Consolidating radiator capacity / choosing a Caselabs case

[StephenP85]

Right now I'm using a HAF 932 case with a custom loop that cools a delidded/OCed 4770k and two OCed 7970s.

I wanted everything to fit inside the case, so I ended up having to use multiple radiators. I figured a diagram would be better than me explaining it all:

Not completely to scale, but hopefully you get the idea. The fans are all Scythe gentle typhoon 1850rpm. The GPU blocks are full-cover heatkillers, and the CPU block is a Raystorm. I used a dremel to cut out two of my 3.5" bays so that I could fit the 240 rad on the bottom.

The performance is good, and the D5 Vario can handle it all, but because I had to carefully plan the layout, and everything is such a tight fit, working in the case is a nightmare, and cable management has become an unwinnable battle.

I think I can get just as good or probably better performance from one thick 480 radiator in push/pull, and I'm in the market for a better case. I'd like one that could fit everything you see in the picture above -- except instead of those multiple radiators, I just want one big push/pull 480. On top of that, I'd like the case to have good cable management options, and I'd like to be able to connect/disconnect/move cables around fairly easily. Based on that criteria, it seems like a Caselabs case is the best bet, but they do range in sizes. Due to space limitations, I'd like to know whats the smallest size that would fit everything (or if there's another case you recommend). I can't go much taller or deeper than the HAF 932 (roughly 22" tall and depth of 22.2"), but I can go wider.

 

[13thmonkey]

off topic question, but how are you feeding the case with air, given that you've got 5 120mm's pushing air out of the case?

 

[P1nnacle]

Honestly, you're way past overkill when it comes to radiators. You need one, and a 240 will work just fine. I had a system pumping 3 570s and a i7-920 OC to 4.8 Ghz, and used a thin 240 block. Temps never got over 70 C at full load. Adding more radiators just increases the back pressure in the system which will stress your W/C system overall.

While it's a theory, if I had to guess, I would say you could probably drop your temp a bit by removing radiators.

While I agree completely with 13thmonkey's question I do have to give you mad props for your (insanely awesome) overuse of radiators.

 

[StephenP85]

off topic question, but how are you feeding the case with air, given that you've got 5 120mm's pushing air out of the case?

4 120mm fans on the side panel and 1 240mm fan on the front.

 

[Dags]

Usually there are fans in the front. Either 1x200mm or 2x120mm feeding the case with fresh air. But yes, 13monkey's question is a fair one. Also have you considered that there might be more air getting out than getting in so some air is forced to enter the case from gaps and the will be no proper air flow in your case?
Couldn't you post a picture of your case?
I was slightly late on this post. But like someone else said you should remove at least 1 radiator. Also there are too many fans inside your case for a watercooled system, i think.

 

[P1nnacle]

As far as cases are concerned, if you're deadset in using a 480mm, I would highly recommend a mountainmods case. I loved mine when I had a 360 radiator lots of room for you to do anything.

http://www.mountainmods.com/

 

[Dags]

nice case/closet. Does it come with hangers included or you have to buy them seperately?

 

[StephenP85]

Honestly, you're way past overkill when it comes to radiators. You need one, and a 240 will work just fine. I had a system pumping 3 570s and a i7-920 OC to 4.8 Ghz, and used a thin 240 block. Temps never got over 70 C at full load. Adding more radiators just increases the back pressure in the system which will stress your W/C system overall.

While it's a theory, if I had to guess, I would say you could probably drop your temp a bit by removing radiators.

The 120mm could probably go, but my initial setup with a single GPU and CPU was the 240 on the top and the 120 in the back. When I added a second GPU, my overall temps increased a few degrees (not terribly higher). I got better temps than I had even with a single GPU once I added that bottom radiator which I had laying around from a previous round of tests I was running in another rig.

But I agree that the restriction is holding me back from even better performance. Overkill is not a concern for my purposes. I'm constantly adding, removing, testing things -- but the case capacity is making these tasks more painful than fun nowadays.

 

[StephenP85]

Usually there are fans in the front. Either 1x200mm or 2x120mm feeding the case with fresh air. But yes, 13monkey's question is a fair one. Also have you considered that there might be more air getting out than getting in so some air is forced to enter the case from gaps and the will be no proper air flow in your case?
Couldn't you post a picture of your case?
I was slightly late on this post. But like someone else said you should remove at least 1 radiator. Also there are too many fans inside your case for a watercooled system, i think.

"Too many fans" is pretty subjective. I have airflow set up properly. Gentle typhoons connected to a PWM fan controller. I sleep in the same room as this PC. I've tested many arrangements and layouts, painstakingly.

 

[P1nnacle]

Honestly, you're way past overkill when it comes to radiators. You need one, and a 240 will work just fine. I had a system pumping 3 570s and a i7-920 OC to 4.8 Ghz, and used a thin 240 block. Temps never got over 70 C at full load. Adding more radiators just increases the back pressure in the system which will stress your W/C system overall.

While it's a theory, if I had to guess, I would say you could probably drop your temp a bit by removing radiators.

The 120mm could probably go, but my initial setup with a single GPU and CPU was the 240 on the top and the 120 in the back. When I added a second GPU, my overall temps increased a few degrees (not terribly higher). I got better temps than I had even with a single GPU once I added that bottom radiator which I had laying around from a previous round of tests I was running in another rig.

But I agree that the restriction is holding me back from even better performance. Overkill is not a concern for my purposes. I'm constantly adding, removing, testing things -- but the case capacity is making these tasks more painful than fun nowadays.

OK, if you're just messing around then I would totally recommend a mountainmods case. super easy to mess with and fun to edit, you can create your own too. I was under the notion you thought you needed all of those radiators, not that you were just messing around with the components.

 

[StephenP85]

Those cases look nice, that one on the main page is about the size of my first apartment. Do you have any experience with Caselabs cases? I like their clean, subdued look.

Yeah, I like to test things when time and money allow it. Obviously, I'd never recommend anything close to my setup for anyone just getting into custom loops. I don't even remember a time where my main build was not overkill.

I think your theory is valid on the 120mm radiator, though. Now that I have that second 240, it's probably a hindrance more than anything else.

 

[P1nnacle]

I haven't had any experience with caselabs cases, but they look to be about the same size as some of the mountain mods cases. Have you considered the Corsair 900D? That's a pretty huge case. Looks great too.

 

[StephenP85]

I think the 900D is exactly what I need.

 

[P1nnacle]

I think the 900D is exactly what I need.

Great to hear, have fun building!