Does it matter where the radiator goes?

[jimmybates]

In any watercooling projects ive ever followed, people always put there radiators on the outside on top of the case fans, and even drill holes into the case if there arent the same amount of case fans as the size of the radiator (i.e i saw a p182 build where the guy drilled two more 120mm circles on the top, and then put a 120.3 on top of the three fan holes). But surely you don't want heat from the case getting to the radiator do you? I basically just dont really understand the optimal positioning of a radiator at all.... help?

 

[Jokester]

The ideal place for a radiator is drawing ambient air from outside the case, not air from inside the case out. But when it comes down to actual performance the difference is relatively minor (only a few degrees depending on how cool the inside of your case is).

 

[Greebo]

Get a swiftech radbox and mount at the rear of the pc on the outside. 4 or 6 fans on a push/pull setup and you are sorted.

I only did this as my case has no fan holes bar the one at the back and I didn't want to spoil the top of the case.

 

[Dutch Guy]

The efficiency of a radiator is bigger if the difference in temperature is greater so by placing the radiator outside of the case means it is cooled by air from the room and not from the case.

I have my radiator on top of my case with 4cm between the case and radiator with a fan pulling ambient air thru it, I cut two holes in the top of the case for the tubing.