AIO New Mounting Location?

[Lapjun]

So I know that there is top radiator mounting, which is the worst, front radiator mounting, which is better, but is this a viable option, putting the radiator behind the front case intake fans and putting the radiator fans behind it?

(Was looking at builds for Cooler Master H500P Mesh)

I am going to use this case and a NZXT Kraken Z73.

  

[Constantin]

14 minutes ago, Lapjun said:

So I know that there is top radiator mounting, which is the worst, front radiator mounting, which is better, but is this a viable option, putting the radiator behind the front case intake fans and putting the radiator fans behind it?

(Was looking at builds for Cooler Master H500P Mesh)

I am going to use this case and a NZXT Kraken Z73.

  

It's even better, Push/Pull configuration.

[Lapjun]

4 minutes ago, Constantin said:

It's even better, Push/Pull configuration.

But it seems that the radiator is standing on its own, a shake could knock it down...

I want to integrate this into my own case except with the NZXT Kraken Z73, is it possible?

[Constantin]

1 minute ago, Lapjun said:

But it seems that the radiator is standing on its own, a shake could knock it down...

You did not mount it with screws?

How does it stand there? 

[Lapjun]

6 minutes ago, Constantin said:

You did not mount it with screws?

How does it stand there? 

I said at the start I was looking at builds for the case I have (Cooler Master H500P Mesh).  I have not built my build yet, and it seems this idea is a good way to lower temps.  But how could that build in the picture keep the radiator up?

[Constantin]

1 minute ago, Lapjun said:

I said at the start I was looking at builds for the case I have (Cooler Master H500P Mesh).  I have not built my build yet, and it seems this idea is a good way to lower temps.

Ohh ok, yes it is...

[SpookyCitrus]

Both sides are screwed in, the AIO will come with two sets of screws. Short and long, you use the long screws to mount the fans to the rad and then you use the short screws to mount the rad to the chassis. If there are case fans screwed in the front then they used long screws on both sides, the longer screws have enough length to have the thin chassis mounting in between the rad and fans with enough length left to hold it securely in place. Only problem is most AIOs only come with one set of long screws and one set of short screws, so if you want to mount it with fans on both sides you would need to buy an extra set of long screws and washers.

[Lapjun]

7 minutes ago, SpookyCitrus said:

Both sides are screwed in, the AIO will come with two sets of screws. Short and long, you use the long screws to mount the fans to the rad and then you use the short screws to mount the rad to the chassis. If there are case fans screwed in the front then they used long screws on both sides, the longer screws have enough length to have the thin chassis mounting in between the rad and fans with enough length left to hold it securely in place. Only problem is most AIOs only come with one set of long screws and one set of short screws, so if you want to mount it with fans on both sides you would need to buy some an extra set of long screws and washers.

So what if I don't want to spend the time to find long screws?  Should I just replace the front case fans with the radiator fans and put the rgb case fans on the top?  Or should I put the radiator and fans on the top? 

(Top has no mesh, front does)

[SpookyCitrus]

14 minutes ago, Lapjun said:

So what if I don't want to spend the time to find long screws?  Should I just replace the front case fans with the radiator fans and put the rgb case fans on the top?  Or should I put the radiator and fans on the top? 

(Top has no mesh, front does)

It's not hard at all to find the screws, just google search "aio mounting screws". You're completely overthinking it. If you want to mount the rad in front you mount the rad behind the intake fans (You can still use the RGB case fans with the radiator, you don't have to use the ones that come with it) with fans pushing through the rad into the case. If you want to top mount you mount the rad against the chassis and the fans to the rad pushing out.

[Lapjun]

12 hours ago, SpookyCitrus said:

It's not hard at all to find the screws, just google search "aio mounting screws". You're completely overthinking it. If you want to mount the rad in front you mount the rad behind the intake fans (You can still use the RGB case fans with the radiator, you don't have to use the ones that come with it) with fans pushing through the rad into the case. If you want to top mount you mount the rad against the chassis and the fans to the rad pushing out.

Okay, so just long screws on both sides, right?  But how do I tell if the screws are compatible with the radiator?  Also, does it really make a big difference if I just mount the radiator on the top?

 

[SpookyCitrus]

On 2/2/2020 at 12:00 AM, Lapjun said:

Okay, so just long screws on both sides, right?  But how do I tell if the screws are compatible with the radiator?  Also, does it really make a big difference if I just mount the radiator on the top?

 

No it does not make a difference if you mount it on top. NZXT, Corsair, and ASUS all use Asatek radiators so all the screws should be the same. Like I said google search "AIO mounting screws" and you will see a few results and just make sure they are compatible with the AIO you have. I found this as well. https://www.mnpctech.com/products/nzxt-kraken-cpu-cooler-fan-mounting-kit-screws?variant=31482418462786

[Lapjun]

11 hours ago, SpookyCitrus said:

No it does not make a difference if you mount it on top. NZXT, Corsair, and ASUS all use Asatek radiators so all the screws should be the same. Like I said google search "AIO mounting screws" and you will see a few results and just make sure they are compatible with the AIO you have. I found this as well. https://www.mnpctech.com/products/nzxt-kraken-cpu-cooler-fan-mounting-kit-screws?variant=31482418462786

Thanks.  I will probably mount it on the front now.

