Define R6 280mm radiator

I am at work right now, but I can send a picture tonight.

Ok, here are a couple of pics from inside the case. I have my 280mm radiator installed in the front of the case, but it could fit on top if you move the fans up a little. There was just not a lot of room with the hoses and I thought it looked better up front.

https://imgur.com/tKkveHh

Here is a picture of the top of the case. You can see the 2 x 240mm fans are installed. They are on a track and can easily be moved forward toward the front of the case an inch or two to give clearance for the radiator on top and the GPU radiator.

https://imgur.com/OAMwTNA

Just a tip, my GPU temps were 55C underload, but I removed the to plate with just the screen and dropped my temps below 50 and I cant hear much of a difference.

I am kinda a case snob and it is a good one, so I hope you like it.

I have to revive this thread because I need a definite answer
Can you or can't you fit a H115i - ON TOP? With a high profile RAM like Crosair Vengeance RGB or RGB PRO? Without it colliding with the RAM, motherboard, or case?

I am extremely worried the H115i PRO and even the H150i PRO won't fit with the RAM.

This guy here said he had issues with H110 but he didn't even talk about RAM - he said it won't fit at all.
https://youtu.be/vAM6DkgihLc

I can't complete a future build without knowing which CPU cooler and RAM to take.

The only issue dude in the video had was with the motherboard, he used an E-ATX x299 mobo that has massive heatsinks right at the top of the mobo, so interfered with the 280mm radiator top mount. No worries front mount. Your ram doesn't make a difference no matter how tall it is, the ram slots themselves sit lower on the board than that x299 heatsink so clear the cooler with plenty of space.

There's enough room in that case to easily mount a 240/280/360mm radiator either top or front mount with a normal ATX mobo as the top heatsinks on the VRM's are considerably smaller than on the x299 which by necessity needs massive VRM's cooling ability to handle the 16 core 2066 cpus.

Switching to a 240mm top mount with the same board he had no fitment issues, so if you are that worried, opt for a 360mm rad instead which uses the same 120mm bolt pattern as dude's 240mm DeepCool.

As is, my nzxt x61 280mm fits just fine on top in my define R5, which has basically the same dimensions minus a few of the modular tweaks.

Thank you for a quick reply! That helps a lot.

I am also thinking of buying the H150i Pro because it's 120 wide instead of 140. But I actually like the 115i more. It's quieter, cheaper, carries more air, not super long, and performs almost identically to the H150i 360mm. I also worried if it will suck cool air from the front before it reaches the components.

I am more concerned about THICKNESS other than width. How low it gets and if it collides with tall RAM:
See this thread here:
https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/884948-define-r6-and-radiator-support/
A guy said his 280 rad almost scraps the LOW PROFILE ram he has. And that high profile ram won't work.
I am not sure what motherboard, cooler or installation setup he has - but you can check the link and see the photo he attached.
So what do you think?
Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO is 51 mm tall and the RGB non-pro version is 44mm.

Here are current parts of a future -in development - build of mine:
(note that the motherboard is currently a placeholder and it's just a rough list).

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ssdbdX

I don't really want to front mount the RAD because Ilive in a very hot country and I want the front airflow to be undeterred as possible - and that colder fresh air will throw air from the x2 front 140mm fans onto the GPU. I think a front RAD clutters the case and chokes it.
Never had AIO before though.

Also if you like to visit and lend me a hand with my build plans, I'll appreciate it:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3802931/2019-ultimate-gaming-build-planning-decisions-questions.html#21404255

So pick a different case.

That hardly helps.
Thing is, I am not sure if it will fit or not. I tried to look up online for answers as well as watch numerous videos. No solid answers.
Plus I don't know what other case will be better really. I looked at dozens of them ,they all have big issues or lack important features.
And who's to say the AIO will fit with the RAM on a different case.

Why did you say initially that tall RAM is not an issue?
I frankly don't know how to pick a case, RAM and cooler with so many unknown factors. Compatibility is extremely important yet so vague.

So I have hit a wall in my build plans.

Yes, there are plenty of high end cases on the market that will suite your needs. The Phanteks Enthoo Luxe will support a H115i on top and will not come close to RAM clearance issues. I know this because I have that case in another system. It is a very nice case, but just a little bigger than the Define R6. I don't know what features you are looking for in a case, but I am certain that the Enthoo Luxe has everyone of those features. You can even run a push/pull configuration with a 280mm rad on top of the case. The build in your pcpartpicker list will support the Enthoo Luxe very easily.

