Corsair Carbide Air 540 Builds

Roalith · 3 Jan 2014 at 15:15

Lovely build Famas - loving the octopus-like effect of having the res there

masscrazy · 3 Jan 2014 at 16:31

Really nice looking build famas!

I'm getting the 540 and plan to watercool.

Thoughts on 40mm 360 rad in front with push config (fans internally positioned) and 45mm 240 rad on top with pull config. Is this feasible?

famas · 3 Jan 2014 at 19:48

cheers guys

masscrazy, Yeah that should work though you might be very tight on space.

Depending what GFX card you have you should be ok to fit a 40mm rad with 25mm fans in the front of the case, you could also mount more fans on the out side to go push/pull but you'd lose the dust filter. not a massive issue if you have some tights

again you should just be ok to fit a 45mm rad and fans at the top of the case though you will be very close to the top of the motherboard.

I have a 35mm rad at the top and with the fans there is about 12mm gap between the fans and mother board so you should be ok but remember you need some space to route your cables.

masscrazy · 3 Jan 2014 at 20:39

Cool thanks for confirming.

I believe Simon (op) uses a 45mm rad up top with single set of internally mounted fans. Also I seen 60mm in front with externally mounted fans therefore i presume a 40mm rad with 25mm fans should, just, allow for internally mounted fan on the 360 like alex_123_fra is doing (40mm rad and single set of internal fans)

el_ringo · 4 Jan 2014 at 11:53

mjgr33n said:
Finally got around to taking a couple of pictures of my build using my new camera and tripod, need to take some ones in the dark I think to really try and capture the glow, because in daylight the front panel was reflecting too much light so had to take it off to take pictures.

I modded the rear so I could fit my combo pump/reservoir high up without having to move the SSD cage, plus it allows me to be able to see the water level without taking the back off, and very easy to fill

Used an Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 360 radiator (fans outside case) & an Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 240 radiator (fans inside case).

It kinda looks like a Borg Cube

I just want a sexy SLI Bridge now, I hope those ones from EVGA come out soon

EDIT: Resized, forgot how big the pictures were

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

This build looks awesome, and I think I will have to try and emulate it! Would having the shorter 100 pump inside the case be an issue? I guess having the res at the very top helps air bleeding?

Has anyone managed two 280x140s with any success? That should have a tad larger area than a 240x120 and a 360x120.

R

masscrazy · 4 Jan 2014 at 15:00

Should have gone through the entire thread before asking about rad size.

So i've finally decided my rad configuration. Just as the green rig above xt45 fans mounted for exhaust and xt60 fans mounted for intake.

Would have preferred the front 360 to be 45mm and 25mm for the fans (internally mounted) but that wont fit. It would have to 40mm rad and thats the only way to get the fans on the inside. Oh well.

el_ringo · 4 Jan 2014 at 15:06

I have read it twice and didn't see anyone with a 280 in the front. I know people have had the 280s interfere with the 360 so had to drop back to 240s on the top.

Dirk Diggler · 4 Jan 2014 at 15:46

My project log is at a standstill for now until I decide to add the CPU into the custom loop, and now that I'm done I can add my 540 to this thread.

This case is a joy to work with...

Done some testing.

CPU cooled by H100i on idle, SP120's at 900rpm (near silent)

CPU at full load for 15 mins. Overclocked to 4.3ghz @ 1.185 Vcore

Tested GPU at stock, don't want to overclock until I'm sure loop is doing it's job.

GPU on idle, again SP120's at 900rpm silent. D5 pump is also set at 2, again silent!

GPU at 100% with Furmark for 15mins...

nniitt · 4 Jan 2014 at 19:29

nice rig

masscrazy · 4 Jan 2014 at 23:10

mjgr33n said:

Can anyone wth the carbide confirm whether or not you are able to use both 3.5" hotswap bays with a setup like the above picture, please.

Dirk Diggler · 4 Jan 2014 at 23:15

masscrazy said:
Can anyone wth the carbide confirm whether or not you are able to use both 3.5" hotswap bays with a setup like the above picture, please.

No, you can't. The 360 rad in front will clash with the HDD due to the overhang of the compression fittings.

hakank68 · 4 Jan 2014 at 23:26

DazQ87, how is the 290 performing in that case in terms of heat and noise? I have the same case and I'm thinking about buying the MSI R9 290

famas · 5 Jan 2014 at 12:01

Can anyone wth the carbide confirm whether or not you are able to use both 3.5" hotswap bays with a setup like the above picture, please.

