Fitting a Corsair H100i in an NZXT Source 210 case with GSkill Ripjaws \ ASUS M5A97 mobo

Teemsan · Mar 22, 2014

Hi
I'm wanting to order a Corsair H100i this week for my system. I've never installed any water cooling system before. I was going under the assumption it would work because my case has two top fan mounts, but as I've looked into it a little further, now I'm not so sure. I checked out the compatibility list at overclock.net, but under the NZXT cases mine is not listed under the H100i

http://www.overclock.net/t/1144409/h80-h80i-h90-h100-h100i-h110-case-compatibility-thread-page-1-for-full-listings

the NZXT Source 210 is a Mid ATX
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075

The other issue is will it clear my RAM and the heatsink on my mobo?

The RAM is GSkill Ripjaws
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

The motherboard is an ASUS M5A97 R 2.0
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/

I thought if anyone had a similar rig they could give advice. I'd post pics but I don't have a camera right now.
Thanks

mickypheonix · Mar 22, 2014

Hi Teemscan,
Check to see how much room you have between the top of your mobo and the top of your case to be sure it will fit, the 100i
radiator will be 27 ( say 30mm rounded off )wide plus 25mm fan width ,
55mm total Roughly , you will also need room below that for your 8pin eps power cable for your cpu unless you get creative with the 8 pin cable ,
if you have this much room you should be ok

Teemsan · Mar 22, 2014

Thanks mickypheonix

So it looks like a definite no. I have about 34mm to the 8 pin power and about 38 before it would start to interfere with the Ram. So the H100i is definitely out unless I get a new case.

Right now I'm using a 212 EVO in push pull to cool an FX 6300 with a mild OC to 4100. I'm looking to upgrade some time soon to an 8320 or 8350. So I'd like to OC a little more. My temps right now on the FX 6300 are about 35 idle up to 47 \ 48 under load. Not too bad but I can't OC much more b4 temps rise significantly. I'm also looking to reduce noise, so that's why I'm wanting water cooling. I've also looked at the H80i. I watched LinusTech's comparison of an H100i, H80i and a Silver Arrow Extreme. The H100i was the clear winner, followed by the Silver Arrow, then the H80i.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8HsjgtMzEg

So I'm thinking I'd probably get better performance out of the H80i than a 212 EVO, no? Or another single rad cooler. Any other recommendations? Say about $120 to $130 CAD tops.

I'd have to mount it in the rear of my case, and in push pull that'd take up my rear and one top fan slot, leaving only one other top fan as exhaust. Is this an OK config?

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

if looks are not important to you , you could mount rad on top of the case push fans inside the case only taking up 25mm and pull on top of rad 25mm and still use the 100i
and yes you will get better cooling from the h80i

Teemsan · Mar 23, 2014

mickypheonix :

Looks aren't really that important to me. but will that all be effective for cooling? So I'd be on push through the fan grill to the rad on top of the case .... would I also need to cut out the fan grills? And I guess noise would depend on what kind of pull fans i get ... The H100i is on sale right now for $109 CAD (Everything's more expensive here) so I could possibly throw a couple noctua fans in or some other quiet alternative and still be near the budget. Is there a half decent alternative to the noctua's sub $20 per?

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

ok if you want to go that way and looks are not important and you want to go for max performance , if it were me , i would go with the H105 for better cooling with the thicker rad , the holes already in roof should be ok , if you want quieter fan i would get the corsair SP fans , SP Professional if you want max performance and static pressure or SP quiet for hardly any noise but less static pressure , you can get them in dual kits of two fans they are especially designed for rads

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

this will blow your 212 evo away
i would go push pull , sp fans inside case rad and sp fans outside you will have to cut a slot big enough to get the pump through into your case or be creative and cut slot where your watercooling grommets are the water lines on the 105 are 300mm long if that helps

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

either that or rad inside the case and pull fans on top of case

Teemsan · Mar 23, 2014

mickypheonix :

Well rad inside the case and pull fans only on top would definitely be the easiest solution with the 100i. The question again would be performance with that setup. So that will still be better than the 212 EVO? I kinda like that solution. Maybe in a couple months I could afford to pick up another case that would fit the full rig inside in push pull.

I just checked and the H105 is also on sale and for $10 cheaper than the H100i. Only thing with that is the rad thickness is 38mm. And the #'s I gave you earlier are actually about 2 or 3 mm less - cause my fan grills protrude about that much above the case. I measured to their top. So my min clearance is actually about 31 or 32 mm - to the 8 pin power, about 35 or 36 to the RAM. So with that I'd be looking at push fans inside the case, rad on top with mod holes to get the pump through - something I'd like to avoid.

Damn that's such a good deal on the 105 that it'd be worth it just to pick up now and get a better case in another month or two. Are there even mid ATX cases that would fit the rad and a push fan inside the case for my setup?

Gam3r01 · Mar 23, 2014

Hi, ran into the same issue, same cooler and board, different case. I have the radiator mounted internally with the fans on the outside in Pull config. It outperforms my EVO easily.

(Im planning to buy a new top metal mesh, and make my own top screen thats .5-1 inch taller, to fit everything internal.)

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

sounds like a good deal on the 105
yes there are a quite a few here is a list of cases compatable with the h105
https://pcpartpicker.com/parts/case/?compatible_with=corsair-cpu-cooler-cw9060016ww

Teemsan · Mar 23, 2014

Gam3r01 :

Thanks, that's helpful

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

you're welcome m8 , hope it all works out

Teemsan · Mar 23, 2014

mickypheonix :

All options considered, I think I'll probably end up going with the H100i. I can try it mounted inside with the pull fan on top and it gives me a solution for now without having to mod. I may still do that later, but I can start with it not having to mod. And I'll get a new case down the line. Also I quoted the wrong price on the H105 - it was an American site, not Canadian.
Thanks for all your help.

mickypheonix · Mar 23, 2014

sounds like a good idea , have fun

Teemsan · Mar 23, 2014

Gam3r01 :

meant to ask you, what's the noise level like with the pull fans mounted outside the case?

Gam3r01 · Mar 23, 2014

They are just about the same as the EVO under load. Idle they are quieter, and using corsair link you can change their speeds.
They can run a bit loud, but checking my temps they never pass 45C so I turned the fan curve down.
On startup they run full speed, so dont be surprised when that happens.

Fitting a Corsair H100i in an NZXT Source 210 case with GSkill Ripjaws \ ASUS M5A97 mobo

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