Cooler for Thermaltake CORE P5 open-frame case

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Hello all,

I have been lurking and reading for a couple weeks, and decided to jump in. I am a relative noob, who is starting the process of building my next computer. I have the help of a friend who has a bit of experience - took class at CSULB on building computers and recently built HIS own computer.

This is my chosen spec list: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/FREAKAZOID_ROBOT/saved/#view=DJvMnQ

The last thing is pretty much choosing the case. I want to have a case which allows for the components to be nice and cool, but I also would like to have a case that has some nice looks. Here is the basic look I am going for:

I saw the open-frame Thermaltake case, and saw even nicer looks, but most of them seem to be using liquid cooling systems....

Ok here's my question/questions:

Can I achieve the nice look without using an air cooler? In the pic I'm sharing here, it seems to be a computer with just regular fans, no? If I were to use regular fans, would that be enough to keep the PC cool? Originally, I wanted to use a Noctua NH-D15, but that seems rather large and don't know if I can use that with these colored fans.

As for liquid cooling, my friend and I could probably install one, but it seems awfully expensive. If I am understanding correctly, I would need to purchase a radiator, and also a reservoir and pump? If so, that comes to well over a couple hundred dollars no? That seems like an huge extra expense, for no gain, other than looks.

If you can set me on the right path, I'd greatly appreciate.

thank you

 

[ssddx]

i would not advise using a corsair cx power supply. you should pick something better quality. if you need help on that, we can certainly help.

so your whole goal is a clean look inside? you can do that with air or water cooling although big air coolers take up alot of room. water coolers certainly pull the bulk of the cooler off the mainboard which is nice if you want to see the entire board but tend to cost a bit more. you may want to look at closed loop coolers such as the ones nxzt sells. shown in the picture is a triple radiator (likely a 360mm) which is part of a custom loop very likely.

how can you achieve a similar look?
-sleeve your cables
-use a modular psu with sleeved cables
-use good wire organization
-remove drive trays you do not need. on models with side mount ssd trays (like corsair 750d) you could use them. or just keep a single tray in for your normal hard drives.
-photo shows colored fans though this is optional
-color match parts you buy for a themed case
-buy a windowed case to showcase it
-optional: if you want to show more of the board around the cpu area you can use a closed loop cooler

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Thanks for the feedback!

In my rambling, I guess what I am trying to ask is if the main advantage of liquid cooling is simply looks and noise, and a little better performance, and if this is the case, the price difference doesn't seem correct. I mean a liquid cooling system would cost me a little over 300 dollars, while an air cooler like Noctua would cost me 85 dollars.

 

[ssddx]

benefits of liquid cooling over air...

*relocates bulk of cooler off the motherboard and puts it on a different panel. this is both aesthetic or for practical reasons such as ram clearances.

*allows better performance [cooling capacity] if used with larger radiators. up to a point air coolers are much better per dollar.

thats about it.

as for noise? you still have fans which produce noise. in some cases more fans than an air cooler would have. the pump produces additional noise [a low frequency hum]. if done correctly water can certainly be quiet but no more than air.

most people go liquid for either aesthetics [they think big air coolers are hideous], for clearance reasons [big air coolers interfere with tall ram and some motherboards or case side panels] or performance [some people going for super high clocks pair cpus and gpus up with liquid to increase the cooling capacity to handle high oc heat loads].

something like a noctua nh-d14 competes with most closed loop coolers in terms of cooling performance. it is however very large and not everyone likes it on their case. http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/3360/__4.jpg a similarly powerfull cooler in closed loop design relocates the bulk away from the cpu http://www.legitreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/nzxt_kraken_33.jpg

is it needed? no. i myself use just a hyper 212 plus cooler myself with a very mild overclock. its fine for running at stock speeds or at mild oc just fine. if you do more than that however you would want something more powerful.

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Thanks for your awesome feedback!

I wanted to go liquid cooler, but I couldn't justify spending over $300 (versus $85), mainly just for looks. I am now wondering however, if I can install LED air fans into this case, as it appears that the LED fans may need to be in a radiator to be mounted in it. If that's the case, I might as well switch to liquid cooling, I'm thinking.

 

[ssddx]

$300? you can get far cheaper coolers than that.

for example one of the biggest air coolers the noctua nh-d15 is $89 while the kraken x61 is $130. performance wise the x61 beats it out slightly. the x41 which is a single 140mm is only $99 and while it will not beat coolers like the nh-d15 it is comparable to coolers about $20-30 cheaper than its price tag.

where water cooling gets expensive is CUSTOM loops where you buy all the parts seperately. while definitely better, that is something the average user does not need to do.

fan mounting holes are standard. led fans can be mounted in any case as long as the hole spacing is correct. not sure where you got the idea they could only go on radiators....

standard sizes nowadays in cases are generally 120 and 140mm. your case manual or spec sheet would also tell you this.

