H110 in a Fractal Design Define R5

[czernobog]

Hi,

 

has anyone tried out their H110 in the new R5 case? Would it fit on the inside-top position with the fans still inside the case?

 

Also is the tubing long enough to reach the radiator when mounted on front of the case? The tubing seems kind of short. The case specs are here: http://www.fractal-design.com/media/4ac4dd54-0fa8-46f6-91cf-c3299b2d4fd9

According to the size specs it could *just* be possible to mount the radiator in front however I don't know if it will put much strain on the tubing.

[Corsair Dustin]

Fractal Design lists compatibility with 280mm radiators in the top of the case, so the H110 should be perfectly fine in the top of the R5.

[czernobog]

Fractal Design lists compatibility with 280mm radiators in the top of the case, so the H110 should be perfectly fine in the top of the R5.

 

Ah you're right, reading comprehension mistake by me:(

Top – 420, 360, 280, 240, 140 and 120 mm radiators.
(A thickness limitation of 55mm for both radiator+fan applies on 420, 280 and
140 mm radiators) 

 

However, it would be nice to know if anyone has successfully installed one on the front. Or in any other case with similar dimensions! I would rather not open the top covers, since a big part of the sound dampening would be lost.

[JHzz]

Hi,

 

has anyone tried out their H110 in the new R5 case? Would it fit on the inside-top position with the fans still inside the case?

 

Also is the tubing long enough to reach the radiator when mounted on front of the case? The tubing seems kind of short. The case specs are here: http://www.fractal-design.com/media/4ac4dd54-0fa8-46f6-91cf-c3299b2d4fd9

According to the size specs it could *just* be possible to mount the radiator in front however I don't know if it will put much strain on the tubing.

 

Hi. I just sold my Define R3 case to a friend and bought a Define R5 to get my Corsair H110 properly set with fans still inside. They didn't fit inside in R3, because of the motherboards superior border.

 

Well, surprise, surprise. The fans don't fit in in Define R5 either. My motherboards PS2-port is blocking the rear fan/part of the radiator (however I install it) and prevents the installation. I had to put the fans on top of the case again, sucking air...

 

It was basically the only reason I wanted to sell my R3 and get R5, but meh. There's no way I'd get them properly installed inside without breaking anything.

 

And there's no way I'm going to remove HDD cages and install it in the front.

Also, I'm not going to remove my optical drive cage, because I need it. It'd propably fit if it was installed in the front so that the frontal fan would be atop of where the optical drive was.

[Corsair Dustin]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that.

 

For obvious reasons we can't really check compatibility against competitors' cases internally, but that's pretty ridiculous.

[leandrotagli]

Hi. I just sold my Define R3 case to a friend and bought a Define R5 to get my Corsair H110 properly set with fans still inside. They didn't fit inside in R3, because of the motherboards superior border.

 

Well, surprise, surprise. The fans don't fit in in Define R5 either. My motherboards PS2-port is blocking the rear fan/part of the radiator (however I install it) and prevents the installation. I had to put the fans on top of the case again, sucking air...

 

It was basically the only reason I wanted to sell my R3 and get R5, but meh. There's no way I'd get them properly installed inside without breaking anything.

 

And there's no way I'm going to remove HDD cages and install it in the front.

Also, I'm not going to remove my optical drive cage, because I need it. It'd propably fit if it was installed in the front so that the frontal fan would be atop of where the optical drive was.

 

Hi! Your motherboard still is a Asus Sabertooth X79? Have you tried to remove the shield (plastic protection) of the I/O ports? (http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Sabertooth-X79-reario.jpeg)

 

I have a Asrock Z97 Extreme6 and I like to buy a Fractal Design R5 to install my Corsair H110. My Asrock is thinner than your Asus, like you could see here: (http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/ASRockZ97Extreme6/normal_ASRockZ97Extreme6_039.jpg)

 

You think my mobo can fit in R5?

Could you please measure the distance between the top of the R5 case and the P2 port of your mobo to I try to calculate if my mobo could fit in R5?

 

Thank you!!

[JHzz]

Sorry for the delay in answering.

