Suggestion for a case that fits 420mm/60mm radiator top mount?

[m4inbrain]

Hey.

 

Recently a few of my questions here got answered (cheers @For Science!), so i thought i might as well try again. Setup will be: my old and trusted i7 6700k together with its best friend, the Noctua DH15 (i plan to keep it, the performance is adequate for my needs) - and a 2080 pre-waterblocked (haven't decided yet, either a 2080 xtreme waterforce, hydro copper ftw3, sea hawk ek x etc - waiting for reviews to decide). 

 

Now, i'll admit freely, i'm not understanding the math behind radiators (delta T, etc) - i tried, but being on my own, i just am too uncomfortable sticking to my "results". So, i decided that i need a 420mm radiator for that GPU. Since there's no "too much radiator", i figured that this would be on the safe side and gives room for loop extensions later down the line, in case i do decide to add the CPU to the loop too (plus another 240/280mm radiator, whatever fits). I did "some" research (it's kinda hard to find decent results in regards to radiators if you don't understand "restriction", "flow rate" and "delta T"), but i assume that a HW Black Ice SR2 420/60mm does the trick - i figured that "low FPI" is something i'd want, since i do like my system to be somewhat quiet (DH15 levels of noise, basically). The goal is to have the GPU run at around 40-45 degrees stock (ie factory oc), i'm looking into watercooling more for peace of mind rather than ultimate performance - my i7 6700k isn't delidded, it runs stock, it does everything i need it to and the same will go for the GPU - except that i don't like seeing high temps at around 70 degrees. 

 

Sadly, my current Enthoo Pro doesn't fit these from what i can tell (65mm to motherboard according to website). Here's the actual question: what tower does, and more importantly, what tower does and still has decent airflow for the Noctua to do its job? 

 

Or, to be more exact: i need a tower that has good airflow even with a 420mm radiator mounted (needs to have at least fit 85mm thickness in radiator/fan), preferably windowed, not too humongous and at around £200 (i think around 250usd). 

 

Is there anything for me out there, or should i go a different route - and if so, which?

 

Cheers.

 

edit: or, here's a thought - the Nemesis 420 GTS is super thin and would fit in my current case (that would be the most preferable solution, really). Would it be enough to cool a 2080 at low-ish RPM? And as a sidequestion, for future possible reference, what is the best 38-40mm 420mm radiator out there? 

[Firewrath9]

A 420mm rad is overkill. If you look at evga hybrids with a 120mm rad, they get 50c while running furmark etc. a 240 will prob drop that to 45c.

[SmashinMachine]

15 minutes ago, Firewrath9 said:

A 420mm rad is overkill. If you look at evga hybrids with a 120mm rad, they get 50c while running furmark etc. a 240 will prob drop that to 45c.

Agree with that.

I had a Mastercase 5 with Nemesis Black ICE SR2 420mm Rad +  Nemesis GTS 280, I reached 45 degrees

I have now 360 and 240 mm Rads and reach the same RESULTs.

[m4inbrain]

Okay. 

 

Here are the questions again, it seems they weren't obvious.

 

What's the best 420mm radiator <40mm thick out there.

What case fits a BI SR2 420mm comfortably without sacrificing airflow.

 

Here is an example of something i didn't ask but got answered twice already:

 

Is that too much radiator and should i get something smaller.

 

I understand. It's too much. Now that that's out of the way, could we please stick to the questions that i asked, rather than going off the tracks?

I'm sorry if that comes off as rude, but it's pretty obnoxious if i ask a question and from all sides i get told as to why my decision is "wrong". Which it obviously isn't, since even in the worst case, the only inherent problem with a 420mm radiator over a 240mm radiator is the size. It's the only radiator in the loop, with only one water block too, so not even restriction comes into play. There's a good example in the Watercooling 101 thread in this very forum. In that case, it's a XSPC RX360V2 without shroud at 1.5gpm with three fans. The maximum heat it can dissipate is around 555 watts. At 2800 rpm. I want my fans to run at roughly a quarter of that speed. The same radiator at 1000 rpm at 300w has a delta over ambient of 8 degrees. The founders edition 2080 pushes 280w stressed, a factory OC one probably more. See where i'm going? 

[Neo-revo]

1 hour ago, m4inbrain said:

dit: or, here's a thought - the Nemesis 420 GTS is super thin and would fit in my current case (that would be the most preferable solution, really). Would it be enough to cool a 2080 at low-ish RPM? And as a sidequestion, for future possible reference, what is the best 38-40mm 420mm radiator out there? 

