Watercooling case

Benji_w · December 19, 2015

Hello all,

Just a quick question, I want a different case for my i5 rig over the course of the next year, but I honestly don't know what to get. Right now I have my eye on the Fractal Design Define S but the thing putting me off is the space available for the top mounted radiator, Ideally I want to fit a top rad that's 420mm or more in length but the define S only allows 30mm rad thickness and I'd like to fit one thicker than that.

I could fit the fans on the outside of the case but in all honesty that would look pretty rubbish lol. I keep thinking of getting a Phanteks case but I can't bring myself to buy a case for function when I really don't like the actual case itself. They're not really my cup of tea.

What alternatives are out there? I don't mind modding if I absolutely need to but would prefer an out of the box solution if at all possible.

Thanks in advance!

W-L · December 19, 2015

Hello all,

Just a quick question, I want a different case for my i5 rig over the course of the next year, but I honestly don't know what to get. Right now I have my eye on the Fractal Design Define S but the thing putting me off is the space available for the top mounted radiator, Ideally I want to fit a top rad that's 420mm or more in length but the define S only allows 30mm rad thickness and I'd like to fit one thicker than that.

I could fit the fans on the outside of the case but in all honesty that would look pretty rubbish lol. I keep thinking of getting a Phanteks case but I can't bring myself to buy a case for function when I really don't like the actual case itself. They're not really my cup of tea.

What alternatives are out there? I don't mind modding if I absolutely need to but would prefer an out of the box solution if at all possible.

Thanks in advance!

Theoretically you can go thicker than 30mm rads with 35mm fans as long as you have short motherboard heatsinks, the spacing is offset to give the best clearance but is always a bit of a trial and error. As for others the 750D can house a 420mm rad in the top but is a fairly tight fit.

Define S:

Benji_w · December 20, 2015

Theoretically you can go thicker than 30mm rads with 35mm fans as long as you have short motherboard heatsinks, the spacing is offset to give the best clearance but is always a bit of a trial and error. As for others the 750D can house a 420mm rad in the top but is a fairly tight fit.

Define S:

In all honesty I'd be running an SOC Force with waterblocks on the VRM and SB so if that allows me to go thicker on the rad then I'll just get the define S.

W-L · December 20, 2015

In all honesty I'd be running an SOC Force with waterblocks on the VRM and SB so if that allows me to go thicker on the rad then I'll just get the define S.

I would probably do some measuring first if you can ask someone with a define S or if it's on display in a store, just don't forget to account for the height of the RAM slots.