The Define R6 is a very good case as well (quieter than the Enthoo Luxe) and typically the issues with radiator clearances deals with the heat sink on the mobo as Karadjgne said earlier. This is what the guy in the video stated that the mobo he used had large heat sinks and that most people who will buy this case will probably have high end motherboards because the case is not cheap.

Additionally, the age old question of front mounted radiators. I live in Houston Texas and even in mid October, it was 95F over the weekend. So I understand living in a hot spot in the world. My 280mm radiator is in the front of the case. That really should not impact your consideration. There are advantages of having the radiator in the front and disadvantages. With your rad in the front you will have cooler CPU temps than if it was on top. But by cooler, by maybe a degree or two.

The problem is that the cool air comes in from and it is heated as it passes through the rad cooling the CPU. That hot air is used to cool the GPU, which hot air cooling a GPU wont cool it as well. Again, we are talking about a degree or two difference. If you move the rad to the top of the case, the GPU will use the cool air from the front intake of the case, and expel that hot air right below the CPU. Since hot air rises, that hot air will go through your CPU radiator and will be used to cool your CPU. Therefore, hot air cooling a CPU wont cool it as well as cool air and you will see a couple of degrees difference.

In the end, you are worried about a few of degrees difference. A few degrees will not have any impact on performance. Unless you are a professional overclocker trying to break world records, you will never no the difference. Even if you were a pro overclocker, you would not use the Define R6.

Lastly, if performance and cooling is your primary goal, then don't go with the Define R6. It is a fantastic case, but it is designed more for sound dampening than cooling. I have a 1950x and a 1080ti in my Define R6 and it is much quieter than my 8700k and 1080ti in the Enthoo Luxe. But the Enthoo Luxe is several degrees cooler. So there is always a trade off. It sounds like you are more worried about heat than sound, so I would go with the Enthoo Luxe.

Exactly. No case is perfect for any person or every system. Each has its own set of quirks, advantages disadvantages etc.

As to radiators, those too are different. You keep lumping on 280mm rads like it makes a difference, and in some ways it does, 140mm mounts vrs 120mm mounts mean a 4mm offset closer to the board. Yet no mention is made of the different rads. Some 280mm are 38mm thick + 25mm fans, some are 25mm thick + 25mm fans. Even then, you can change the fans again and use the Slimline 12mm fans like that come on some cryorig air coolers for a total depth of 37mm instead of the 63mm with the thicker rads. That changes everything when it comes to rad/fan intrusion into ram dimensions.

I have an older CM 690 II Advanced that has a removable top, unlike many of the newer flat-top designs like the define series. There's enough room under that lid to mount 2x 140mm fans outside the frame, under the lid leaving just the rad inside by the mobo. Tons of room for any 280mm.

The Phanteks cases and many others have offset mounts, closer to the side panel than the mobo, further adding to rad compatibility.

I've had my nzxt x61 top mounted in my R5, currently it's front mounted, the ssd/hdd stuck into the unused optical bays and all the hdd cages removed. It's set in pull at intake. Case temps went up 2°C under gaming loads, gpu was same, cpu went down 2°C. And that's with just the 2x 140mm intakes from rad and the 2x stock 140mm as top exhaust, no rear.

So, if you are that worried about fitment because you found a couple of videos that showed fitment issues in specific situations, find a different case, or make your current situation change. There's exactly nothing saying you are totally stuck with using the case supplied mounting holes, make your own with a drill-bit closer to the side panel and away from the ram.

I have been thinking:
Option 1) Corsair 570X
240mm H100i Pro up top as exhaust (or maybe intake?)
Or 360 front Intake- but that will heat up airncoming into the GPU and other components. Also obstruct and reduce some airflow from the front. I rather not.

Option 2)Fractal Design Define R6:
Top Radiator 360mm H150i Pro. Can always switch to front for flexibility.

Option 3) Corsair Obsidian 500D RGB SE.
Top mounted (outake or intake ?) H115i Pro.

I am starting to love option 3 more and more.
It is big, spacious and is compatible with 280/240mm top rad.
The 500D RGB is a stunning solid case. Biggest issues I see are limited vent spaces on the tops and 4mm gap on both side panels Tempered glass. And that it doesn't come in white.

I need to fit these options with a tall RGB ram:
Corsair Vengeance RGB or RGB Pro.
Will it all fit?
I would love to get the taller Vengeance RGB Pro but it's freaking tall.

just replied to your other thread here
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3802931/2019-ultimate-gaming-build-planning-decisions-questions.html#21428317

Thanks.
Just replied to you there myself.
Also found a video and link that may serve as proof.
Please check it out there