Would an NZXT X52 Radiator utilising only one of its 120mm fans be adequate?

[pvmingfordays]

So I've run into a bit of a space issue in my Corsair 570X trying to run the X52 at the top of the case, not the front. Please proceed to roll your eyes on my behalf.

I have the i7 8700K, however won't be overclocking it at the moment, I am aware that this cooling solution would not be adequate for cooling it when overclocked.

However, as the title suggests, would running the X52 with only one 120mm fan attached to the radiator be adequate to cool the 8700K or is there something I don't know about liquid cooling? I essentially, for the mean time would like the X52 to act as a cooler that is just as good if not still better than a stock Intel cooler (hence the eye rolling)

Thanks for any input, unless it's to call me an idiot 😀

Olly

 

[The prime mediocre]

Yes, one fan should be fine while the CPU runs stock.

What's stopping the second fan from mounting? The 570X should have plenty of headroom.

 

[pvmingfordays]

@The prime mediocre Thanks for your answer, that's good to hear as I will only be running it stock and even then not doing many intensive tasks with it just yet.

I did the research and yes came to the conclusion that the case is good for it, however the motherboard I chose, ASUS Prime Z370-A has the top heatsink which is 1cm too tall and gets in the way. I am new to PC building so ignorantly didn't think much of a heatsink in that position changing much from board to board. The RAM doesn't get in the way, it's just that heatsink, is there any case modification I can do to make that little extra room?

If not, taking one of the fans out, keeping the one next to the cooling tubes in should be adequate?

 

[The prime mediocre]

I don't know about modifying that specific case, but there are other ways around the issue. You could replace one or both of the 25mm-thick stock fans with 15mm slim fans. Noctua, Scythe, et al. make slim fans suitable for radiators.

This is not meant to contradict what you're actually seeing, but this PCPartPicker search for your case (or color/windowed variations thereof) and motherboard yields a couple of builds with top-mounted 240mm radiators: http://

Neither one uses the x52, but maybe there's some weird detail or trick there.