High idle temp liquid cooler

[BerendJ]

Hello everyone,
So 2 days ago I decided to buy a liquidcooler for my Ryzen 1600 to replace the stock cooler. (The liquid cooler is the Masterliquid ml240l RGB) I installed it in my Masterbox lite 5 RGB as follows: I put the radiator to the front of the case, then in between there is the iron framework, and behind that are my fans. It did not fit perfectly so I had to use a more creative method (The radiator is not pinned down in all 8 holes, only 4 but it is still tight). Now my main problem is that my idle temperature is around 40°C. I do not think this is OK and I am not sure what the problem might be. I used the included cooler paste and put the size of a rice on my CPU. I hope someone can help me with this. Thanks in advance.

 

[CooLWoLF]

The fans need to be mounted directly to the radiator, otherwise you're losing a ton of air efficiency. You'll also lack static pressure, which is critical for cooling performance.

So what would be the best way to mount my cooler in my case? (Masterbox lite 5 RGB)

Try mounting 2 additional fans to the back of the radiator, in a air "pull" configuration.

So essentially, you'll be pushing air from the front intake mounted fans as they are currently, and the fans mounted directly to the back of the radiator will pull that air through. Its not ideal, but you will gain back some efficiency. Try that.

BTW, Is there no "normal" way to mount it in my case? Seems weird that I need to use all these tricks to "try and make it work".

A "Pull" configuration is considered normal, just as a "Push" configuration is. Look up push vs pull results.

Ideal configuration is push/pull combined, but lots of cases can't do that due to space constraints.

 

[BerendJ]

Yes, but my problem is that you need those long screws to mount the fans to the liquid cooler, but when you used those you have no more screws to mount the cooler itself.

 

[13thmonkey]

as above, you could have the fans pulling air through the rad, so case, rad, fans, with the fans pushing air into the case after pulling through the rad.

 

[CooLWoLF]

Yes, but my problem is that you need those long screws to mount the fans to the liquid cooler, but when you used those you have no more screws to mount the cooler itself.

That's not a problem at all. Lots of fans come with the long screws when you buy them. You could run out to Best Buy right now and pick up 2 Corsair fans, and the pack will come with the long screws.

 

[BerendJ]

as above, you could have the fans pulling air through the rad, so case, rad, fans, with the fans pushing air into the case after pulling through the rad.

I could do that, but how do I mount the back of the radiator to the case? It has the same tiny screw holes which screws I do not have

 

[13thmonkey]

surely if you can bolt the fans to the case and the rad to the case like to had done previously then you have enough to bolt the fans to the rad and the rad to the case.

 

[BerendJ]

surely if you can bolt the fans to the case and the rad to the case like to had done previously then you have enough to bolt the fans to the rad and the rad to the case.

It's hard to explain, but I used a ghetto method where the radiator was not pinned down in all holes etc. Would it matter if I use a radiator > fan > case setup?

 

[13thmonkey]

all you need to do is ensure that the air from the fans cannot go around the rad, it must be forced to go through the rad, no gaps. you could cable tie it to a desk leg if you've got that bit under control.