8700k, Strix 1080ti, Noctua NH-D15, Corsair Vengeance RAM, mid tower case - will this run cool enough

dug1001 · Dec 16, 2017

Hi all,

About to build my first gaming pc. I like the size look of the Define C case.

From what I can gather all of the above components do fit including the cooler, just!

I'm after a sleek looking, non gamer type case and also fairly quiet running, hence the choice of air cooler.

I'd also like to oc the CPU and GPU a bit. So my question is will it run cool enough in a small case like this?

The case comes with one front 120mm and one rear 120mm fan, obviously I can add another front or add two front 140mms, the exhaust looks limited to one 120mm though, I do want a positive pressure airflow.

Anyone got a similar air cooled set up in a small case like this? How are the thermals? The last thing I want is it overheating or having the fans running crazy loud.

Should I just go for the slightly bigger Define S, or maybe the Meshify?

TIA

jankerson · Dec 16, 2017

I recommend going with a bigger case like the Define S.

You will run out of room when you raise the front fan on the NH D15 to clear the ram.

dug1001 · Dec 17, 2017

jankerson :

I am a bit worried about that. The case specs say it has room for a 170mm cooler, The NH-D15 is165mm and has clearance for 32mm ram.

The ram is 34mm so in theory I should be able to move the fan up 2-3mm and it 'should' fit.

Do the cooler height clearances on the case specs take the mobo itself into account?

jankerson · Dec 17, 2017

dug1001 :

The COOLER has the clearance... The fan is different however and the reason why the fan has to be raised.

Look at how low the fan is in the pictures, you will have to rise the front fan a lot.

https://noctua.at/en/products/cpu-cooler-retail/nh-d15/specification

I am using a NH D15 and I can tell you that you need a bigger case.

The Define S has 180mm of clearance and that is enough.

170mm is NOT enough clearance.

dug1001 · Dec 17, 2017

jankerson :

thanks for the link mate. Looking at the picture it shows 32mm clearance including the 2nd fan and still with a 165mm total height?

I'm gonna do a bit more checking into this, the Define S still looks good but I'll have a hell of a lot of empty space in there, I do some searching to see if anyone has made it work in a C

jankerson · Dec 17, 2017

dug1001 :

jankerson :

thanks for the link mate. Looking at the picture it shows 32mm clearance including the 2nd fan and still with a 165mm total height?

I'm gonna do a bit more checking into this, the Define S still looks good but I'll have a hell of a lot of empty space in there, I do some searching to see if anyone has made it work in a C

The FAN will be right over the ram when mounted, NO WAY will you be able to mount the fan flush like the picture or even near it.

Like I said I AM USING ONE.

dug1001 · Dec 17, 2017

jankerson :

dug1001 :

The FAN will be right over the ram when mounted, NO WAY will you be able to mount the fan flush like the picture or even near it.

Like I said I AM USING ONE.

ok thanks jankerson, Define S it is then.

On another note how is your case fan setup, did you find the two 140mm fans included good enough or shall I order an extra 140 as another intake. Are the included fans pretty quiet?

I'm going to be overclocking the cpu and probably gpu a bit and want to make sure it stays cool enough

jankerson · Dec 17, 2017

dug1001 :

jankerson :

ok thanks jankerson, Define S it is then.

On another note how is your case fan setup, did you find the two 140mm fans included good enough or shall I order an extra 140 as another intake. Are the included fans pretty quiet?

I'm going to be overclocking the cpu and probably gpu a bit and want to make sure it stays cool enough

I replaced the OEM fans in my CM Mastercase 5 Pro with the Noctua fans, the OEM's are OK, but they didn't move much air.

Running 3x 140mm fans, 2 intake and one exhaust.

dug1001 · Dec 17, 2017

jankerson :

dug1001 :

jankerson :

ok thanks jankerson, Define S it is then.

On another note how is your case fan setup, did you find the two 140mm fans included good enough or shall I order an extra 140 as another intake. Are the included fans pretty quiet?

I'm going to be overclocking the cpu and probably gpu a bit and want to make sure it stays cool enough

I replaced the OEM fans in my CM Mastercase 5 Pro with the Noctua fans, the OEM's are OK, but they didn't move much air.

Running 3x 140mm fans, 2 intake and one exhaust.

ok mate, thanks for all your replies

dug1001 · Dec 19, 2017

Just an update on this for anyone doing a search on this subject in the future.

I ended up getting the Define C TG which has 172mm clearance as opposed to the standard Define which has 170mm and it does fit.

It’s very close, the fan which I’ve raised up above the ram more or less touches the glass but it wasn’t a struggle to get the glass on, it didn’t have to force it or anything.

The standard Define C with 2mm less clearance probably wouldn’t have worked.

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