 

Yea the mobo is still Asus ST X79. I haven't tried removing the plastic protection, but it crossed my mind; I wasn't sure if I'd break anything from the mobo by removing the shield, since I have no idea how to remove it. Why? Because I noticed the problem when I already had my mobo inside the case, and didn't see any tips for removing the plastic. If I'd take it off the case again (do I bother..?) then I guess I'd get a better perspective and see how to remove it. Currently I can't, it seems.

I'll open the case and take the measurements you asked, and a photo. Can't promise anything before that. ;)

Glad to help someone with the same problem I had.

[JHzz]

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#1

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#2

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#3

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#4

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#5

 

There are the pictures, with notes ofc. Only uncomfortable thing for you might be the power cord for the cpu. You have to bend it pretty much to get it out of the way. I added pretty much description in the pictures.

 

And btw, I found out how to remove the plastic cover. I gotta detach 2 screws from the back of the motherboard, which is impossible while it's inside the case. I should remove the whole thing and I just don't feel like I'm doing it any time soon.

 

Let me know if the pics don't work or sth, also ask for questions or details if you need them.

 

Hope that helps.

 

-JHzz

[Corsair Dustin]

Ugh. I'm sorry, it looks like it's straight up a problem with the case design. The lack of clearance at the top of the case forces radiator fans into the keepout zone.

[outlawz]

 

Also is the tubing long enough to reach the radiator when mounted on front of the case? The tubing seems kind of short. The case specs are here: http://www.fractal-design.com/media/4ac4dd54-0fa8-46f6-91cf-c3299b2d4fd9

.

 

 

Hi all

 

does anyone check it ?

I order the define R5 and i want to know if H110 will fit to the front of the case

thanks in advance.

[leandrotagli]

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#1

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#2

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#3

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#4

 

http://imgur.com/dGNiiOy,8OYRwyE,5t1SalV,D7mKTbB,NyzzN2w,zwCvZ9O#5

 

There are the pictures, with notes ofc. Only uncomfortable thing for you might be the power cord for the cpu. You have to bend it pretty much to get it out of the way. I added pretty much description in the pictures.

 

And btw, I found out how to remove the plastic cover. I gotta detach 2 screws from the back of the motherboard, which is impossible while it's inside the case. I should remove the whole thing and I just don't feel like I'm doing it any time soon.

 

Let me know if the pics don't work or sth, also ask for questions or details if you need them.

 

Hope that helps.

 

-JHzz

 

Thank you very much to your very fast answers!

All the 6 links open the same picture, that shows the top mounting radiator with 1 cm wide from the plastic shield.

 

 

 

If I see right, the noctua fan won´t be installed inside the case because its blocked by the plastic shield? Or it´s blocked by the metal protection below the noctua rear chassis fan?

 

 

 

I understood the power cord detail. I was looking for instruction to how to remove the plastic shield but I don´t found it. I found just the plastic shield already removed here (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/50312-asus-sabertooth-x79-motherboard-review-6.html)

Cool! Just 2 screws is very easy way to disassembly it. Surely you will do it ASAP to put the fans inside the case.

 

 

About the radiator fans, you are using they with push or pull configuration? Has you tried both configurations to compare the thermal efficiency?

 

 

 

The radiator fans you are using are Noctua NF-A14 PWM? These are really more silent than original corsair fans? And about the CFM? Is a considerable difference? I´m trying to find these Noctua fans here in Brazil but simply no one store sell it.

 

I appreciate very much your help!

 

Sorry my english.

Leandro.

 

[EDIT] The links open correctly now, using Firefox! With IE9 all links open just the first image.

 

[EDIT 2] According with R5 product sheet (http://www.fractal-design.com/media/4ac4dd54-0fa8-46f6-91cf-c3299b2d4fd9), page 4, top mounting radiators with 140mm or more has a thickness limitation of 55mm for both radiator+fan applies. Considering that H110 radiator has 29mm and both Corsair or Noctua NF-A14 PWM fans has 25mm, the total of 54mm is able to be mounted internaly into the top case.

I think the R5 product sheet are wrong or the H110 really could fit with fans inside the R5, for example in your event removing the plastic shield of your mobo (I really hope)!

[JHzz]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that.

 

For obvious reasons we can't really check compatibility against competitors' cases internally, but that's pretty ridiculous.

