V2100 and Thermochill PA120.3 on the way, top mount or bottom mount?

[Aldy402]

V2100 and Thermochill PA120.3 on the way, top mount or bottom mount?

ok, I got both of these on the way, I basically ordered without any planning at all. I'm not in desperate need of hard drive cages so 1 cage will suffice.

My question is , which is the more "smarter" spot to place the rad?
the bottom or the top? im not really concerned about losing pci slots.

my sudden knowledge tells me that heat rises so its better to have the rad at the bottom so it cools the water without much interference from the ambient heat. Plus i also have the 8800gts which puts out a lot of heat and its right by the top of the case.. correct me if im wrong or if im making a bad decision?

[naokaji]

i'd rip out the hdd cages, put the radiator on the bottom, and put the hdd's with watercoolers into the 5,25 slots.

just my 2 cents though.

[septim]

bottom is nice. no problems there.

no really need to watercool HDs, just adequate airflow needed, like a 120mm fan up front...

[Sideroxylon]

Wherever you put your rad you should be feeding it fresh cool air. So the whole "heat rises" theory gets tossed out the window. To figure out rad placement, or any other design questions, do what I do, get your case, place it in front of you, and stare at it for hours until inspiration hits.

[Ambro]

Don't top mount (inside the case) if you want to run 8800GTX SLI cards.

The rad WILL impede on you motherboard PCI & PCI-e slots. I have a PA120.2 and it is causing a very tight fit with the second 8800GTX .......

[Jedda]

Bottom if you care about resale value, imo.

[septim]

yah, bottom, you could always remove said rad and poprivet some new alum plate...

[irangan]

I am getting v2000 and pa120.3 too. Mounting at the bottom part of the casing. Mounting on the top looks ugly to me and probably will cause some problem with my SLI

[Grinch]

go with bottom for sure...

[Aldy402]

thanks for everybodys input, now im trying to figure out the orientation of the fans

i've decided to have the rad on the laying on the bottom of the case and the fans on top pulling up, would it be better for the fans to blow down into the rad?

[quiet]

I think if you try to push hot air out through the bottom you would just create a pocket of hot air on the radiator, it would probably be best to pull fresh air through the rad

[septim]

the usual method for bottom is case-rad-fans with fans pulling air outside going through rad to case...

[Grinch]

+1 for pull

[dnottis]

I've seen some really nice jobs here, I have a web gallery of my own V2000 with PA120.2 bottom mounted here for you to check out.

http://www.3dxtreme.net/other/PA120....000%20Gallery/

I just added my GTS to the loop so I've got some updated pics of the case here -

http://www.3dxtreme.net/other/H20%208800GTS/


I'm using 2 x 75CFM fans that pull, everything on a zalman fan controller. The fans in the bottom compartment arent loud. Might give you some ideas. BTW get the gel stuff from petras for your pump, I had my bolted in before and it made a hum. Now I just stick the gel pad between the case and pump and it's silent.

[Aldy402]

thanks for all the input,

dnottis, what did u use to make that cut in the center divider? pretty nifty
i see u can pull out the whole loop if you wanted to

[dnottis]

thanks for all the input,

dnottis, what did u use to make that cut in the center divider? pretty nifty
i see u can pull out the whole loop if you wanted to

Just a dremel. I did that back when I had the Aquagate and then the Silent water. Needed a way to pull the whole system in and out quickly. It works well