Does an H55 fan/rad mounted to the bottom of a define mini have tubes long enough to reach the CPU?

Banqu0 · Oct 19, 2016

Just trying to get few degrees cooler and a few db quieter. Stock fan and no OC. CPU gets a bit warmer than I'd like, and the CPU fan is louder than the 2 cooling fans that came with the case. I want to bottom mount the rad/fan as an intake on my Fractal Design Define Mini, but want to be sure the waterblock will still reach the CPU before I buy it. Can this be done? Are there similar models with longer tubes?

Multipack · Oct 19, 2016

It's not a good idea to use a water cooled radiator fan as an intake as you will be blowing much hotter air into the case. The tubes will reach pretty much anywhere on an mATX case though. What temps are you getting? Are you controlling the fan curve via software?

13thmonkey · Oct 19, 2016

it probably won't be as quiet as good air, and not as cool either, just more expensive and fault intolerant.

Banqu0 · Oct 19, 2016

Hmm. Corsair recommended the the intake configuration, as it would allow for cooler air across the rad. The temps aren't too horrendous. About 50c when gaming. 38c idle. The fan is automatically controlled. The current CPU is a placeholder until I upgrade both the CPU and MOBO, although I still won't be overclocking.

Multipack · Oct 19, 2016

No, Corsair are vague about it, and some of their tutorial videos have them installing as an exhaust, but there are plenty of tutorials and threads on this site and most will say to exhaust radiator air.. http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1827685/cpu-coolers-depth.html

I know from experience how warm the air coming from the radiator is and you dont want that recycled into your system. Make sure you have good intake airflow fans..

How is the fan automatically controlled? I assume you have it plugged into the cpu_fan header? Also, those temps are very good, but if you are only getting a 12 degree difference between idle and full load then your idle is probably too high.

Banqu0 · Oct 19, 2016

Yes, it's plugged into the header. I was not too sure about the max temp being safe precisely because of the difference between that and idle. The Hyper 212 EVO will fit in my case, and using a larger fan than the stock cooler, would it not also be a bit quiter at the same temps?

Multipack · Oct 19, 2016

Yeah although the evo 212 is quite tall, so check the width of your case for clearance. Even though single fan AIO water coolers are not really any better than air coolers, some would say worse, in an mATX case it might be better as you are pushed for space. Maybe something like the BeQuiet Shadow Rock LP as it's low profile

Banqu0 · Oct 19, 2016

The Shadow Rock seems like a good route to go. Do you recommend 3rd party software for it?

Multipack · Oct 19, 2016

Well it depends if your motherboard has BIOS fan control (first choice) or software control (second choice) as you should have one of those, but failing that something like SpeedFan would probably work.

Banqu0 · Oct 19, 2016

I will go this route. Thank you for your help.

Multipack · Oct 19, 2016

Am sure you won't be disappointed. BeQuiet are very reliable and you will def get reduced temps (not that you exactly need them!)

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Does an H55 fan/rad mounted to the bottom of a define mini have tubes long enough to reach the CPU?

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