Radiator Placement

[nikhsub1]

I know that the best place to mount a radiator is at the bottom of the case, coolest temps down there. Is it really a bad Idea to mount say a Black Ice Extreme (5x7) at the top of my case in the top 5 inch bay? I would use one fan sucking off the radiator, like a blowhole but with the radiator below the fan. Does this sound like it would suck? I just don't have room at the bottom of my case for a radiator, unless I severely mangle my CoolerMaster!

The set-up I want is:
Black Ice Xtreme
ZBlock or Maze2 or Swiftech (Suggestions on which one?)
I am very lost as to go inline or res, I am thinking a nice aluminum res with a 250 GPH in it (Again, suggestions?)

Thanks

[GoldenTiger]

You should go for a Heater Core from DangerDen. $35 USD and it's BETTER than the BIX. The BIX is just a smaller heater core.

As far as the block, I'd go for the Maze2. It's the best of the bunch, although the Swiftech is pretty good its hose mounting system isn't. It can be had from DangerDen.

Inline or Res: Your choice. Either is fine. A reservoir system is easier to bleed air from, but is obviously larger, which is bad for completely internal setups. I'd recommend an Eheim 1250 pump: 263gph (perfect target range), quiet, small, and a pretty good price (dangerden.com).

[Thelemac]

Sticking it up there won't really make a whole lot of difference...assuming that you have decent airflow. :)

[mEKbOY]

Should work just fine up there. Good airflow and decent case temps will help as well.

[Billvill]

This is just my opinion but think about it for a minute . You DO NOT want to place your radiator at the bottom of the case because the heat it extracts will be spread upward thru your case and boards. Mounting the rad up top is fine with a fan blowing air from the inside of the case out. Just make sure there is air in the case via another small fan sucking cool air in at the bottom front.

Billy

[Naeleros]

I guess I follow a different drummer. Personally, I try to keep the air from my radiator separate from the air circulating thru the case. Formerly, I had my radiator mounted in a Lexan box underneath the case.. but, wasn't happy with the overall size and some other minor annoyances.

Recently, I mounted it into a new case (Antec SX1040) but, I mounted the radiator cross-wise in the lower portion. I use a BeCooling cooling cube and it is a perfect fit (with push-pull 120s) directly across the case. Inlet is in the near panel (window side) and the outlet is thru the motherboard tray (and clear out that panel). I like the idea that the 'radiator' air is separated from the 'case' air.

James

[ButcherUK]

Another way to have separate radiator and case air (a good plan IMO) is to duct it up with card or Al sheet of some sort.