 

 

thats a decent radiator, But the HW line's the thinner they go the higher the resistance to the water (esp if you get a thin dual-core model)

 keep in mind a 60mm rad will be 85mm with one fan on it. 

 

i have run GTS/GTR/GTX   they all do the same and if you can follow the in/out recommendations dependent on the way you set your fans up to blow the air. The dual core work well at cooling.

 

The idea of resistance of water in the loop is more relevant to the cpu blocks  but with a ddc/d5 at max or near max power should have no issue at all dealing with a lot of build setups.

 

also deltaC specs are only really relevant if you can also take into consideration that ambient temp plays a huge role in cooling in the first place.   Humidity too, i notice when its gets extra humid around here (temperate rain forest) even has an effect on RealLife performance.

 

If its fans that bother you, you could swap fans out?  -  been running Noctua's on my 420/480 a few months now, and they do well..  i dont have worthy reading to compare them to, since  after the RMA i did a lot of things, but  i cant really complain when i get idle around 25 and 40-45C under load.  esp  considering the heatpigs i run.

[m4inbrain]

I've read that they're comparably restrictive, but i was assuming that since i'm only running that single radiator plus an EK waterblock (i think most of these pre-waterblocked cards use EK blocks) on a D5, that wouldn't be an issue.

 

Ambient temp does to some degree play a role (it's around 35ish degrees where the case stands in the summer). Of course depends on the day, but i do want to account for that. No idea about the humidity, but since i live close to the sea, i'd assume that it's generally high-ish. No actual clue though.

 

I intend to run Noctuas too (big "fan" of them, cough), but the lower i can keep the RPM the better. Your temps in general though is basically where i want my GPU at - 40-45C, but quiet. Hence a 420mm, plus the fact that it leaves headroom - once the next CPU arrives, probably a Zen 2, i don't need to buy another huge radiator or an entirely new LC setup to go with it. 

 

I'd prefer a 420x60mm rad to be perfectly honest, but that's factually not going to fit in my case, that's the problem. And most "new" cases i've seen have a glass paneled front, which doesn't help with the still aircooled CPU either. 

 

Harumph. 

[Neo-revo]

BTW need to @Neo-revo or quote to notify most users that you have replied to them (fyi)

5 minutes ago, m4inbrain said:

Harumph. 

well in the summer here  i need to run ac if i want to game,   just a fact.    gets maybe 20-30 at worst for the most part but i literally live a walk to the beach, And on the top floor.

and a bunch of other reasons since its an apartment. So i got a rolling ACunit a couple years back, and totally worth it in the shitty hot spring/summer times

 

you seen Jayz-2C's build skunk-works,   with a low rad that was on its side too?

[Neo-revo]

Would. Be excessive but the cooler Master had line has a line that was expandable I use a HAF stacker 915F to House my rads although it wasn't a native.  I put them in with pipe wrap

[m4inbrain]

26 minutes ago, Neo-revo said:

BTW need to @Neo-revo or quote to notify most users that you have replied to them (fyi)

well in the summer here  i need to run ac if i want to game,   just a fact.    gets maybe 20-30 at worst for the most part but i literally live a walk to the beach, And on the top floor.

 and a bunch of other reasons since its an apartment. So i got a rolling ACunit a couple years back, and totally worth it in the shitty hot spring/summer times

 

you seen Jayz-2C's build skunk-works,   with a low rad that was on its side too?

 

I watched probably close to a hundred videos on the topic by now, this one might be in it - i can't recall. It would probably be smart to invest in an AC, though i'd argue that i could buy an entirely new high end system for the money i'd need to spend on it. Especially considering that it's only a quarter of a year with those kinds of temperatures, and even then it's hardly every day. It's also not an apartment, but an entire house. Electricity alone, don't even wanna think about it.

 

That case seems a bit overkill for what i wanna do, i might just stick with that 420 GTS and call it a day. At 30ish mm, plus 25 for the fans, it leaves enough room to the motherboard (10mm). And it'll do the job i'm asking it for. Later down the line i might get another thick 360 if i decide to include the next CPU in the loop (purely dependant on the stock temps it'll be running at, can't tell yet obviously). 

 

Cheers.

 

[Neo-revo]

1 minute ago, m4inbrain said:

Cheers.

i can fit both those rad in side the Enthoo-Primo-ultimate if i remove the HDD cages... i mounted them like that to keep hdd's inside the case.