Just some more things:

 

How is radiator width determined?  My case description says max radiator width is 55mm, but I've seen builds with push pull on top.

 

If I mount it on the top, but it is not mesh, is it worse than front?

(Front is mesh) 

 

For mounting on the top, if I buy three extra fans to mount on the radiator, (Three on the top pulling, included three on the bottom pushing) is it using the same all long screws as if I did push pull on the front?  Is it worth it to pay for extra top fans?

 

To mount a radiator with just fans on one side, does it need short screws for rad to fans, and long screws for rad to case if going through fans?

 

Should I really spend extra money and wait for screws (I live in Canada) just for push pull?

 

Since I am overclocking an 9900k, does push pull really make a difference in temps so much that it will affect stability and voltage potential?

(There are tests that push is better than pull on 1000 rpm by 2 degrees and push/pull is better than push by 4 degrees.)

Pull - 61C

Push - 59C

Push/Pull - 55 C

 

Btw, why do some people when mounting their radiator on the top, have the tube extend across the case, while others just have it on the left side and up?

 

(Not a question) Also if I do front push pull I will have to pull the bottom part out which exposes hard drive slots and kind of looks bad...

(The same pic)

This is the same case as mine and this will be my configuration for push pull front.  RGB fans in front are included with case.

 

[SpookyCitrus]

21 hours ago, Lapjun said:

-snip-

I have never done a push pull top mounted config in that case before so I can't tell you exactly how it will fit (but it should). I have a 9900k and haven't had a problem with my 240mm AIO top mounted with just a push fan setup pushing through the rad and out of the case. Push pull will give you the best temps but they aren't massive improvements over just singular push (which is my go to for most builds). A few degrees here and there isn't a big deal at all, you'll still be quite a ways below max temp. Just do what ever is easiest and what you like the looks of best. Like I mentioned before, the long screws are for Fan to rad, the short screws are for case to rad. I think you're really overthinking this, if you buy the AIO it will have everything in the box ready to go, three fans, the mounting screws, etc. In the H500p mesh the two fans for the front are way bigger than your rad and there is separate mounting for rads, if you mount in the front you won't need extra screws or anything, the preinstalled fans will be your push and you would set the ones that came with it as the pull. If you were to top mount you would mount the rad to the chassis and the fans to the rad pushing or pulling out of the case and if you wanted push pull on top then you would have to buy the extra screws and fans. If you have never installed or used an AIO before you should try to find a video of someone installing it in your case or at least showing how to install them in general so you know the just of how to do it before attempting, and if it is too difficult for you find a shop or someone you know that can do it.

[Lapjun]

2 hours ago, SpookyCitrus said:

I have never done a push pull top mounted config in that case before so I can't tell you exactly how it will fit (but it should). I have a 9900k and haven't had a problem with my 240mm AIO top mounted with just a push fan setup pushing through the rad and out of the case. Push pull will give you the best temps but they aren't massive improvements over just singular push (which is my go to for most builds). A few degrees here and there isn't a big deal at all, you'll still be quite a ways below max temp. Just do what ever is easiest and what you like the looks of best. Like I mentioned before, the long screws are for Fan to rad, the short screws are for case to rad. I think you're really overthinking this, if you buy the AIO it will have everything in the box ready to go, three fans, the mounting screws, etc. In the H500p mesh the two fans for the front are way bigger than your rad and there is separate mounting for rads, if you mount in the front you won't need extra screws or anything, the preinstalled fans will be your push and you would set the ones that came with it as the pull. If you were to top mount you would mount the rad to the chassis and the fans to the rad pushing or pulling out of the case and if you wanted push pull on top then you would have to buy the extra screws and fans. If you have never installed or used an AIO before you should try to find a video of someone installing it in your case or at least showing how to install them in general so you know the just of how to do it before attempting, and if it is too difficult for you find a shop or someone you know that can do it.

I think I am just not going to do push pull because on the top it might not fit and I will have to return the fans, and if I do it on the front, the bottom will have to be taken out, exposing the hard drive bays.  

I just want to know how is radiator width determined because on the cooler master website it says that my case only has 55mm rad width clearance for the top, even though most rads are 120mm wide and I've seen some builds with my case and the kraken x72 which has the exact same dimensions as the z73.

 

[SpookyCitrus]

23 minutes ago, Lapjun said:

I think I am just not going to do push pull because on the top it might not fit and I will have to return the fans, and if I do it on the front, the bottom will have to be taken out, exposing the hard drive bays.  

I just want to know how is radiator width determined because on the cooler master website it says that my case only has 55mm rad width clearance for the top, even though most rads are 120mm wide and I've seen some builds with my case and the kraken x72 which has the exact same dimensions as the z73.

 

The 55mm clearance is for the thickness of the rad most likely, pretty much every AIO is the same width wise. It's the thickness of them that varies, some rads have thicker versions for better cooling, if you get something too thick it can cover the motherboard or interfere with ram placement once you get the fans on.

[Lapjun]

1 minute ago, SpookyCitrus said:

The 55mm clearance is for the thickness of the rad most likely, pretty much every AIO is the same width wise. It's the thickness of them that varies, some rads have thicker versions for better cooling, if you get something too thick it can cover the motherboard or interfere with ram placement once you get the fans on.

Okay then...  I think that's everything I needed to ask.  
Thank you so much for helping me with these AIO questions.  I hope you have a great day!