How much radiator space do I need?

[RemoEST]

Hey guys!

 

Im wondering how much radiator space I need when I plan on cooling CPU&GPU + some overclock. My case is Define S, so it can fit 420 up top and 360 up front.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Lurick]

I would suggest either dual 240 or 280mm rads or a single 420 at the least. There is actually an old topic that has the calculations for thickness of the rad + TDP and all that jazz to give you an idea of how much space you need to dissipate heat at a certain level but I can't find it right now

[W-L]

6 minutes ago, RemoEST said:

Hey guys!

Im wondering how much radiator space I need when I plan on cooling CPU&GPU + some overclock. My case is Define S, so it can fit 420 up top and 360 up front.

Thanks in advance.

For a single CPU and GPU loop a 360mm rad would be sufficient but if you wanted absolute dead silence while at full load having more like say a 360mm and 240mm would be give you a very capable system even if you did very heavy overclocking. 

[airdeano]

57 minutes ago, RemoEST said:

Hey guys!

 

Im wondering how much radiator space I need when I plan on cooling CPU&GPU + some overclock. My case is Define S, so it can fit 420 up top and 360 up front.

 

Thanks in advance.

welcome to the Linus Tech Tips forums!

 

you can use either a 360 or 420, but not in the FD Define S.

 

depending on amount of noise you can tolerate, anything from a 240x30 can cool it.

no voltage overclock can skate on a 280x60 or 360x45.

adding voltage to the overclock, 2x240x45 or 360x60 or 360x45 and 240x45.

[kuramakitsune]

i was only cooling a 2500k + gtx 970

just a single rad that has 360mm total was working for me

but then i got 3 units 

so i could keep my fans pretty much at 600 rpm 

with that much radiator on my pc.

i could actually game in the 50's

with NO fans on at all.

lol

i did not think i had any space inside my case,

so i said. TO HECK with that

and BOLTED some mounts i made out of sheet metal

Directly into the plastic back of the case.

and then for the top radiator, i used bendable steel to make "brackets"

 

 

 

TLDR 

anything that has 120mm x3 or more should do your job no problemo

but more radiators = cooler temps

cooler temps = quieter rig