External Rad Box

[chorner]

Hey guys,

Yet another question - that hopefully is useful to others as well

I'm looking at the DangerDen Rad box as a basis for modding a box to house a pump, small psu, fans, and fan controller with switch.

(http://www.dangerden.com/store/exter...case.html#tabs)

What do you guys think of this rad box? Are there any other options that are very similar to that box -I like the design and size-? Is acrylic a PITA to work with versus drilling out aluminium for instance?

I'd love to create a fully custom box from scratch, but to be honest I'd rather spend the time needed to just mod one and focus on the cable management, tubing, fan filters, the QD connections etc. etc. than the added hours designing a box from scratch right now. There's got to be at least one other comparable alternative to this.. no?

[Manicdan]

ive made my own rad boxes out of acrylic before

its quite easy to drill and they do make specific drill bits for acrylic, but cutting planes takes a table saw, a nice blade (80+ teeth), an edge cleaner, and some kind of torch to get a glassy finish

[NaeKuh]

external projects are fun.. especially if u know what your doing.

Nothing will beat a good DYO project if u have the skills / resources to fab your own.

[Utnorris]

I built my own only because I wanted to use my quad rads. Right when i was just about finish I got a crazy idea, use my Ascension as my rad box and my UF2O as my computer case. Great thing is that my UF2O bolts right on top, so now I have a 44" tall case.

[theseeker]

I prefer metal http://www.mountainmods.com/computer...l-c-21_95.html

[chorner]

Hmmm, interesting.

I do agree it makes a very nice DIY project however my expertise doesn't lead to metal working - the acrylic with the right tools might be more workable. However, there's something to be said for leaving those things to the pros if you're just looking for something that looks good and functions well right from the get-go

Spotswood, I'm going to PM you. Nice work!

[brammers]

I've done a basic wood one, which was fun:

http://www.bramleys.org/radbox

J

[Utnorris]

Here is what i was talking about:



Still a working project, but you get the idea.

[chorner]

Utnorris - cool. Interesting idea, I like it - thanks for posting that. I wonder if you can get them to do just a small version of that case that can hold 2 360 rads, a drive bay and a reservoir? I should get in touch with them too

[Utnorris]

Ben is pretty good about doing custom jobs, just give him a call. Keep in mind, that's just an Ascension with a UF2O bolted on top, no mods to make it fit, so you could do it with two UF2O cases also and they make a triple rad front for the UF2O that you could use for the front and back allowing you to have 6 triple rads with plenty of room for pumps and such.

[chorner]

Wow - talk about expensive though! Just messing with the different case options on the UFO's will cost you an arm and a leg. By the time you're done paying for your case you could've bought a new watercooled GTX580 :P PM'ed spotswood - he's pretty busy, but short of finding something I can do some mods to like perhaps just going for that DD standup rad box I might just wait it out until he can do one up for me.

[Utnorris]

Yeah, I did this cause I had them laying around. They are not cheap. I like the idea of the DD box or the Phobya rad boxes:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=30316

I just want to do quad rads and i do not know anyone making one.

[Bei Fei]

Send me a PM about the rad box and I can see about making you one.

[chorner]

Utnorris - nice, hadn't seen that Phobya option yet. Getting closer Lots of mounting options on that 3x120.3 stand.

Bei Fei - sending PM.

[Mudgey]

What about one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...T#ht_500wt_922

I heard the seller is a swell guy too!

[chorner]

Mudgey - nice stands, thanks for the link. I couldn't find if he had 120mm stands or not... do you know if he does?

Edit: lol I assume by 'he' that's actually you. Doh.

So let me rephrase -> do you sell 120mm versions as well?

[bedrock1977]

Awesome design man... I wish I was able to even come close to making something like that.

[Utnorris]

If all you want is a stand, the Phobya and XSPC are nice and around $10-$20.

[dendanger]

Here is another option. It's is just somthing I have been playing with. It has a 560 radiator and a D5 pump. I have been meaning to ask people what they thought about it anyway.

Dennis

[Utnorris]

I like it, but I imagine it will be more than the regular DD rad box.

[kinghong1970]

Sportswood's Alum case is AWESOME!

no plexi to deal with... nice, sleek...

[chorner]

Dennis - that looks very sleek!

I'm just sorting all options at this point guys - I'd much prefer a full custom case though. I've actually made a rough drawing of what I'm looking for.

Spotswood and Bei Fei have offered their services so far... but I'd love a quote from DangerDen on this too. I love the smoky black plexi/acrylic. So far Spotswood alum. case has won me over by far over what else I've seen.

Maybe I shouldn't be sending this around and make it myself huh? lol oh well...

Here's a link to my diagram and a bit of info on what I'd ideally want inside the box:

- 1x MCP35x pump
- 1x EK Multioption Res. (250ml)
- 1x 5.25” front cut out for an Aquaero 5 fan controller
- 2x 120.3 radiator cut outs, mounted using a Rad Grill (Bitspower RadGrill Link)
- 1x Switch Cut Out
- 1x Fill Port Cut Out (using ¾” OD tubing)
- 2x QuickDisconnect Cut Outs/mounting area
- Cut Out on the back for airflow with mesh (probably the size of 2x120mm radiator mount holes so I could use two filters or 1 2x120 rad grill)
- The rest of the panels I’d like to layer on my own sound proofing material… everywhere there isn’t a cut out or something I plan to mount to the box


Custom Rad Box

[Church]

dendanger: Hmm, what i think about your radbox?
Bling is good, but performance is as important. From the looks of your ext radbox res-mount there is no place for another row of fans for push-pull setup.
And i don't know what that radbox set consists of, but if it hasn't yet, you might think of optional adding to that set few things - eg. Koolance's L slot bracket with two qdc-s and add to that bracket molex for pump's power wire extention (sleeved of course), and also maybe built fan/pump controller with two knobs (for all the fans and pump). All of that optional of course, as probably even barebone price of radbox won't be cheap. :/
You may also think of releasing a bit different "double" radbox, with ability to house two long rads (i'm guessing, that best way performance wise would be not one rad against the other, as it might result in less performance in both cases when fans blow or suck in opposite directions, and also if at same direction (with cooling 2nd rad with preheated air by 1st, but rather rads placed 90deg at each other, eg. front and one of sidewalls) - a little bit wider/deeper then current one, so that even with thick rads side of one rad-fan set doesn't touch side of another one. Such radbox also could be made with triangular crossection.