Mounting Radiator in Top of Case

[butvinjd]

Hello all.

You guys really know your stuff here so I'm sure this would fall into the rookie category.

I am going to be cutting the top of my case (drill & jigsaw) to make a large enough area to mount a triple radiator. I have seen some brackets available, but I'm still iffy on them before I buy them. Also, when I finally get the hole there and the rad. lined up...should I put something inbetween the two? My rad already has a bracket on it to create some space, but would something more be needed, such as the radbox from swiftech?

[dgrmkrp]

hmm.. some pics would be nice and a clearer explanation.. i get that you wanna put a triple rad on top, but what case, what rad, what configuration of fans? inside, outside?
depending on what u wanna do, more room in between the fan and the rad means less noise.. if u mount a fan to pull air off the rad and leave some space (using a sealed shroud), it will be more quiet and pull air in more efficiently :)

[slytherock]

hard to say without pics... Get us some pics, and we will be very pleased to help you :)

Edit:

hmm.. some pics would be nice and a clearer explanation.. i get that you wanna put a triple rad on top, but what case, what rad, what configuration of fans? inside, outside?
Doh! You wrote it faster...

[dgrmkrp]

:) i'm a slow typer actually :)
damn low light conditions and the still new keyboard feel :) and i keep inverting letter in words and manage to not press the buttons fully...

[Silenced_Coyote]

From how I am picturing it, I don't think you want to use the Swiftech Radbox.
This is how it is used.
http://www.frozencpu.com/images/products/large/ex-wat-76_2.jpg

Of course, who says that you are confined to using it that way? Not me.

[Arden]

^Bit ugly... Why not cover it up as a mod. Or even better put it on the inside (-: Autonomys cooling for the win.

[butvinjd]

Sorry for the delay, I have been out of town and AFK. Here are some pictures, although they wern't taken myself. (I'm at work and not near the case).

For a clear explanation, here goes...

The case I am using is a JustPC r910 Server Tower. Its a very basic case with alot of room and modding potential, imo.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8822/sidear8.jpg

As you can see, there is plenty of room in the case. I have done measurements and everything needed, just to make sure.

At the top of the case you can see that there is a dual PSU cage. I will be using one 1000watt psu in the bottom section of this cage to free up the top for a radiator.

Here is a picture of a oversized PSU (The longest one on the market) in the case.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/581/sidepsuwg0.jpg

As for the radiator, I will be using a thermochill 120.3

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3949/raddt3.jpg

Standard length for a radiator, but its a bit wider than normal.
[LxWxD (mm)] 430x128x61 ( 16.93 x 5.04 x 2.4 inches).

The fans will be exhausting air, and I would like to try to keep them inside of the case, so far, from my measurements, things should fit with enough room.

What do you all suggest?

I was thinking of buying this grill here to use to cut with as a guide and to screw into.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5448/grillcg4.jpg

I appreciate your comments thus far and look forward to talking with you.

[Silenced_Coyote]

You don't have to use that grill if you don't want to. You could always just use mesh. It all depends on your preferences.

As for putting something inbetween the radiator and the case, I don't think you need to. You could put some sort of anti-vibration dampener in between if you are worried about noise.

[butvinjd]

I think I will just go with the modders mesh now that you mentioned it. I did some searching to see how people have been using it and it's pretty nice stuff. Since my cuts in the top will match the frame of the shroud that's on the radiator (hopefully), I figure that I can just cut the mesh to match the radiator and keep it attached by using the 12 screws required for mounting the radiator.

So screw that into the top (with or w/o sound dampening) then the fans blowing out and I should be in business.

Thanks for the advice. I'm looking forward to getting started on this during the long weekend.

[slytherock]

[QUOTE=butvinjd;66681]
So screw that into the top (with or w/o sound dampening) then the fans blowing out and I should be in business.
/QUOTE]

But with 3 120mm, I recommend you add a sounddampener, just in case.. Keep us update... We like pics :lick:

[SgtM]

You could put some sort of anti-vibration dampener in between if you are worried about noise.

Dr. Scholls moleskin would work for sound dampening. It's the poorman's dynamat IMO. I used some on the back of my license place once to stop it from making so much noise.

butvinjd - are you anywhere close to Youngstown? I'm in Niles.

[butvinjd]

Columbus here. Native of Cleveland.

Pictures will come when I actually get the time to start the modding. I have some stuff still in the mail, such as my jig and dremel set. This is not going to be the only mod I do to this case though, so I will definitely start a worklog in the appropriate area. Thanks thus far for the support.

[SgtM]

No kidding. I used to live off of Hard Rd in Dublin 2001-2003.

[butvinjd]

Orbital Jigsaw and Dremel set comes today...pretty excite about that.

Still need to figure out what paint I can use that will coat the inside black but make it so that it's non reflective.

[GT40_GearHead]

mat black paint

[butvinjd]

From what I've heard, I should sand the inside with fine gritt, put two coats of primer then the spray. Am I right in assuming this?

[GT40_GearHead]

you are right, but also sand after each coat of primer and then spray the color

[butvinjd]

Thanks for the tip. You have been a ton of help.:banana:

[GT40_GearHead]

the pleasure was mine

glad i could help you