Prodigy Build - Need some top mounted radiator advise.

Bryan Kortez · 15 Feb 2015 at 17:10

I'm currently building a Bitfenix Prodigy with a watercooled GPU and CPU off a single 240mm Rad. I have been looking at some 60mm thick low FPI rads so I can keep my fan speeds down. The only problem I have, using a 60mm rad + 25mm thick fans it's going to look a bit squashed, and my main objective is aesthetics.

My total TDP is about 250W. The GPU is rated at 150W and my i5 4670k is overclocked @4.2 GHz. I'm not sure if I could get away using a 30mm rad?

My other thought, but i'm not sure how it would look, is to mount the 60mm thick rad inside the case, then mounted 120mm fans to the top of the case drawing air in through the rad and exhaust at the rear 120/140mm fan.

What are your thoughts and suggestions?

Edit:

My other thought it top externally top mount the rad

ErikN · 16 Feb 2015 at 07:23

What about a 45mm? There is actually very little difference between a 45mm and 60mm rad in heat dissipated at lower fan speeds, where thinner rads usually perform (very slightly) better due to less restriction in air flow.
I also doubt you are going to be able to keep your fan speeds down with only one 240mm radiator (depending on what you consider "down"), down for me personally is < 900rpm while maintaining acceptable liquid temperatures.

Another option is to add a 200x200mm rad in the front and going with a thinner one in the top, I have seen that done in prodigys. Though you would obviously sacrifice the hdd cage for that approach.

Bryan Kortez · 16 Feb 2015 at 10:22

Can't fit a 200x200 rad up front due to custom build.

I'm just going to go with an top mounted external rad, and then if it can't for some reason handle peaks of 250W tdp I'll get either a 240mm rad up front if there's room, or and rear 140mm.

ErikN · 16 Feb 2015 at 10:28

Bryan Kortez said:
Can't fit a 200x200 rad up front due to custom build.

I'm just going to go with an top mounted external rad, and then if it can't for some reason handle peaks of 250W tdp I'll get either a 240mm rad up front if there's room, or and rear 140mm.

Yeah I clicked the link to your build after I posted, looks good

Bryan Kortez · 16 Feb 2015 at 12:34

Thanks

The only thing I'm not sure of, is how I am going to set the fans up to slow down and speed up depending on both cpu and gpu temps..

tamzzy · 16 Feb 2015 at 12:52

been there, done that: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18564041
prodigy with a 550w tdp on a 240mm 60mm thick rad.

ErikN · 16 Feb 2015 at 13:00

Bryan Kortez said:
Thanks

The only thing I'm not sure of, is how I am going to set the fans up to slow down and speed up depending on both cpu and gpu temps..

Could an Aquacomputer poweradjust 3 maybe solve that? I know you can setup virtual sensors with the aquasuite software, not sure what the poweradjust support compared to the full aquaero controller.

I would personally just use a water temp sensor and ramp up the fan speeds when it start to exceed like 40 degrees, and reach full speed at near 50, since that is near the high side for most watercooling equipment.

Bryan Kortez · 16 Feb 2015 at 17:53

So, with the poweradjust 3, I could input a sensor from my coolant, and It will increase/decrease fan speeds to suit what ever fan curve I set?

I'm just going to setup my loop with the 1 x 240mm rad to begin, and see what temp/noise I get and go from there.. I'm confident that it will run silent at idle and films etc I don't mind a bit of noise during gaming, as I won't be able to hear it over the speakers anyway

been there, done that: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=18564041
prodigy with a 550w tdp on a 240mm 60mm thick rad.

I had a look at your log, pretty interesting

I've been trying to figure how to get tubes to the GPU block, and may have to do as you've done.

ErikN · 17 Feb 2015 at 08:03

Bryan Kortez said:
So, with the poweradjust 3, I could input a sensor from my coolant, and It will increase/decrease fan speeds to suit what ever fan curve I set?

Disclaimer: I haven't actually used one myself (yet), but from what I figure, you can connect it to a mobo usb header and control it with the accompanying software (and save to the firmware, the software do not need to be running after config):
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-279-AQ

Only issue I guess is that its only one fan output (voltage regulated), but if you have the same model fan everywhere it shouldn't matter.

Bryan Kortez · 17 Feb 2015 at 09:20

I'll do a bit of research on it.. That might be the best way to do it, if I can input water temps and create a fan profile from that.

dazzerd · 17 Feb 2015 at 13:55

I ran a 760 and a 4690k for a while off one 25mm 240 in this case, not great temps but nothing melted.

Bryan Kortez · 17 Feb 2015 at 17:08

I could probably fit 2 ex240 rads if I modified the top panel. That would probably be a better option for a quieter setup. That would probably work out better than 1 ax240?