Adding AIO Watercooling

[TheLiege]

Given this is my system:

My system (OneDrive image link)

If I was to add prebuilt watercooler to it how do people recommend I do it?

The case is a Corsair Spec-03 and I have fans in the front and back (none in the top as the heatsink currently blocks those fan slots.

What is the optimal place to put a radiator? I'm pretty sure the top slots won't take a 240 Rad because it will cover the RAM slots so as far as I can see I can put a 120 Rad in the back slot or a 240 in the front slots.

Putting the rad in the back seems like a bad idea because by the time the air gets there it will be warm already and putting in the front means that the air blowing over the graphics cards will be warm.

 

[s innes]

why not reverse the air flow draw cool air from the top and rear in your case and stick a 240 in the front and blow air out the case here

 

[snips86x]

I see 2 options here:

1) Change the orientation of the current cooler to vent out the back. Your current setup is restricting the air flow (and positive positive pressure) which would give slightly higher temps. You want the front to bring in cooler air which flows over the GPUs & CPU cooler then out the top/back.

2) Change to a CLC (Corsair H55/60/80i) and put it at the back to vent out. This should also improve temps.

The cheapest option would be to change the current cooler to vent out the back. Depending on the space left, you may/may not get fans in the top. If you can't get the standard fans in the top, slim fans would be a good choice - you just want to remove some of the hotter air so nothing special. Those cables aren'y going to help either but I understand you may be pushed for cable management space.