 

420 mounted in the top(like you want)  and 480 on the base...    BTW idk if you use a 60 mm rad up top. i deff fit a 45 mm rad though with the fans hidden mounted up top under the filter

[m4inbrain]

I got the Enthoo Pro, not Primo - i have a total of 65mm to play with (including fans) according to Phanteks. There's no space for fans basically under the filter but on top of the chassis, if that makes sense. Looking at the Primo, i can see what you mean - but on my case, that doesn't work. 

 

Mind, i kinda like the Primo SE in white, so eventually that could be my next case. Just wish they'd do a full tempered glass sidepanel (and no, i'm not gonna look at the $1000 Elite hehe). 

[Neo-revo]

5 minutes ago, m4inbrain said:

Mind, i kinda like the Primo SE in white, so eventually that could be my next case. Just wish they'd do a full tempered glass sidepanel (and no, i'm not gonna look at the $1000 Elite hehe). 

yea they make great case's  i really like Phantek's case's  my next build is polar opposite, fully custom loop in a Shift

[m4inbrain]

2 minutes ago, Neo-revo said:

 yea they make great case's  i really like Phantek's case's  my next build is polar opposite, fully custom loop in a Shift

I like my Pro too, that's why i'd prefer to keep it, and run a slim-ish 420mm radiator for the time being. I'll have another look around for suggested 40mm 420mm radiators, but for now i think i'm sorted. 

[Neo-revo]

usually its 27-30mm or 45...  not many inbetween then 60mm, and thicker,  although beyond 45mm diminishing returns happen (more cost for more or less equal perfomance, depending on a lot of things)

[m4inbrain]

Yeah i just figured after checking "local" shop, guess 30mm it is for now. That's okay. 

 

Gonna squirm through reviews now, trying to figure out if the Nemesis 420 GTS is the best option, or if Alphacool, Bitspower and god knows who else does something decent too.

[Neo-revo]

3 minutes ago, m4inbrain said:

something decent too.

Darkside makes good products,  no exp with the rads, but good exp with their hardline fittings and UV strips.

https://www.dazmode.com/store/shop/watercooling/triple-mp360-medium-prifile-radiator/

[Neo-revo]

derppp.. idk why that came up in my 420 search,   ill find a link to the 420mm version

 

[Neo-revo]

so they make one, but i cant seem to find it in stock any where, but they also make extra slim (30mm)  

[Kalm_Traveler]

I'm using only a 420mm Alphacool crossflow in the top of my 9900k rig, Fractal Design Define R6. 

 

In graphics benchmarks the Titan V never passes 54c. The fans and pump never ramp up, at all. I have them all set based on water temp. 

 

Only downside is that with the crossflow rad i can't install any rear fan but idc, just means i have 4 intake and the 3 on the rad actively exhausting. 

[m4inbrain]

@Kalm_Traveler1

 

I've seen crossflow designs from Alphacool (from Hardware Labs too) - i do understand that they're less restrictive, how do they stack up in cooling capacity? 

 

Are you cooling the Titan + the i9, or purely GPU? I do need a rear fan since my CPU is still aircooled, so proper airflow in the case is still a necessity. Good to hear that the Define R6 fits 420s, can you recall as to how thick you can go (as in, how thick a radiator you can fit + 25mm for fans?) - i actually like that case, and it's quite cheap/good value. 

[Kalm_Traveler]

Cooling both with it, but the 9900k gets hot because it's a 9900k - water temps don't rise much - this chip is difficult to pull heat from. 

 

I don't think I would need a rear fan even if the cpu had an air cooler because air pressure is going to push air out the back anyway; i have 2 Noctua iPPC NF-A14 2000rpm fans on the floor and and 2 on the front all as intake, in addition to the 3 on the radiator in push configuration. 

 

Thickness this thing is 30mm and barely fits. I swapped from an X Formula board to the XI Code because i wanted a 420mm up there but it interferes with the top VRM block port on the Formula models so on that older one i had to use a 360mm on top and added a normal 140mm on the back. 

 

Also, to fit the current 420mm in, i had to remove the plastic cover from this Maximus XI Code because the rear-most fan was hitting it on the part shielding the rear IO. 

[m4inbrain]

Cheers man, that's a bit disappointing. I guess i can't really have it all, i foresee me buying a thick low FPI 360, sticking it to a PC-011 Dynamic and call it a day.