Need Help with a Project...

[Engine of End]

Hello,

Long time lurker, first time poster here, and I need some help planning my future water cooling rig (my first I might add).

So far, I have decided to use the following:

Black Ice GT Stealth 240 (2x120mm)
Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Hi-Flo Reservoir
Swiftech MCP655 12 VDC Pump
Storm Water-block
1/2" ID tubing

As for the case, I absolutely love Antec's P180. Although, I am rather picky about where the radiator goes. I didn't want to have it hanging on the back of the case (or external for that matter). Lo and behold, someone sells a P180 that is ready for water-cooling. This is what I have chosen.

Now comes the part where I need help. I still want to use fans in the case, and I have chosen these. Besides using them as case fans (hooked up to a controller), I want to know if I can use them as fans for the radiator. They have a maximum CFM of 110, so it seems they can get the job done.

What I also need help with is air flow. Since I couldn't find a picture of the inside of Performance PC's P180, I used a stock one. This is what I want to do (imagine the top two arrows being the fans for the radiator):



What I thought of doing was removing the top hard drive bay and putting the reservoir there, that way one of the FM121's can cool it. The other two FM121's would go in the top left corner. Since I would have all this cool air flowing into the case, I would have the fans for the radiator suck the air out, thus cooling it. The bottom fan for the PSU will be left alone.

So what do you think? I am open to all suggestions.

 

[Engine of End]

I'm surprised. It's been almost two days, and not even a single response.

 

[holli4pirating]

I've heard that those particular Silverstone fans don't perform as well as advertised, but I've never had one so I couldn't say for sure. I believe what I read was that they can't achieve the listed RPM or CFM.

 

[xXxDieselxXx]

I'm sorry nobody answered you back... this forums has tons of great guys always helping ... I'm sure with all the posts this one was missing in action.

I'm a nOOb at water cooling in fact I just ordered the parts for my first WC.

I have few years of experience with great Aircooling results...

Here is my take.. I'm thinking you don't mind the noise factor due to all the fans you are planning to use plus additional pump noise.

As far as the picture goes I would place the left fan to blow air out of the case instead sucking in.. that will ensure better air circulation. I think the way you have it will do some type of turbulence.

Here is what I would do.. sorry for the poor photoshop skills

 

[Engine of End]

I'm sorry nobody answered you back... this forums has tons of great guys always helping ... I'm sure with all the posts this one was missing in action.

I'm a nOOb at water cooling in fact I just ordered the parts for my first WC.

I have few years of experience with great Aircooling results...

Here is my take.. I'm thinking you don't mind the noise factor due to all the fans you are planning to use plus additional pump noise.

As far as the picture goes I would place the left fan to blow air out of the case instead sucking in.. that will ensure better air circulation. I think the way you have it will do some type of turbulence.

Here is what I would do.. sorry for the poor photoshop skills

Thanks for your replies.

Diesel: While that layout could work, wouldn't you end up blowing warm air into the case from the rad? You are trying to cool off the water, after all, and that heat has to go somewhere.

Holli: If you could find a link to where that was said, I would greatly appreciate it. So far, I have heard nothing but praise for the fans.

 

[xXxDieselxXx]

Thanks for your replies.

Diesel: While that layout could work, wouldn't you end up blowing warm air into the case from the rad? You are trying to cool off the water, after all, and that heat has to go somewhere.

Understandable, and again I'm a nOOb at WC but my take is the cool air will refresh the water within the radiator which is the main cooling component. at the risk of warming up somehow the case but the hot air will quickly be blown out with the fans on the left plus the fresh air coming from the right fan. After all you want the radiator get fresh air in.

My guess is blowing warm air from inside the case out through the radiator (Up) will cool the water with less performance as if the air was coming from outside.

 

[Scotty_SFF]

I dont think that the heat coming through the rad would be that warm, not that i know

 

[holli4pirating]

Mixed reviews at Newegg

 

[Engine of End]

Mixed reviews at Newegg

Doesn't seem that bad. Although, it would probably be a good idea to buy one for my current computer and test it for myself.

Diesel: I see your point. I will have to try your suggested layout when I get the parts. Thanks for your help.

 

[xXxDieselxXx]

Let me know how it goes as I'm planning to take the same approach if I manage to make a 120mm hole on top of the case. I have an Antec TX1050B case and it seems pretty strong... I might have to try a Dremel or something.

I have been traying to see if someone ever modified that case.. just saw one thread but never touches the top of the case.

 

[Arcygenical]

First of all, sorry for not seeing your post earlier, I try to reply to posts with 0 replies, but, when these forums get active, even really new threads get buried easily.

Since you're only cooling the CPU, you're getting ALOT of heat dump into the case from the GPU/NB...

In that case, I'd consider exhausting the warmer air out through the radiator, as, you can't fight the laws of thermodynamics... All that heat dump is going to rise. Regardless of your fan setup, it's going up... So help it out.

The difference between taking air in and exhausting it will be a few degrees cooler for an intake (obviously) at the cost of extra noise.

I STILL recommend the awesome Yate Loons at Jab-Tech for like 4$. An amazing price for an amazing fan... If you're only cooling the CPU, you could get away with said yate loon at ~8v exhausting through a single Black ice Pro radiator (the exhaust below the PSU)

The more you WC, the less it matters if you have warm Radiator air coming in the case... But, in your initial diagram OP, you need to worry about positive vs negative case pressure. Too many fans blowing in results in a:
- Dead pocket of air in the middle of the case (around the GPU)
- Very inneficient intake of air through the rad (slower fans will have a hard time dealing with the pressure)
- The back "intake" fan will add too much pressure, negating the very slow spinning PSU fan. You'll get a pocket of hot air in the PSU = Instability.

I'll add to this list as I think of things . Long story short, go with the other suggestion below (sorry to the poster, but I cant see previous posts in edit mode, so I can't find your name ).

 

[Chernobyl1]

There is a precaution worth noting...
A PC should either be run with fans giving the same air pressure in as out or higher pressure in than out. The reason is when a pc case is low pressure its hard for the PSU to get enough air to flow through it which can cause it to heat up.
A PSU's performance/reliability is affected by heat so the cooler the better.

Due to this (and getting a cooler CPU) I would draw cold air in through the top of the radiator even though it is going against the natural rising of warm air. It hardly matters in this case as there is a fan at the very top drawing air out of the case so there is still a decent route.
If you also use an 80mm fan inside the case to move air around, you dont need to consider if air rises or falls naturally as its now constantly moving

 

[Deleted member 134350]

I would suggest 7/16" Tygon or MasterKlear tubing and the MP-05 SP LE CPU Waterblock.

http://www.dtekcustoms.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=154

Also the ThermoChill PA120.2 rad.