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Wow, I had no idea they could be that cheap! I was looking at what people who bought the P5 on Amazon had bought for liquid cooling, and besides a radiator, they also bought that big tube of liquid and the clear tubing. I have been thinking it over, and just talked to my buddy, and I definitely am going to return the Noctua and try to install a liquid cooling system. I want to see the motherboard and it's lighting, instead of the huge Noctua blocking it. I understand now why others had said "it'd be a crime not to install a liquid cooling system with this case". If you know of any threads or articles you might recommend we checkout, in order to install a liquid cooling system, would very much appreciate... or anymore of your great personal suggestions!

and I just asked my buddy why he thought the LED fans couldn't be installed... I think he was just a little overwhelmed with the case, and had a mental block. I see now that the holes line-up, though not sure if there are enough connectors on the motherboard for the three LED fans - but again, I'm a complete noob to all of this, if that isn't completely apparent by now.

thanks again for your advice!!!

 

[ssddx]

closed loop coolers like the x41 and x61 and similar are easy to install. they are self contained with no need to mess with fluids. just install the cooler on the cpu and secure the radiator on the case.

i've used led fans in cases before although i really do not prefer them as i prefer plain non-glowing cases. http://s20.postimg.org/um8xd6mct/IMG_1148_1.jpg is an example of a black fan in the same case as a glowing fan.

if your motherboard does not have enough fan headers (it should unless you really are getting crazy with the number of fans installed (list your motherboard and i can tell you how many it has) you could always get a fan controller.

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Yeah I hear ya... in my case, the led colors would look nice in my studio, because I already have colored led lighting. I'm also planning on wall mounting this, so I think this could make for a REALLY nice display.

As for liquid cooler, I would like to at least have this look:

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Chassis/Mid_Tower_/Core/C_00002732/Core_P5/design.htm

I have NO idea on how to install a liquid cooling system, and my buddy does not know much either. I found a really good article here on Tom's that I've started reading, but wish I could find someone in my area with experience in liquid coolers.

Here is my dream look, though this looks like a specialized Thermaltake case, with the silver color and specialized displays:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-QDuadIU3U

 

[ssddx]

if you want that look, be prepared to spend $$$$ as now you're back talking about rigid piping, pumps, reservoirs, radiators and blocks. that stuff is not cheap.

it should also be noted that bending hard tubing is not easy and you need to be practiced at it and you will screw up alot until you learn. special tools are also required (for one, a flexible inside pipe liner which prevents kinking).

wall mount sounds cool, but its a bit impractical and its going to get old quick when you need to plug things in.

to me it sounds like you have a $$ budget but are looking at $$$$ solutions. if you have the money, go for it, if not i think you need to reel it in a bit.

you could certainly have this look easy enough http://s24.postimg.org/b7sgwsged/20140819_182708.jpg for pretty cheap too.

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Well I'm certainly not rich, and I like to be prudent with money, but if this can be a wall-mounted display that serves as a truly beautiful piece of art/display piece, then I'd certainly spend extra money towards that end. My main concern is things like the tube-bending, as you mentioned. I'd like to hire someone with experience, but when I search for "custom computers" and such, there seem to be no businesses listed (and I live in Los Angeles area).

 

[ssddx]

there are certainly some modders in that area though you might not be happy to hear what it would cost you.

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

How could I find them?

 

[ssddx]

i saw a few on hardforum though you might be able to find them on other sites with more hardcore modding sections.

this one is old (but looks like it was updated just in october 2015) http://forums.shoryuken.com/discussion/114465/need-a-modder-builder-in-your-area-check-this-post. if you want an expert familiar with complicated things like tubing bending you might need an expert and may need to rely on having it shipped to you from their mod warehouse

if you wanted to do it yourself perhaps worth reading http://www.overclock.net/t/1421291/build-log-tj07-mod-first-mod-custom-wc-with-acrylic-tubes

 

[FREAKAZOID_ROBOT]

Wow, thanks. That confirms what I found, which is that it seems there aren't many computer builders out there, available for hire. Heck, I am an IS major at Long Beach State, and on the ISSA board (IS club), and can't find anyone here even that has experience with installing liquid cooling.

I guess I'm probably gonna be left to do it myself... and it seems the bending is one of the hardest parts. Well the research beings...

Thanks again for all of your advice, suggestions and feedback!!

 

[ssddx]

pc modding was huge in the early 00's but its less of a thing now. there are still some crazy good people (just look up some case mods) but they generally have their own websites and you will be paying commercial pricing. you can still check out if there are any people who have done tubing bending locally on one of those forums as a non-pro may be able to help you for cheaper.

honestly i'd suggeset toning it down a bit as it appears like you dont have much of a budget for it and these things can get expensive quick. its not uncommon for parts to cost at least 50% of your pc value for a good system of separate watercooling equipment.