Corsair Carbide 540 watercooled build

alex_123_fra

alex_123_fra

alex_123_fra

Associate
Joined
31 Mar 2012
Posts
1,737
Hi all, just thought I'd put this up in the event anyone else is thinking of using this case.

I was on an Obsidian 650D but that would only fit a 240 rad at the top and a 200 at the front. I didn't want to go to ridiculously size cases like the 900D as I have no need for it so thought I'd try this as I was adding a second 780 and I wanted better cooling. I was particularly drawn to the posterior larger compartment which I wanted to house the pump and res and also for better cable management.

I have attached some initial phone pics below so apologies for the poor quality. The system has 2x XSPC Rads (AX240 top and AX360 front), 8 x SP 120s (HP version). Near silent at 1200 rpm using fan controllers. On testing the loop initially one of my XSPC angled fittings was leaking so I had to bleed and reconfigure the loop. I then added a bottom drain port.

The pump is an XSPC D5 with an EK top and 140 res by OCUK. It sits on top of the PSU at the back. The GPUs are in serial with my own connectors and hose rather than an EK bridge (this proved a nightmare to find for the spacing of my motherboard's 1 and 3 PCI-E slots (non standard size of 3+'')).

My new D5 seems a lot stronger than the one that came with my XSPC dual bay res/pump combo. Seem to be getting the same performance at setting 3/5 that I was getting in the old loop at 5/5. GPU temps at 28C idle and 35C at load. Will do some OCing of those and the CPU and post up some results at a later stage.

Overall I would say:

Pros:
  • Well made case
  • VERY good airflow in the anterior compartment
  • Room for a 360 rad at the front and 240 at the top (although I had to modify some of the screw holes)
  • Could fit another 240 at the bottom if you saw away the basal drive compartments
  • Cheap!

Cons:
  • If you want push/pull with the front and top rads, you will have to do away with the respective mesh grills (I did that for my 240 rad). This is unless your rads are ultra thin.
  • No holes for external rads
  • Dual bay pump/res combos are risky unless you are prepared to keep the case on its side
  • Only 2 front drive bays which is an issue if you have lots of internal optical drives
  • Very wide case










 
Last edited:
WOW, this my friend is amazing.

I was looking at several other great carbide 540 build none which had 360+240 but here is one. Will be doing something like this now.

Question about the dual 3.5" hot swap bays, are they still accessible?

What is your loop order?
 
Hi Mass, thanks. The left bay is accessible but the right isn't as I had to bend the holder to accomodate the 360 rad and connectors.

The loop order is pump > CPU > 240 rad > GPUs > 360 rad > pump.

Temps are excellent - 39C max on GPUs at load with 1200MHz core and CPU max 50 C at load at 4.5 Ghz.
 
Really good temps, i'm hitting over 80C on my 7970s and 75C on CPU. Which is why I'm going water.

What is the thickness of the two rads? I was going over another, same rad setup as you, 540 carbide build log and it seems you cant have fans on the 360 rads internally (as the 240 intrudes) but only externally. I believe the rad in that build is just over 35mm. And the 240 rad looks like 55/60mm.
 
masscrazy said:
Really good temps, i'm hitting over 80C on my 7970s and 75C on CPU. Which is why I'm going water.

What is the thickness of the two rads? I was going over another, same rad setup as you, 540 carbide build log and it seems you cant have fans on the 360 rads internally (as the 240 intrudes) but only externally. I believe the rad in that build is just over 35mm. And the 240 rad looks like 55/60mm.
Click to expand...

My rads are XSPC AX versions so 40mm thickness (46 at ports) hence thinner but perform brilliantly. My 240 has push/pull fans. My 360 has pull fans internally. You can also fit 3x 120mm fans externally but you'd have to lose the case cover/dust filter.
 
alex_123_fra said:
My rads are XSPC AX versions so 40mm thickness (46 at ports) hence thinner but perform brilliantly. My 240 has push/pull fans. My 360 has pull fans internally. You can also fit 3x 120mm fans externally but you'd have to lose the case cover/dust filter.
Click to expand...

Thats what i wanted to avoid, losting the dust covers. But as with the links in previous post, the other person is using the fans externally due to intrusion of the 240rad but yours seems to be fine.

Hmm i'll wait for a response from the other thread, see what exactly was not working for him.

Do you think the you could have a 50 or 55mm rad up top?
 
Last edited:
Depends a bit on your board layout and whether you want push/pull. For my board (R4F), I couldn't fit anything thicker at the top unless I have the fans externally in pull only.
 
alex_123_fra said:
Depends a bit on your board layout and whether you want push/pull. For my board (R4F), I couldn't fit anything thicker at the top unless I have the fans externally in pull only.
Click to expand...