Yea. I think the case design if faulty. What's the point of making it so tight anyway? If they had made like 1,5cm higher design, my case would be 1cm lower now as ridiculous as it sounds, because the fans would fit in easily. That's just... Annoying. Currently I would get it fitting, but the rear fan should be removed during the installation, some cords attached before it etc. The environment is just too small to call it "280mm-cooler compatible" in my opinion, even if it's possible to get the cooler there.

[JHzz]

Thank you very much to your very fast answers!

All the 6 links open the same picture, that shows the top mounting radiator with 1 cm wide from the plastic shield.

 

 

 

If I see right, the noctua fan won´t be installed inside the case because its blocked by the plastic shield? Or it´s blocked by the metal protection below the noctua rear chassis fan?

 

 

 

I understood the power cord detail. I was looking for instruction to how to remove the plastic shield but I don´t found it. I found just the plastic shield already removed here (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/50312-asus-sabertooth-x79-motherboard-review-6.html)

Cool! Just 2 screws is very easy way to disassembly it. Surely you will do it ASAP to put the fans inside the case.

 

 

About the radiator fans, you are using they with push or pull configuration? Has you tried both configurations to compare the thermal efficiency?

 

 

 

The radiator fans you are using are Noctua NF-A14 PWM? These are really more silent than original corsair fans? And about the CFM? Is a considerable difference? I´m trying to find these Noctua fans here in Brazil but simply no one store sell it.

 

I appreciate very much your help!

 

Sorry my english.

Leandro.

 

[EDIT] The links open correctly now, using Firefox! With IE9 all links open just the first image.

 

[EDIT 2] According with R5 product sheet (http://www.fractal-design.com/media/4ac4dd54-0fa8-46f6-91cf-c3299b2d4fd9), page 4, top mounting radiators with 140mm or more has a thickness limitation of 55mm for both radiator+fan applies. Considering that H110 radiator has 29mm and both Corsair or Noctua NF-A14 PWM fans has 25mm, the total of 54mm is able to be mounted internaly into the top case.

I think the R5 product sheet are wrong or the H110 really could fit with fans inside the R5, for example in your event removing the plastic shield of your mobo (I really hope)!

 

1. The fan wouldn't be installed (at the moment) because of the plastic shield. The metal protection you mentioned, is just enough aside so it shouldn't block the fan. NOTE THIS: if you had fans installed first and the radiator afterwards, the radiator would propably get blocked by that metal. The radiator itself has the fan mount screwholes a bit to the center from the left edge, so the fan can be installed. You can see 2 screwholes (1 blurred) in the first image. (lower screwhole is right above the red number "1", where I wrote "1 cm".)

 

2. The fans are NF-A14 FLX fans, no power management separately, but 3 different speed options. I bet there's no big difference between FLX or PWM.

They are very silent and efficient, I think. Idle temps for CPU (3930K) are about 30 deg for each core, and GPU (GTX 690) is at 34 degrees. I checked with Real Temp GT 3.70 and GPU-Z. My room temperature is about 21 degrees.

I'm using "Low noise-adaptor" in a few of the fans, but front and bottom fans got no adaptor and run at full speed. Yes, they are audible if you listen to them, but my GPU fan keeps more noise at 70% fan speed, than all the noctuas combined. I'm very satisfied with the temperatures and the noise levels with those fans. They were expensive (20€ each) but worth it.

I haven't used corsair's own fans in H110 cooling, because in FD Define R3 I had to put them outside the case and the cords were too short. I replaced them with Fractal Design's fans, which sucked mucus. Can't say too much about the corsair fans and their CFM or speeds, but the one I attached to the side panel was a bit too loud in my opinion.

I can't calculate the CFM for you or compare it. Check this site:

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=52&lng=en

You can see the numbers there. All I cared about was that my inside temperatures dropped a few (2-4 degrees) with noctua fans, and it's silent.

 

 

3. I haven't tried any other mode for the airflow than sucking, because I've had no chance to fit fans inside the case. I trusted my friend who works as a car mechanic and who said that "air suction is more efficient than blow, and that's why they use the suction in turbines etc." I never checked if that's the case, but everything's worked well enough. I think it would be more efficient to install the fans first and then the radiator to get air suction from the radiator and straight out of the case, but you're gonna have some hard time doing that with R5. You're going to have to settle for the fans blowing air through the radiator and then outside the case, I guess.

