fan spacing on 140mm alphacool radiators

[c.ruel]

Does anyone know if the fan spacing is 20mm on not on the new 140mm alphacool radiators. Also does anyone know of any 140mm radiators with 20mm fan spacing other than the hwlabs and koolance ones.

Thanks in advance.

[lowfat]

I haven't been able to find any thing on Alphacool. They don't post any diagrams on their site. Thermochill also uses 20mm AFAIK. It really is unfortunately all the other manufacturers never did research to what case manufacturers used for fan spacing.

[c.ruel]

Yea it is a real pain in the backside. I was pretty disappointed that swiftech didn't make their new 140mm radiators 20mm fan spacing as they seem to pretty active on the forum was I thought they would have the common sense to make them 20mm same with XSPC and their EX rads ... but there you go. I suppose we will just have to hold out until someone on the forums buys a 140mm alphacool rad and then we can find out lol.

[Merman]

I inquired to Aquatuning and they replied 15mm. The rad gets here Friday so I can confirm then. So far only Hardware Labs is using 20mm spacing.

[c.ruel]

Thanks anyway Merman for replying. I was looking at airs pc-90 htpc build log and he is using a 280mm alphacool radiator in that and it seems to fit the lian li (which seem to all use 20mm). So aquatuning could have made a mistake ... wouldn't be the first time! I just find it staggering that hwlabs and koolance are the only ones who managed to avoid this school boy error.

[lowfat]

http://skinneelabs.com/thermochill-pa140-3/

Thermochill definitely uses 20mm too.

[c.ruel]

Also as well I don't see why manufacturers since they are obsessed with 15mm, do 15mm on one side of the radiator and 20mm fan spacing on the other. Then you would have the best of both worlds. Sort of like what aquacomputer did with that rad which could take 140mm fans on one side and 120mm on the other, more options are surely better.

[Merman]

I received my 420mm Alphacool UT-60 today and can confirm it's 15mm spacing. My 240mm UT-60 is also 15mm spacing.

The first four holes on either side, of the 420mm, line up but the other eight have to be drilled.

Seems the Koolance would fit my Switch 810 fine but I don't want to use a rad with 30 FPI. Same reason I didn't want to use the HWL Black Ice Extreme as it has 20 FPI but is so wide the sides of the top 5.25 bay have to be cut out.
https://koolance.com/files/products/...cu1403v_d0.gif
http://hwlabs.com/index.php?option=c...id=18&Itemid=2
http://koolance.com/radiator-3-fan-140mm-30-fpi-copper

Drilling 8 small holes seemed an easy move to me to use the rad I wanted to use. Well that and the top HD bay needs a cut-out as I want my barbs in the front with 45 instead of 90 degree fittings.

[c.ruel]

Awesome Merman ... can you do a worklog or just show the mod because although it is simple I would be intersted to see how you do it. Thanks for all your hlep.

[Merman]

Been thinking about this but if you want to read one now:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1222267/n...0-280-build/10

The Phobya 420mm is more or less the same size as the 420mm UT-60. Just about 10mm longer and 1mm wider, which is nothing.

This thread with the builds have helped me immensely along with the Xtreme WC forum, about time I could help someone else.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1209048/o...tch-810-thread

Here is something on fitting the 420mm HWL Black Ice Extreme:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1271089/f...#post_17503825

Here is a nice job of cutting out the top drive bay, which I will try to duplicate See post #4 fifth image down:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1260702/the-bbw-build

.

[Merman]

Just wanted to update my reply for anyone interested or needing this info in the future.

I stated the fan spacing was 15mm and I thought the mod was easy. Wrong on both counts.

The fan spacing from center point to center point of the 420mm Alphacool UT-60 fan screw holes is 16mm.

As I stated the first four holes going in either direction are no problem. You have to choose how you want to mount the Rad first because spacing changes the location of the remaining holes.

The second set of 4 fan holes for the computer case's top have to be elongated and not drilled. This is because the 4mm difference makes it impossible to drill a hole as it overlaps the pre-drilled fan hole. (Please note my computer case top has pre-drilled holes for 140mm fans with 20mm spacing.)

The last 4 fan holes can be drilled.

To elongate the middle fan holes a rotary tool with a router or cutter was used. Doesn't look pretty but no one is going to see this.

The last four holes should be drilled with a drill press. Even using a drill punch and spot drill bit, the bit just walks with a hand held drill. For $10 or $20 a custom machine shop can drill the holes in 5 minutes and do a neat job.

To find a custom machine shop just call a local machine shop and they usually know. Of course if you have a drill press and dremel you are all set.

[Davron]

Sorry for thread-jacking, but Merman, I think that you are going to end up being my hero in my build. I want to use these radiators badly in my new 810. Do you know if the 280 will fit standing upright against where the two front fan mounts are? I looked at the guy's build that you linked and he went the other orientation. Also he showed that he couldn't use fans in push pull with his build, but if I just want to use fans in push (from top), can I use my motherboard's connector pins without touching the locks?

[Merman]

Sorry for thread-jacking, but Merman, I think that you are going to end up being my hero in my build. I want to use these radiators badly in my new 810. Do you know if the 280 will fit standing upright against where the two front fan mounts are? I looked at the guy's build that you linked and he went the other orientation. Also he showed that he couldn't use fans in push pull with his build, but if I just want to use fans in push (from top), can I use my motherboard's connector pins without touching the locks?

If you don't know, this very long review by Tiny Tom Logan that gives loads of info on W/C the 810.
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/c...h_810_review/1

PCModderMike's build log has great info on installing a 240mm Rad up front.
http://www.overclock.net/t/1217947/t...-switch-810/30

I don't know who designed this case or if there are some variances in tolerances but the 140mm fan spacing on the case top is 20mm, on the bottom its 15mm and I just measured the front and its 16mm. Though the fan spacing is good news a 280mm Rad will not fit up front without major mofifications. The 280mm Rad is 12.75 inches long and there is only 12 inches from the bottom of the case to the non-removalbe drive bays.

http://www.alphacool.com/product_inf...per-280mm.html

The non-removal drive bays or the external drive bays are a box that is riveted to the case. So you could cut out the bottom or a portion of the bottom and lose the hot swap drive bay.

So if you install a 420mm on the top and a 280mm Rad in the front you won't have the top or bottom of the external drive bay box.

If you start using so many fans you may want to look into fan ports and and a separate fan controller. I originally wanted to use Asus's fan xpert software but am now leaning to fan ports and a touch fan controller.

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g47/...rts-Page1.html

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14...?tl=g47c17s286

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12...?tl=g47c17s286

Good Luck and let me know what you do.