Hey everyone, I'm on the hunt for a suitable case that can accommodate my water cooling configuration. I'm planning to use Alphacool XT45 radiators and have a few options for layout: I could go with either 2x 360mm or 2x 280mm radiators (though the 280's only slightly less effective at heat dissipation), or a mix of 1x 360mm and 1x 280mm. My motherboard is an ATX ProArt X870E-CREATOR since I need that extra PCIe slot, and I'm running an AMD 9950X CPU along with a temporary 9070xt GPU until I switch to NVIDIA's next generation. I need a case that can handle this setup without being massive and, crucially, it has to fit within a height limit of 410mm. My ideal case is the O11D mini V2, but its design quirks prevent proper radiator installation. Also, I'm looking to build six identical setups, so finding discontinued parts isn't an option. Any suggestions on cases that might work?
3 Answers
Have you thought about mounting a radiator externally? You could even screw one underneath your desk or something. Alternatively, you could consider modding an existing case to fit your radiators better. I don't know of any stock case that checks all your boxes, unfortunately.
You might want to check out the Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2, but it's a bit large. For something smaller, the Be Quiet! 802 could work, or the Lian Li O11 Air Mini is another option, though I'm not sure how it measures up with your height requirements.
Finding a case that fits your needs is definitely tricky! Honestly, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment since most cases won't give enough height if you're not accounting for airflow and PSU space. For your dual radiator layout, remember that custom loops can handle impressive loads on just one radiator. A single 360mm radiator should be enough for your setup, especially when paired with proper airflow. Consider rethinking your configuration!
Yeah, but it really depends on how much heat you're trying to dissipate. You can technically run a single 360mm rad, but if you want optimal temps without torturous fan speeds, you might want to stick to the more conventional setup.
Agreed! A single 360 with high-speed fans could do it, but you'll definitely be pushing limits.
OOOOR... if you're really desperate, the smallest ATX case you can find with a MO.RA 600 could be a crazy solution!