 

4. An answer to your problem: You can install H110 in Fractal Design's Define R5, if you put the radiator first to the top and fans pushing air outside through the radiator. It's gonna be tight but doable.

 

Let me know if anything is still unclear, or if you come up with other questions. I will remove the plastic cover once I get a friend here helping me and I've got the time from school to do it. It may go up to 6 months before I do it, but some day it will happen. I'll post pictures later on the same forum when I get everything inside my case.

Also, let me know how it works for you. Picture maybe when your all set and ready?

 

Good luck there!

 

-JHzz

[JHzz]

Hi all

 

does anyone check it ?

I order the define R5 and i want to know if H110 will fit to the front of the case

thanks in advance.

Hi. I've seen on the internet that the tubing is long enough to get it in front of the case, and it can be installed there. It was some Swedish site...

 

NOTE: If you want to install it in the front, say goodbye to your HDD cages. There's no other place in for HDD's in the case if you put a H110 in the front of the case. Sure, there are 2 SSD slots behind the motherboard panel, but I didn't get my Samsung SSD 840 Pro Series fit there. Depends on the SSD.

[outlawz]

Hi. I've seen on the internet that the tubing is long enough to get it in front of the case, and it can be installed there. It was some Swedish site...

 

NOTE: If you want to install it in the front, say goodbye to your HDD cages. There's no other place in for HDD's in the case if you put a H110 in the front of the case. Sure, there are 2 SSD slots behind the motherboard panel, but I didn't get my Samsung SSD 840 Pro Series fit there. Depends on the SSD.

 

 

hello,

there's a place between the power supply to the front that you can mount the hdd cage, if it can be done i will put it on 5.25 cage

the downside that Hard drive cannot be lock there :(

anyway... thank you for the information,

peace.

[DarkManX4lf]

Hi guys,

 

I recently got a Define R5 and was able to successfully mount the radiator and fans inside the case on the top side. Fans are pulling air into the case and I still have my optical drive bay with a blue ray drive installed. It is a real tight fit though. I'll need to remove everything soon to put in a new xfx 750w psu I bought so its going to be a pita. The radiator blocks the motherboards power connector on top.

 

I came to this site looking for easier ways to install the radiator as its a complete pain to get the fans and radiator aligned with just two hands :). If anyone has any tips on this it would be appreciated :).

[leandrotagli]

Let me know if anything is still unclear, or if you come up with other questions. I will remove the plastic cover once I get a friend here helping me and I've got the time from school to do it. It may go up to 6 months before I do it, but some day it will happen. I'll post pictures later on the same forum when I get everything inside my case.

Also, let me know how it works for you. Picture maybe when your all set and ready?

 

Good luck there!

 

-JHzz

 

Thank you for your extensive answer.

My primary idea is to use 4 fans to do a push-pull configuration. It´s clearly impossible in a R5 case. My secondary idea is to a pull configuration, with fans pulling air through radiator to outside of the case. Your friend tell it´s less efficient than pulling the hot air from the radiator to outside of the case, and he is probably right.

About the noctua fans, I bought 2 NF-A15 PWM and they have the same airflow and noise lavels of your NF-A14 FLX. They are really silent.

 

Yes I beleave you in the limitation of mounting configuration, with only possible to put radiator firs on the top and later installing the fans. It´s a bad thing.

 

Another thing is worring me: the top dissipator of my motherboard. Its very big and very tall (http://ic.tweakimg.net/ext/i/1399451672.jpeg) (http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8045/ASR%20Z97Ex6%20Oblique_575px.png)

 

The fans below the H110 will be fit in the R5 even with this tall dissipator? I´m afraid in buy the R5 and it will not support my mobo with H110.

 

My other option is buy a Corsair Carbide 540. Is a tottaly different case, but it really suport H110, even a push-pull configuration of fans (http://www.overclock.net/image/id/6024594). My main preocupation with this case is the dust! Even with a "almost closed" Akasa Eclipse 62 case (http://content.hwigroup.net/images/products/xl/000975/akasa_eclipse62.jpg), a lot of dust came inside in 3-4 months. An alternative to prevent the dust in the Carbide 540 is these kit of dust filter (http://www.demcifilter.com/p0431/Corsair-Air-540-Dust-Filter-Kit.aspx). It´s expensive and will be a long wait until this arrive here in Brazil.

