Questions about: installing liquid cpu cooler and improving cooling in my case

[majin buu]

Hello;

I'm upgrading parts on my pc(long overdue:lol

I have found the coolmaster Nepton 140XL to be the best priced high end liquid cooler and it its highly praised on sites. Also it holds its own against the bigger coolers (corsair h100i) on benchmarks
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/nepton/nepton-140xl/

My case is a corsair carbide 300r
http://www.ebuyer.com/351501-corsair-carbide-300r-case-cc-9011014-ww

I was wondering

• 
  Where should I mount the fan/radiator? at the rear/back of case? this seems to be the most common place to put it, based on google search etc...........maybe the best place?
  If yes, how do I put a 140mm fan, when theres only space for 120mm fan at the back of my case? (only at the back its 120mm)
  On the coolmaster website it says
  "The radiator of Nepton has additional mounting holes for 120mm fans, which provides better compatibility for cases without 140mm mounting holes." How is that possible?

I plan on installing a few corsair sp120/140 high performance edition aswell! (or should I get quiet edition? or mix and match? if thats possible?) http://www.corsair.com/en-gb/air-series-sp120-pwm-high-performance-edition-high-static-pressure-fan

This is the fan set up I had in mind:
1. 2x SP140 at the front of my case, intake

2. 1x SP140 at the top of my case, for exhaust, aswell as the nepton xl140 at the back

3. I'm not sure about the side, should I put a 120mm for the graphics card? not sure if I'll need it, with the other upgrades.......

Thanks in advanced!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

At 2000 rpm, it's going to be a bit loud..... so keep that in mind when adding extra fans.....anything over 850 rpm will be audible.

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-300r-compact-pc-gaming-case

Radiator Mount Locations = Top: 240/280mm / Rear: 120mm

Compatible Corsair Liquid Coolers = H55, H60, H75, H80i

Fan Mount Locations"
Front: (x2) 120/140mm
Top: (x2) 120/140mm
Rear: (x1) 120mm
Side: (x2) 120/140mm

Note that all listed compatible coolers are 120mm

 

[endeavour37a]

A 120 or 140 AIO is not going to give you good CPU cooling, you really have to step up to a 240mm set up to feel the benefit of water cooling. They are an alternative to air cooling, on par with most but cannot beat BIG air. It's a simple matter of liquid volume, radiator frontal area and fan speed (pressure). Please don't take this comment as negative or anything but just thought I would let you know what to expect with a 140mm AIO.

This is the best 140mm AIO on the market if you want to take a look....
http://www.swiftech.com/H140-X.aspx

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The best air coolers beat the best 240/280 CLCs while being as much as 1/12th as loud.

Most 120/140s wind up somewhere in between a Hyper 212 and a Phanteks but many (i.e. H55 can't do as well as the Hyper 212.

 

[endeavour37a]

I would say that were true for 90% of the AIO on the market today, but the Swiftech H220x can beat any BIG air sold today cooling a loaded OCed i5 or i7. If you find a review that says otherwise then I will stand corrected...

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Swiftech/H220-X/6.html
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/cooling/liquid/40870-swiftech-h220-x-open-loop-240mm-cpu-cooler-review?showall=&start=2
http://www.overclockers.com/swiftech-h220x-cpu-liquid-cooling-kit-review/
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?289340-Swiftech-H220-X-Review-Part-1-of-2

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I was speaking strictly about CLCs and it's true for 100% of 240/280 mm CLCs. However, the Swiftechs are not CLCs, they are OLCs. Tho we have a Swiftech H240-X build in a Entrhoo Luxe, and I recommend it here on THG aboiut 10 times a day ..... I had two reasons for not suggesting the Swiftech in this case.

1. As his case does not support **any** 240/280mm Corsair CLC's, I strongly doubt it will fit the larger Swiftechs

2. The Nepton 140XL is a $70 cooler.... tho Swiftech has the H140-X, it's $130, which a) is almost double what he's targeting and b) is also not supported by his case.

 

[endeavour37a]

Got ya, did not really consider CLC and OLC, to me they are just AIO. And I agree with what your saying about price difference as it's large indeed, thanks for clearing things up a bit....

 

[majin buu]

The coolmaster nepton 140xl is ranked pretty high and its good value for money aswell imo
http://www.frostytech.com/top5_liquid_heatsinks.cfm

Just realized there is a coolmaster nepton 120xl it cost £10 more than the nepton 140xl?! Strange might be better of getting the 120xl

or

Should I buy a factory refurbished corsair h80i (about £50) is it okay to buy refurbished pc components? its basically brand new?

The reason I say the h80i is because the refurbished product is alot less than the coolmaster nepton and although my case was good for a beginner like me (when built my first ever pc). I have realized that eventually I will probably need to buy a bigger/better case, so I think it will be wiser of me to consider the h80i?