Case Design for Liquid Cooling

[Hunter 101]

I designed this case so that you could fit a quad 120mm rad in the top in a push-pull configuration with shrouds, which IMO is the most efficient method of rad cooling. Of course, there is room for other configurations such as installing two rads, one either side and vent from the top as you suggest, or a rad sandwich, but I don't think there would be that much of a gain, if any, using these methods, but that is only my opinion. I'm sure there are examples where these configurations do perform extremely well....

we need two quads in top... and myself I am looking at needing another 2 quads below. for that I need a deeper case, I have to have, or I need two psu of say at least 1.2 kw.. to run that EVGA dual cpu mobo as well as triple set of fermi cards on stable and hi OC. I run my I975 stable at 4.5 Ghz and I am looking at doing the same if I can find two good cpus for this mobo of the right type. Given that, we are looking at what I believe is close to or round 2500 W heat.. 900 to 1000 w for the two cpus and maybe 320 to 400 per fermi card. I don't think I am far of, what do you say guys?

edit1, fixed the quote

edit2, I am using a sandwitch triple rad from Swiftech of the QP type, sandwithing them on the same input gives about 33% more cooling versus a single triple rad If I remember right.


doing what is said above with holes on top and above on a single loop daisy chained should give much more cooling than this as net result, at least in my book, unless someone have data on what you say above is the best net result.

[Mick64]

we need two quads in top... and myself I am looking at needing another 2 quads below. for that I need a deeper case, I have to have, or I need two psu of say at least 1.2 kw.. to run that EVGA dual cpu mobo as well as triple set of fermi cards on stable and hi OC. I run my I975 stable at 4.5 Ghz and I am looking at doing the same if I can find two good cpus for this mobo of the right type. Given that, we are looking at what I believe is close to or round 2500 W heat.. 900 to 1000 w for the two cpus and maybe 320 to 400 per fermi card. I don't think I am far of, what do you say guys?

edit1, fixed the quote

edit2, I am using a sandwitch triple rad from Swiftech of the QP type, sandwithing them on the same input gives about 33% more cooling versus a single triple rad If I remember right.


doing what is said above with holes on top and above on a single loop daisy chained should give much more cooling than this as net result, at least in my book, unless someone have data on what you say above is the best net result.

As I said, there are probably many examples of this type, but there are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration before making this type of statement. Fans, type/make of rad, tube size, flow, pump, etc. will all have an effect on the performance of your rad configuration.

If you are determined to have a particular configuration, I'm sure you could modify the case to suit your needs, there is plenty of room after all.....

[Hunter 101]

Mick, I am not certain the case does have the room needed with fitting things without making it larger in some fashion. I am not talking of the quad SLI slots here.
Let me be more precise on what components I have in mind.

2 of this
http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/re...rvoir-400.html
IF there is no room for that unit, use 2 of this
http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/re...rvoir-250.html
2 of this
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/heatkiller1366.html
2 of this
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcin12pu.html

1/2 barb, and tygon tubing

Radiator choices and setups, a topic of its own

I am certain the case will have room to fit two of thick rads in a pull fashion with cooling venting out to the holes in top part of the case.
Thou, it looks like the case lacks space for a quad rad in length and at the same time house a PSU.

Optional, what I am not so certain of is if it will fit this
MCR320-QP + MCR320-QP-STACK, no stack needed for the cpu loop, blowing out top and bottom of each cooling compartment.
That would leave the case at :
4* MCR320-QP + 2* MCR320-QP-STACK


The extra STACK rad is giving about 1/3 more cooling. Its what I use now in my existing build. It’s equal to or more than a quad fan in length and thick rad would give in cooling, but, by eye sight looking at pictures only, does it fit 4 fans plus PSU in your current design?
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcqposestr.html
> size info on link there

If that stack solution wont work, what could be best thou would be one of these and a slimmer rad from swiftech in combination with one of these in each compartment:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/xsrxtr12ra.html
A thick quad fan rad will disperse more heat at lower noise
Compared to the lower part as pictured of the case as its designed now , by looking at it with vent holes it fits at least this while giving enough room to let the air exhaust

Finding a slimmer fan might also be a option to be able to fit the STACKER for spinning fans nice and slow.

When it comes to your single rad picture versus my options that I am thinking of here, if anyone have data saying a single rad with dual push/pull fans each side, versus with lots of fans as pictured as you suggest and pictured above Mick.
Such a solution, it would be nice but, given my requirement for as low noise as possible, I just don't fully comprehend that it will be remain a quiet solution giving net more cooling performance. Please feel free to prove me wrong if you have a link. I leave my computers on 24/7 in my work room in my house. For me low noise is highly valued as priority one to finding solutions in this build. While thinking of the fact that I will let it disperse round 1500 W heat round the clock.
This is also why I put in way more rads than needed. I try to input as many and thick as possible rads with quiet fans, and just tune the fan speed down until its stable when crunching at max with no heat build up.

And for noise reduction reasons mostly I use these fans on my rads.
Noctua NF-P12 120x25 12,6dBA - 19,8dBA
To further reduce case noise outside case, I will want to fit them on the inside of the case itself in a pull fashion.

Other bits and pieces that need to fit:
2x 1 kw PSU thermaltake Toughpower


11 3.5 HD’s
1 DVDR
Triple SLI fermi
Areca raid card
EVGA dual-socket 270-GT-W555

edit based on total watt output on next post