 

I still in doubt about witch case would buy, but thank you JHzz very much for your help!

Leandro.

[leandrotagli]

Hi guys,

 

I recently got a Define R5 and was able to successfully mount the radiator and fans inside the case on the top side. Fans are pulling air into the case and I still have my optical drive bay with a blue ray drive installed. It is a real tight fit though. I'll need to remove everything soon to put in a new xfx 750w psu I bought so its going to be a pita. The radiator blocks the motherboards power connector on top.

 

I came to this site looking for easier ways to install the radiator as its a complete pain to get the fans and radiator aligned with just two hands :). If anyone has any tips on this it would be appreciated :).

 

It´s a good news!!

 

Your mobo is a mATX, and his top radiator is very thin comparing to the my motherboard (http://ic.tweakimg.net/ext/i/1399451672.jpeg) (http://images.anandtech.com/doci/8045/ASR%20Z97Ex6%20Oblique_575px.png). Do you think it´s will fit into the R5?

 

Could you take some pictures with measurements like JHzz do before (http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showpost.php?p=751826&postcount=8)?

 

Thank you.

[Corsair Dustin]

The Air 540 has a dust filter on the front. If you're using the top as an exhaust, you won't need a dust filter there.

[leandrotagli]

The Air 540 has a dust filter on the front. If you're using the top as an exhaust, you won't need a dust filter there.

 

Yes but I generally use my PC just 4-5 hours a day, so while it´s off the dust will come into Carbide 540. Many user also complain about absence of dust filter under the power supply.

I like very much this case, the design, cable management and internal space, but another problem in my case is the absence of more 3.5 inch bays, because I have 6 hard disks.

[Corsair Dustin]

So as far as dust for the PSU, that's a problem largely solved by just using one of our PSUs like an RM, HXi, or AXi, which just plain doesn't turn the fan on unless under a moderate, sustained load. My old Air 540 build pretty much never had the AX1200i's fan kick on; it never needed to.

 

If you need more 3.5" drive bays, you can fit at least two or three into the 5.25" drive bays using aftermarket adapters from NewEgg. Another option is to just use USB 3.0 external enclosure(s); I can't imagine needing six drives inside the case unless it's being used as a NAS or those mechanical drives are all being RAIDed.

 

Finally, moderate ambient dust settling into the Air 540 isn't really an issue. I used mine even less than you use yours and internal dust was very minor.

[JHzz]

Hello everyone! Note to Corsair's dude here so you can spread info if a customer asks about it:

 

I did it. I got it in. I screwed the stupid plastic part away (3 screws) from Sabertooth X79 and it fits fine. Had to take the whole mobo off, but a friend helped so I bothered to do it. Also, you can push your optical drive in R5 a bit forward if the H110 won't in with the drive cables. So yes, R5 really is compatible with H110.

 

http://imgur.com/Z8zhQ48,xybkWc2,oGDNbFO,ep6Bg3c,kMLt6Zc#0

http://imgur.com/Z8zhQ48,xybkWc2,oGDNbFO,ep6Bg3c,kMLt6Zc#1

http://imgur.com/Z8zhQ48,xybkWc2,oGDNbFO,ep6Bg3c,kMLt6Zc#2

http://imgur.com/Z8zhQ48,xybkWc2,oGDNbFO,ep6Bg3c,kMLt6Zc#3

http://imgur.com/Z8zhQ48,xybkWc2,oGDNbFO,ep6Bg3c,kMLt6Zc#4

 

Unrelated, other news: I tried to change the cooler to my GTX690 (accelero twin turbo 690) It worked fine for 2 weeks with under 67deg temps on both cores on maximum load (furmark and other benchmarks). Then I got a freeze, but restarted fine. Also a bluescreen. Then I got another freeze, and after that I could log into Windows according to my speakers, and Alt + F4 normally, but without picture. VGA_LED started burning and I realised my GPU was dead. Core temps were fine, propably a hotspot. Byebye 1000€. So that's why I have Asus STRIX in the picture.

 

I also had to buy a new ssd since my former one lost startup files after switching the cooler to GPU (thought it was broken too). It wasn't. I taped it onto the bluray-player with double-sided tape. Works like a miracle. I also taped every other drive I have, because less noise and resonance.

 

Thank you for your interest!