[SOLVED] Radiator Setup

[balake]

I purchased a Corsair Liquid Cooling AIO 240MM. However, there isn't enough clearance at the top of my case so I have to put it in the front. I have a mesh front and I want the RGB fans to be visible from the outside but there is only one panel to screw in the fans AND the radiator. Therefore, I can only attach the fans onto the back of the radiator and not the front, making them not visible from the front of my case. I see other people do it in there build and I am curious about how they are doing so.

 

[jojesa]

I purchased a Corsair Liquid Cooling AIO 240MM. However, there isn't enough clearance at the top of my case so I have to put it in the front. I have a mesh front and I want the RGB fans to be visible from the outside but there is only one panel to screw in the fans AND the radiator. Therefore, I can only attach the fans onto the back of the radiator and not the front, making them not visible from the front of my case. I see other people do it in there build and I am curious about how they are doing so.

Some might install the fans on the front because that configuration is supported by the case.
Have you seen it install on the front on the case that you have?
Which case do you have?

 

[balake]

No I haven't. But I am less concerned about my case because I am looking for a new one anyway. I was looking at the NZXT H510 Elite and I see several pictures of a 250 MM Rad in the front. I like the case because it is compact and simple while also showing off the components. But I am still wondering how they make that work. Is there a bracket or something?

 

[jojesa]

The NZXT H510 Elite has mounting space to install the fans in front of the 240mm radiator.

 

[balake]

The NZXT H510 Elite has mounting space to install the fans in front of the 240mm radiator.

But how do you do it? Because it seems there is only one panel. The corsair liquid AIO screws are not long enough to go through the fans, the panel, and into the radiator. So do I need to order longer screws or is there a bracket of sorts?

 

[jojesa]

But how do you do it? Because it seems there is only one panel. The corsair liquid AIO screws are not long enough to go through the fans, the panel, and into the radiator. So do I need to order longer screws or is there a bracket of sorts?

There is no need to get longer screws.
The case has mounting brackets that support up to 280mm AIO.

 

[balake]

There is no need to get longer screws.
The case has mounting brackets that support up to 280mm AIO.

Right. So if I mount the radiator, that takes up 4 of the 8 screw holes on the mounting bracket. Now, what If I wanted to put fans on the OUTSIDE of the radiator, so they were visible from the tempered glass, where would I screw in the fans? Layout is as follows [Radiator-Mounting Bracket-Fans]. Sorry if I am being vague, this is hard to describe :/

 

[Gmoney06ss]

It's not hard to describe, you are overthinking it and making it hard on yourself.

So you want to mount them in front of the radiator? Like...rad-fan-front panel? Or fan-rad-front panel? The mounting bracket is(I'm assuming thin, 2-3mm max) not going to make the screws too short.

Can you post pics? While it shouldn't be hard to explain, sometimes pics can help immensely.

Usually itll be fans/panel/rads. With the screws going thru the fans, passing thru the panel and attaching to the radiator. Or shorter screws attaching the radiator to the panel and the other side of the radiator using longer screws for the fans.

 

[jojesa]

Right. So if I mount the radiator, that takes up 4 of the 8 screw holes on the mounting bracket. Now, what If I wanted to put fans on the OUTSIDE of the radiator, so they were visible from the tempered glass, where would I screw in the fans? Layout is as follows [Radiator-Mounting Bracket-Fans]. Sorry if I am being vague, this is hard to describe :/

I have use both Corsair 240mm and Corsair 280mm radiators on that case with the fans on the front.
If you cannot visualize it. Maybe this drawing will help.

 

[balake]

I have use both Corsair 240mm and Corsair 280mm radiators on that case with the fans on the front.
If you cannot visualize it. Maybe this drawing will help.

YES! This is exactly what I was trying to explain in words! Currently, I have the Cougar MS330. The Case Mounting Frame in my current case makes the screws too short and difficult to install. However, from what y'all are telling me, for most other cases, this isn't an issue. From what you have explained, in most cases, you can do what is being demonstrated in the graphic above?

 

[jojesa]

YES! This is exactly what I was trying to explain in words! Currently, I have the Cougar MS330. The Case Mounting Frame in my current case makes the screws too short and difficult to install. However, from what y'all are telling me, for most other cases, this isn't an issue. From what you have explained, in most cases, you can do what is being demonstrated in the graphic above?

I never heard of the Cougar MS330 case but the similar named Cougar MX330 does support a 240MM AIO with front mounted fans.

 

[balake]

I never heard of the Cougar MS330 case but the similar named Cougar MX330 does support a 240MM AIO with front mounted fans.

yes that is the case I meant. Thank you, I was worried that this was the issue with all cases.

 

[Karadjgne]

The screws in question are 1¼" 6/32 and while those may seem to be too short, they are not. They are designed to only have a few threads actually penetrate the screw holes on the radiator. This is to prevent the screw tips from penetrating the fin array and possible damage to the underlying tubing. Which could cause a leak.

There's multiple ways to combine case, rad and fans. In some cases there isn't much clearance between intake filter and bracket, so the screws are put into the bracket, through the fans, into the rad. Some cases do have clearance, so the screws are put through the fans, through the bracket and into the rad. That's a push configuration for front intake.

 

[jojesa]

yes that is the case I meant. Thank you, I was worried that this was the issue with all cases.

You just need to read the specs of the case, to make sure it supports your configuration.
PC cases do have different features and are not alike.