Case modders & Structural Engineers - Need your advice please

Space Monkey · 31 May 2019 at 15:32

Hi all,

I've recently bought 2 x 480mm radiators for my water cooled PC, but as the rads are multiports the top 2 ports are fouling the bracket that holds the rads (pics below).

For now whilst trying to find the best option for fitting I've used 2 slightly longer screws at the front nearest the red plugs as shown in the photos to hold the rad to the bracket, but as you can see it's pulling the bracket and putting pressure on the whole thing (and that's without putting fans, fittings, fluid and tubing on it!)

So my query is this, can I safely cut out a small section in the bracket around the red plugs to allow the rads to sit correctly? Will this cause the bracket to become weak, bend, cause issues or problems later on?

Space Monkey · 31 May 2019 at 23:49

alexakasloth said:
The fold in the sheet gives it rigidity, I wouldn't cut that away with the amount of force that is being placed on it

That's what I feared

Thanks for the confirmation.

Space Monkey · 1 Jun 2019 at 17:25

Would something like this be best to cut a hole into the metal?

Space Monkey · 1 Jun 2019 at 18:22

Don't have a Dremel sadly and it's too much dosh for a small single job

@Danny75 those diamond cutters don't seem to do metal, unless I'm missing something?

I'm looking at metal hole cutters or a hacksaw so far

Space Monkey · 1 Jun 2019 at 18:45

A drill I do have thankfully, thinking of drilling from underneath and creating a hole/semi circle?

Space Monkey · 2 Jun 2019 at 23:46

Donnie Fisher said:
Is it just to expose the red caps of the radiator ?

If so, I would use a set of round / curved hand files. Would have that notched out in minutes, and very easy to control so that you dont slip or go mad with a power tool.

The metal fold lip on the inner edge your cutting away will provide some form of rigidity in that area around the hole itself... but the rigidity it provides pretty much ends at the edge of that cut out. The rest of the forces are held by the lip around the outer edge of the bracket. Its that outer edge area where it tapers to the frame which is holding the whole weight of the bracket (and whats attached to it). As you're not cutting that area ... then it should hold fine.

Also, the radiator itself has structural integrity which when screwed to the bracket adds to the overall structural integrity of the setup too.

So go ahead and cut it in my opinion.

Yeah it's just to allow the red caps to come through so that the radiator sits flush in the bracket.

Thanks, sounds like it might be a plan

Do you mean the half round files or totally round ones?

Anything in particular I should be looking for when buying a set?

Space Monkey · 3 Jun 2019 at 00:04

bremen1874 said:
Why wouldn't you space the entire radiator down a couple of mm rather than butchering the case?

It's at it's full depth, I can't push it any further sadly

Space Monkey · 3 Jun 2019 at 00:08

Donnie Fisher said:
A totally round one is good for cutting in to the right depth of cut you want.. A half round one is then good for widening out and smoothing out the original cut in.

I wouldnt use the nail file size sets, they can break under moderate force. A medium size set would be better.

Thanks, I'll have a scout round for some

Space Monkey · 3 Jun 2019 at 00:17

bremen1874 said:
Space it between the radiator and the bracket. A few suitable washers, or some sort of gasket/spacer, and maybe some slightly longer screws and you'd be done.

You could also decide to put the fans between the radiator and the bracket and space it down that way.

I never considered having the fans up top, mainly because I wasn't sure if I'd lose some cooling ability and also I wanted the white fan LEDs to light up the case internals?

I've got some strong glued foam tape that could act as a gasket plus it's double sided adhesive so it'll provide extra grip?

Have to be careful though with any extra drop depth as the GPU stands vertical and gets very close to the rads above it, especially with these deep rads?

Space Monkey · 19 Jun 2019 at 14:43

Donnie Fisher said:
Out of curiosity, what did you end up doing in the end ?

I've decided to run the fans at the top and the rad underneath so hopefully it won't clash, and according to an EK blog I recently read stated that with high static pressure fans you get slightly better temps that way, so we'll see?

Kurgen said:
bought an Air Cooler

Lol, you don't know how close I came to doing that!