Would this work?

[Kelainefes]

I was thinking, you reckon it would be possible to run a watercooling setup without fans on a radiator, but sealing the case so all the air that is pumped in by the fans has nowhere to go but through it?
With a 120mm fan acting as a exhaust plus the 120 mm fans of the PSU, wich both spin in the 900-1200 RPM range depending on temperatures, the air goes out very fast from all the hundreds of holes in the side panels and the top.
Now if i were to run a water loop for my CPU and maybe GPU, i would turn the rear fan in intake position, wich would leave only the PSU and the radiator as exits.
With two side 21cm fans, and two (1 back 1 front) 120 mm intakes, i guesstimate anything from a minimum of 250 to a maximum of at least 300 CFM coming in, and the PSU outputs no more than 50/60 CFM, so even in the worst case scenario i would have the equivalent of 3 120 mm fans spinning at 1000/1200 RPM pushing on the radiator.
Does this make sense? Or you think radiators are too restrictive? I'm thinking about a Black ICE GT Stealth 280 (2x 140 mm fans) since the cost is reasonable, and it sems price performance is pretty good, and maybe i could add a second one, stacking them or securing one on the top and one on the side.
I dunno, the Danamics should come out soon and maybe it will push any idea of watercooling out of my head but maybe not, and i like to plan in advance.

[affiliate13]

Are you planning on using the Windtunnel for this?
I ask as i have been thinking about how to do go water with this case. I thought cutting through the top or side ventilation might work and leave the rad lying on the roof.
Your idea sounds much more interesting though, if you did manage this it would make a nice update to your windtunnel review.

[Kelainefes]

Yes, it would be indeed, but costs hold me back a little, since i'm the type that prefers to buy good stuff that you can keep, so i wouldn't buy a 50 euros pump that is good for CPU WB>rad>reservoir but would give up the ghost when i add NB-SB-GPU blocks later.
And i'd like to get decent radiators that i can keep if i add GPU and mosfets blocks to the loop, maybe adding another one just to lower water temps.
So far i think i'd need a 300 euros setup with just a CPU block, plus mods to the case, but that should be relatively cheap.
Basically what i think is: "Is it worth it? How much actual performance am i getting for the money? Wouldn' i be better off with a 3.2/3.4 GHz quad on air rather than a 4.5/4.8 GHZ dual? Or with a 3.6 GHZ dual on air and a faster video card?"
And since my budget is not unlimited, i want to spend money in something that gives me more performance and decent looks, and not little actual performance and cool looks.
So unless someone experienced tells me that i can spend significantly less and still have a quality system, i doubt i'm going to really buy a water cooling rig this year, and i'll postpone the decision to Januay.
When i get a new 45 nm dual i know my current TR SI 128 SE can keep it cool enough at 3.6/3.8, so i'm in no hurry ATM.

[Clunk]

I think it would depend on the radiator used and the power of the case fans and whether there is any other way for the air to escape and if there are any obstructions.

Thermochill rads have quite large spacing between the fins, so it should work ok with those, but not sure about the black ice.

[Kelainefes]

The specs for those are 30 fins per inch, but there are also 20 fins per inch models; they are around 30mm in depth, the actual core will be a few mm less.
I guess the spacing between fins will be in between 0.2 and 0.4 mm for the 30 fins per inch models, but i reckon that the bigger total surface area (140x280) should make up for the tighter spacing compared to the Thermochill.
Mind you it's not like i don't like the idea of Thermochills, but it seems the only one available in Italy it's the PA120.3 that most likely will not fit in the case.

[affiliate13]

One other thing, if you plan on taking your time on this then it might be worth hanging on until the nehalem cpu blocks are available to see if they will also work with 775 sockets and save a bit for your next possible build.

Would you consider mounting the RAD on the roof if it had to be one of the big thermochills?

[Clunk]

Or why not have the case fans actually on the rad and pulling the air from the front? would be the same air, only a bit more focussed.

[Kelainefes]

Oh well, ofcourse i could have fans on the radiator, but since i got 4 already 2x120 and 2x210, and since the 2 big ones are embedded in the side panel and the front one is concealed and the front is otherwise sealed, i thought i might as well use all that positive pressure and save me 60 euros in fans (wich means +20-25 % on top of what i think i need to spend without fans).

Originally Posted by affiliate13

Would you consider mounting the RAD on the roof if it had to be one of the big thermochills?

Well, that could be an idea, but radiators are quite fragile, aren't they? although i don't have pets or small children in the house, i still would be concerned... but maibe i could use rad grills, if they are not to restrictive.

[affiliate13]

Originally Posted by Kelainefes

Well, that could be an idea, but radiators are quite fragile, aren't they? although i don't have pets or small children in the house, i still would be concerned... but maibe i could use rad grills, if they are not to restrictive.

I honestly dont know, i have only been toying with the the idea of w/c. I am very interested in this idea though, since i also have he same case.

I might start to put together something later too, i am thinking about a budget just now and doing some reading. I will most likely work outside the case so it would make a nice comparison if you are planning to work inside.