Modding Question / Watercooling setup

A_Darkfire · 26 Aug 2006 at 22:15

Modding Question

Hi,

I am currently building a custom watercooling setup in PC-201B case and I am planning on having a PA120.3 radiator at the bottom of it with the three exhusting out the right side of the case. However I am not sure which way would be best to mount the thing. My orginial plan was to mount as the diagram below

RADIATOR
SHROUD
SPONGE STUFF
FANS (set to pull air through the radiator and out of the case)
CASE SIDE
GRILL

But then I sure another way...

FANS (pushing air through the radiator and out of the case)
SPONGE STUFF
SHROUD
RADIATOR
CASE SIDE
GRILL

Would this be better? Or maybe another combination...I don't know, any advice would be a great help.

Jokester · 26 Aug 2006 at 22:53

My personal preference would be to have the fans pulling air through the radiator.

Jokester

DaveMac · 26 Aug 2006 at 23:01

The shrouds are not really required and fans work better on push on the PA series rads.
Having the colder outside air on the rad will cool the water loop better but will raise the inside case temps slightly, but as the main heat producers are under water so the effect is very slight.

I'd recommend changing it to:
RADIATOR
SPONGE STUFF
FANS (set to push air through the radiator and into the case)
CASE SIDE
GRILL

AFK_Matrix · 26 Aug 2006 at 23:51

Hi A_Darkfire,

Well I am doing pretty much exactly as your doing, I already have the radiator mounted and just have to decide on the direction the fans blow. Was advised by Yewen as well that having all fans blowing into the case on my V2000 would probably be better than having the 3 fans on my Rad 120.3 blowing air out of the case. I am still not sure on this but seeing as the rad, PSU and HDDs are in a seperate compartment from the rest of the components I suppose it makes sense as the case temp won't be affected as much by the rad fans pulling air in from out side and pushing it through the rad.

Oh do you have any pics of how your mounting the rad and the setup your gonna have? Would be nice to compare as your the only other person I have found who is mounting the rad sideways in the bottom part of the case.

A_Darkfire · 27 Aug 2006 at 07:39

Thanks for the replies guys. I had planned to exhaust air as my old Koolance system seemed to do that and it would be one of the few fans pulling air out. I'm not too fussed with the radiator being a little warmer because of the hotter air from case being used to cool it as I have a XSPC passive radiator to sit on the top of the case which hopefully compensate for that.

@DaveMac
I thought that the shrouds help focus the air flow better. I seen several reviews that showed it added quite a bit of cooler effort the fans. Is that false? It would be nice not to need it as it’s very cramped with it on, but it does all fit and it would be a shame to waste now I’ve brought it.

@AFK_Matrix
I have to say that is was your worklog that got be started on building this thing after thinking about it for so long! I think my case is a little smaller than yours (it looks a lot more cramped at the bottom that it does in your case) but everything fits. My main problem at the moment is the PSU whose main exhaust fan is facing up in dividing plate in the middle of the case. Going to need to cut it some breathing holes! I’ll post some pictures once I steal Dad’s one today

DaveMac · 27 Aug 2006 at 11:57

Can't find the thread with the info, iirc it was something like 2 or 3 % improvement which is next to nothing on the PA120.3

AFK_Matrix · 27 Aug 2006 at 19:50

A_Darkfire said:
@AFK_Matrix
I have to say that is was your worklog that got be started on building this thing after thinking about it for so long! I think my case is a little smaller than yours (it looks a lot more cramped at the bottom that it does in your case) but everything fits. My main problem at the moment is the PSU whose main exhaust fan is facing up in dividing plate in the middle of the case. Going to need to cut it some breathing holes! I’ll post some pictures once I steal Dad’s one today

Cool nice to know I have influenced someones decision

. Yeah my Enermax PSU has the fan facing towards the central divider as well, I basically have loosened the back plate it attaches to so it slides down a bit thus giving around 5mm space between fan and divider. Hopefully this will be enough otherwise I will drill some holes or maybe even do a 120mm hole in the divider we shall see. Can't wait for the pics, I will be updating my worklog tomorrow as I cut my side panel & plexi glass today. And have just now spent 40 mins filling the holes lol, so totally warn out thus pics tomorrow.