipping)
Here's a link to the Gigabyte Case, if you can't seem to find it. (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241613)

You might be able to find those cases slightly cheaper....you'd have to look I guess :) Zipzoomfly is just a site I frequently use because they usually have the best prices and Newegg-speed shipping.


I'd say that if you cannot spend any more than $100 your BEST option is to get a case (even a cheapo) and cut a hole somewhere in it to fit a dual 120mm RAD....or heck even a triple if you can! :) Some cases have built in feet which raises them up off the floor a little (unless they are on carpet, in which case I'd recommend putting it up on a board of some sort) but with it raised slightly off the floor...you can usually mount a RAD to the bottom of the case and suck air in from the bottom.

I suppose that yet another option could be to use Thermaltake's AquaBay M2 Radiator/fan (http://www.thermaltake.com/watercooling/cl-w0021AquaBayM2/cl-w0021.htm)
It'll mount in any 5 1/4" bay (prolly takes at least 2 bays for clearance of airflow....and it uses 1/4" or 3/8" fittings...) ....I would say that this isn't the BEST way to go.

Good Luck!

[rack04]

Coolermaster Centurion 3 120mm in rear 80mm in front (nice case, I've used one before) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=141774)

Thermaltake Soprano 120mm in front and rear, again a nice case (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370512)

Antec Solution Series Mid Tower 120mm front and back (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=140117)

^ Those 3 are conventional looking (IMO the Coolermaster and Thermaltakes are very nice looking with anodized aluminum fronts)
This one is more "outlandish" in style if that's your thing...

Aerocool AeroEngine II - 140mm front 120mm rear ...."interesting looking" :) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=372096)

But basically they can all fit a single 120mm RAD....the only think I'd say is that it would be better, performance wise, if you could use a dual 120mm RAD. But I wasn't able to find any cases under $100 that had built in dual 120mm. If you were able to spend a little more then you could get something like a Gigabyte 3D Aurora....but that is about $150 with shipping (BTW, the others above SHOULD be less than $100 with shipping)
Here's a link to the Gigabyte Case, if you can't seem to find it. (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241613)

You might be able to find those cases slightly cheaper....you'd have to look I guess :) Zipzoomfly is just a site I frequently use because they usually have the best prices and Newegg-speed shipping.


I'd say that if you cannot spend any more than $100 your BEST option is to get a case (even a cheapo) and cut a hole somewhere in it to fit a dual 120mm RAD....or heck even a triple if you can! :) Some cases have built in feet which raises them up off the floor a little (unless they are on carpet, in which case I'd recommend putting it up on a board of some sort) but with it raised slightly off the floor...you can usually mount a RAD to the bottom of the case and suck air in from the bottom.

I suppose that yet another option could be to use Thermaltake's AquaBay M2 Radiator/fan (http://www.thermaltake.com/watercooling/cl-w0021AquaBayM2/cl-w0021.htm)
It'll mount in any 5 1/4" bay (prolly takes at least 2 bays for clearance of airflow....and it uses 1/4" or 3/8" fittings...) ....I would say that this isn't the BEST way to go.

Good Luck!


Great info here. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Have you seen any pictures of the Gigabyte 3D Aurora with a black ice pro 2 installed? Reason I ask is because from this (http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/other/gig-3d-aurora/p29.jpg) pic it looks like the radiator would have to be installed out side the case.

[jivetrky]

Great info here. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Have you seen any pictures of the Gigabyte 3D Aurora with a black ice pro 2 installed? Reason I ask is because from this (http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/other/gig-3d-aurora/p29.jpg) pic it looks like the radiator would have to be installed out side the case.


Hrrrrmmmm...... I have not actually :) I was TOLD it would be good....but I never even thought about the clearances.....looking at the mounting holes on the BIPII I'm not entirely sure....if anything it would have to be mounted with the barbs down. But I guess I was going to build a custom shroud anyway....so I'll just have to give it a slight angle ? I don't know......I will be ordering in the next couple of weeks, so I can let you know at that time. either way I will make it fit...because I don't want anything outside of the case.

But thanks A LOT for pointing that out....I'll be in a mad frenzy, tonight, looking for a pic of a RAD installed in it :)

[rack04]

I think I've decided to go with a budget case. The Antec Solution SLK3000-B (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129152&ATT=Cases+Computer+Cases&CMP=OTC-C173T) looks to have some watercooling potential. My plan is to remove the front internal drive cage and mount a radiator where the front 120mm fan is. I'm hoping to fit a Dtek Pro-120 because I've heard it performs better than the BIP or BIX. Any comments?

[jivetrky]

I would think that would work out pretty decent!

Good luck!

[Bugsmasher]

After the fact and it does cost more but one other option that is worthy of consideration....

Aerocool Masstige (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811196012)

Available in silver or black. The nice thing for WCing is that with the 5-1/4" bays running from the top to the bottom of the case combined with the ventilated 5-1/4" bay covers you can internally mount a dual 120mm radiator without cutting on the case.

I just got one but havent assembled it yet, still waiting on some other parts. Its a nice solid steel case from what I can tell.

Just another option ;)

[jivetrky]

After the fact and it does cost more but one other option that is worthy of consideration....

Aerocool Masstige (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811196012)

Available in silver or black. The nice thing for WCing is that with the 5-1/4" bays running from the top to the bottom of the case combined with the ventilated 5-1/4" bay covers you can internally mount a dual 120mm radiator without cutting on the case.

I just got one but havent assembled it yet, still waiting on some other parts. Its a nice solid steel case from what I can tell.

Just another option ;)


That's an intersting looking case...I've never seen it before....Definitely room for water there..but I'm already set on the Gigabyte 3D Aurora :)

But maybe it'll work for rack04