I'm in the process of building a WC rig with this case. First, I love NZXT cases (I switched from a Phantom 410 to the Switch 810 because I needed more room for the Rad and WC components). I'll try and answer these questions as best I can from my own experience with the case...
Will the Switch 810 fit a XSPC RX 360 radiator in the top of the case whilst avoiding any obstructions including the Mobo?
Unlike the phantom cases, the Switch 810 doesn't have that stupid chip obscuring radiators on top (by chip i mean the chip from the fan controller on the Phantoms). So the triple 140mm rad could fit if you really wanted to. HOWEVER, be aware that some modding might be required. I found that the the holes for the screws (for 140mm fans on top (or bottom) weren't properly alligned with my 420MM rad!). But as far as the height given on the top section of the case, YES, that rads will fit nicely. In fact, there's so much space that I decided to go crazy and put 2 140mm fans in that section, then screw the radiator under the case mount and add 2 more fans under the rad to push air in the rad....the motherboard is low enough to fit the whole thing.
***my attempt at imaging this with characters***
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Case top w/ air trap slider
-=-=- -=-=- 2 x 140mm pulling air up
__________ case mount
========= swiftech 420 mm Radiator
-=-=- -=-=- 2 x 140mm pushing air up
I've also heard it is possible to fit a 480 rad in the top is this true?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ7jY1HhCek
Has anyone encountered any problems with things like cable management, case quality or any hampering qualities?
The case itself is pretty solid and i have not encountered any problems (aside from the holes in the mount not matching my radiator). I should say that I really miss the option of "fan control" given to the Phantom series. At the time, i figured I'd simply buy an NZXT Sentry Mix fan controller and add it to better control the airflow but NZXT's fan controller as all plagued with a stupid buzzing sound coming out of all my fans when hooked up to it (even their own NZXT fans!)...so i returned it and I'm now left with very few options to control my fans flow, everything's running on max, all fans are hooked up to the case's fan power plug). So ya, a proper case fan controller would have been nice (a the non buzzing NZXT fan controller option that is).
Maybe it's just me but as far as cable management goes, the side of the case (for me) isn't enough to properly store all that extra wiring from my power supply. But for most people, it's plenty. That said, don't even think about passing water cooling tubing, you won't have enough space, it's only meant for PSU wiring and SATA cables, nothing else). The switch 810 has a lot of rubber holes which is nicer than most case i've worked with.
I feel like i should mention that the top slider (to close or to open the air trap) is really stiff. I was expecting something a lot smoother, instead i'm left hoping i'm won't be breaking the handle everytime i close/open those air traps.
Is a second Radiator possible within the case without modding? if so, what size?
I don't know why you would want to add more rads but lets say you were just curious then there's 3 places you could technically put them (although I'd only recommend option 3).
1 - You can remove the 2 case bays. if you removed one, then you could add a 120 or 140 rad and if you removed both then a 360 or 420 rad. but I don't recommend it (where would you put those SSD/HDD drives? Maybe if you modded velcro-ing your drive to a wall in the case? Also, what I don't like is that you'd probably want to blow the air out in front of your case and be left with a single fan blowing air in your case (would be on the bottom center of your case)...i'd say some modding would be required to redirect the cold air to the front/back/up where the air then needs to get out.
2 - You could techically put it at the bottom of the case where a fan would be mounted on the "floor of the case", pushing air up into single 1-fan radiator that would sit on top of it. But then, you case would heat up pretty quickly and pushing hotter than usual air to the big top radiator. I think adding a radiator there would provide weaker the overall results you would get without it...
3 - for a second radiator, although not as pretty, I would personally put it outside your case and have the tubes going in/out at the back of your case (where you have 4 rubber holes for such uses). Again, if you want to compensate for better looks, i'd say modding would be required once again.
Instead of putting say a 480 rad and an additional rad....why not do this? (check video).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNZ8OgR3WFc&feature=plcp
Hope this helps.
Alex
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