It Could be possible....maybe.

I have a Seagate SSHD which is a lot thinner than other hhd, it pretty much sits flush with the top of the hot swap bracket.

WD blue on the left, seagate sshd on the right.

[/URL][/IMG]

If you have a thin hhd like the seagate and used some 45 degree adapters straight into the rad

YOUR BASKET
1 x Bitspower G 1/4" Silver Shiny Rotary 45 Degree IG 1/4" Adapter - shiny silver £9.98
Total : £12.26 (includes shipping : £1.90).

It might just fit.

This is all guess work though, I've not tried it or seen it done myself.

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jan 2014 at 12:12

famas said:
It Could be possible....maybe.

I have a Seagate SSHD which is a lot thinner than other hhd, it pretty much sits flush with the top of the hot swap bracket.

WD blue on the left, seagate sshd on the right.

[/URL][/IMG]

If you have a thin hhd like the seagate and used some 45 degree adapters straight into the rad

YOUR BASKET
1 x Bitspower G 1/4" Silver Shiny Rotary 45 Degree IG 1/4" Adapter - shiny silver £9.98
Total : £12.26 (includes shipping : £1.90).

It might just fit.

This is all guess work though, I've not tried it or seen it done myself.

The rad in the image you have posted is at least 10mm higher than the rad in the image that the OP wants to use.

I have 2 x 3tb HDD's in my rig. I got round this problem by mounting them on to the SSD cage in the back.

famas · 5 Jan 2014 at 12:45

The rad in the image you have posted is at least 10mm higher

yes it is, I off set my rad to give me more space over the drives.

I don't think it would work using a 60mm rad like mjgr33n has, he is also using 3/4 fittings which protrude into the hot swap bay more.

I think masscrazy is considering using a thinner rad?

It could possibly work if you where using a thinner hdd and a thinner rad but it would be tight.

like you say its probably easier to mount the hhd's in the back of the case but then you lose the hot swap ability and have the fuss of retro fitting the hhd's somewhere.

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jan 2014 at 12:59

famas said:
yes it is, I off set my rad to give me more space over the drives.

I don't think it would work using a 60mm rad like mjgr33n has, he is also using 3/4 fittings which protrude into the hot swap bay more.

I think masscrazy is considering using a thinner rad?

It could possibly work if you where using a thinner hdd and a thinner rad but it would be tight.

like you say its probably easier to mount the hhd's in the back of the case but then you lose the hot swap ability and have the fuss of retro fitting the hhd's somewhere.

Agree with above. I have attached the 2 HDD's to the single SSD cage using cable ties. It's a crude solution, but it works. I was wary of overheating due to them all being sandwiched together like that with very little airflow, so I placed temp probes in there. The SSD sits around mid 30's and the HDD's peak at 45c. HDD's are getting a bit outdated, so I'm hoping SSD capacity and cost comes into reasonable levels at some point in the near future!

Of course, my solution is not an option for people who want a res/pump combo next to the SSD cage.

masscrazy · 5 Jan 2014 at 13:48

@famas thanks for the pic and info, yes I am considering a 30mm 360 rad for the front. That way i could possibly use both bays. Any thoughts on a 30mm rad? This one seems very good?[link]

@String can you post a pic of what the other side of your case looks like? Even though i'm planning on placing my pump/res combo there I'd like to see the way you setup your hdd on ssd cages. Also am considering having separate res and pump like you have. Might actually work out better! I'll need to do a quick mockup to be sure.

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jan 2014 at 15:56

masscrazy said:
@famas thanks for the pic and info, yes I am considering a 30mm 360 rad for the front. That way i could possibly use both bays. Any thoughts on a 30mm rad? This one seems very good?[link]

@String can you post a pic of what the other side of your case looks like? Even though i'm planning on placing my pump/res combo there I'd like to see the way you setup your hdd on ssd cages. Also am considering having separate res and pump like you have. Might actually work out better! I'll need to do a quick mockup to be sure.

Sure...

It's not so easy to see, but there are 2 HDD's and a SSD caddying together in there.

masscrazy · 5 Jan 2014 at 16:45

Brilliant, thanks! I see what you did, I'm planning on a different pump/res now. Which hopefully sit better in the 540.

The XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir for Laing D5, you think this would fit on top of the ssd cages properly? And would draining the loop be an issue with this?

andy_mk3 · 5 Jan 2014 at 16:53

That's a hell of a kink in that bottom hose there, hope you sorted that out!

I'd love a 540 case, they are awesome! One day