I think I understand now. You could have it in pull but internally too. Here show how he can have a thick rad with pull or push config.

So imagine you have just pull, and you had it on the roof of the case and a 50mm rad under it. In your pics, i see there is at least 10mm space between board and fans. I think thats right or i've got something wrong. Sorry bout all the ifs/buts im just trying to get an understanding of what I'd like :)
 
Last edited:
masscrazy said:
I think I understand now. You could have it in pull but internally too. Here show how he can have a thick rad with pull or push config.

So imagine you have just pull, and you had it on the roof of the case and a 50mm rad under it. In your pics, i see there is at least 10mm space between board and fans. I think thats right or i've got something wrong. Sorry bout all the ifs/buts im just trying to get an understanding of what I'd like :)
Click to expand...

No worries, yes this is right. There is still a little space left below my fans (which are under the top rad) so you could probably squeeze a 50mm rad. My only worry with a thicker rad would be actually getting the CPU power connector in as it was a struggle even as it is now.
 
alex_123_fra said:
No worries, yes this is right. There is still a little space left below my fans (which are under the top rad) so you could probably squeeze a 50mm rad. My only worry with a thicker rad would be actually getting the CPU power connector in as it was a struggle even as it is now.
Click to expand...

Cool. I was just having a look at a case review of the carbide and theres 70mm from top of case to mobo so I think 50mm would be too much but 45 would fit perfectly. Just 5mm more than yours which is more sensible than 10mm (though does look to be enough).

So i'm going for 45mm 240 rad on top and 40mm 360 rad in front. With push config on the 360 internal fans and pull config ontop also with internal fans. I think thats ok based on what i've seen so far.

Thanks for the help.
 
Sounds good.

The way I have configured my airflow (to minimise dust and create some positive pressure), I have the front 3 SP120s as intake, the rear SP120 as intake and the 4 x SP120s (in push/pull) at the top as exhausts.
 
alex_123_fra said:
Sounds good.

The way I have configured my airflow (to minimise dust and create some positive pressure), I have the front 3 SP120s as intake, the rear SP120 as intake and the 4 x SP120s (in push/pull) at the top as exhausts.
Click to expand...

I was thinking id make the front 3 act as exhaust and top 2 also exhaust and maybe the rear as intake. Dont exactly need to exhaust much of the heat should be taken out by the rads so really only need little intake.

However i have a slight issue with my 7970 lightning which doesnt have a block so wont be watercooling. Therefore I'd probably have to use the fronts as intake. And top as exhaust and rear as intake, like you have yours.
 
alex_123_fra I really like your water-cooling build ,

Can i ask you a favour ? can you list me a exact water-cooling components what you got in this build ??
I have same case and 4930k, 2 780ti and planing water-cool them and i need to know what components i need .
I'm very new in water-cooling so that's why i ask for list , want to be make sure i got all parts i need . Thanks
 
MarioGameTV said:
alex_123_fra I really like your water-cooling build ,

Can i ask you a favour ? can you list me a exact water-cooling components what you got in this build ??
I have same case and 4930k, 2 780ti and planing water-cool them and i need to know what components i need .
I'm very new in water-cooling so that's why i ask for list , want to be make sure i got all parts i need . Thanks
Click to expand...

Thanks Mario. The components are:

XSPC AX 240 rad
XSPC AX 360 rad
Primochil Primoflex 7/16-5/8 16/11mm tubing - clear
EK D5 Vario X-res 140 OCUK pump/res combo
Koolance 380i CPU block
A mix of XSPC and EK compression fittings to with the above tubing measurements. A few 90 degree and 45 degree XSPC fittings too and also some XSPC G 1/4 plugs
2x EK FC Titan waterblocks for the GTX780s
Mayhems UV purple pre-mixed fluid - 2 Litres
Koolance 1/4 thread drain valve

Adam123 said:
Nice build, loving the purple!! Clear pipes and purple coolant I assume?
Click to expand...

Thanks Adam. Yes the tubing is clear and fluid is Mayhems UV purple. I think black would also look good and I may change to that in the next few weeks when I drain the loop as maintenance.
 
alex_123_fra said:
Hi Mass, thanks. The left bay is accessible but the right isn't as I had to bend the holder to accomodate the 360 rad and connectors.

The loop order is pump > CPU > 240 rad > GPUs > 360 rad > pump.

Temps are excellent - 39C max on GPUs at load with 1200MHz core and CPU max 50 C at load at 4.5 Ghz.
Click to expand...

That is ace mate!

I got this case so I have options in the future, it's very spacious and I have also posted about modding the bottom to accomodate extra fans (not rad though). If it was propped up on larger corner feet it would be another airflow stream.

Good job. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom