alanrichie Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Hello all, Hope someone can stop me from overthinking this constantly, I have a fractal meshify s2 case, I have 4 x corsair ql140 fans (rgb) attached to the case, 3 intake front + 1 rear exhaust. I ordered a corsair icue h115i pro rgb xt AIO cpu cooler, however upon installation my Corsair Dominator platinum ram is to high and the 280mm radiator wont fit top mounting, I was then going to front mount but when you mount this on the front it blocks the 3rd slot for the 3rd front intake fan so decided against this. I have on order the icue h150i pro rgb xt AIO cpu cooler (360mm) and 3 x ql120 fans, with the plan if the radiator still wont fit top mounting i can mount on the front and have 3 fans on the front of the case. However i have now realised that i only enough options for 6 x rgb fans, i have a commander pro and node core pro and this supports 6 rgb fans, i dont want to get another node core for just 1 extra fan (3x120 on h150i, 4 x case fans ql140). So i am now thinking should i just get the h110i pro rgb xt AIO cpu cooler (240-mm) and 2 x ql120 fans and this way it should definitely fit up top and i will have rgb and pwm controller using the commander pro and node core pro. Upon researching the difference between the h110i / h115i / h150i there is only about a 1-1.5 degree difference. Another option is to use the icue h150i pro rgb xt AIO cpu cooler (360mm) and not add the ql120 rgb fans, but seems a waste to buy a £55 commander pro to just run 4 rgb fans from it, or i could return the commander pro also, save £55 and use software to control the fans as my case has a built in fan controller for 3 x 4pin and 3 x 4 pin connectors on motherboard. Below is a picture of this exact set up https://ultimatepcgiveaways.co.uk/shop/meshify-s2-2070-super-gaming-pc-bundle My last concern is i choose the h110i option with 2 x ql120 fans added. if have 3 x ql140 intake fans as intake and 2 x ql120 fans on the cpu aio as exhaust and 1 rear 140mm exhaust will i have enough exhaust? Can someone please give me the best suggestions, i have actually lost sleep over this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) Upon researching the difference between the h100i / h115i / h150i there is only about a 1-1.5 degree difference. Be careful with this. Many fan reviews set the fans to maximum and record that as the temperature. A 240mm radiator with 2x120@2000+ rpm is quite a bit different than a 280mm with fans at 1200 rpm. Ultimately whether a 280 or 360mm holds much benefit for you depends on your CPU and it's total wattage. Newer 3000 series AMD chips with lower core counts are less dependent on radiator size where as someone with a 10900K might or Threadripper may be more needy. Unfortunately, 7 is not a lucky number for fans in the Corsair system as the normal per hub cap is 6 - the most common number for most cases. There are some 3rd party splitters that will make 2 of the fans do the same patterns at the same time, but I am not sure how much I would like that for this specific case and set-up. I would be more inclined to break them in 4+3 on two controllers. There are ways to obtain these for a relatively low cost. However, The easiest thing to do would be to stick with your nice 140mm QL theme you have going on. Two top and one rear QL140 is plenty of exhaust. That would let you do the triple 140 up front, with two of them on a H115i series 280mm radiator. Can you explain how it doesn't fit? The radiator would bolt on behind the fans. That should not interfere with the lowest front 140. The part that can be a problem is the lower PSU shroud. Adding in 120's to this, with either a 240 or 360mm radiator just seems to complicate things. It would be essential if you were to top mount the radiator. If so, I would think finding a solution for the 7th fan would be preferable to leaving a gaping whole in the top. With the 2x140 up there, you may be able to space them out or arrange a more symmetrical and full looking placement. OK, I have seen more pictures of the S2 from the top. It seems the top section is cut for 120s with some overlap on 140s. So here are options B and C. Option B - H150i XT + 3 QL multi-pack at the top. In the multi-pack is another Lighting Node Core. I am assuming you have just the 1 now for the 4 QL. You can mix and match 120 and 140 sizes of the QL on the same controller. Break it up 4 + 3, 6 + 1 or whichever way you like. Option C - Take a look at the new Elite coolers. If you were comparing just the coolers and nothing else, it would be hard to recommend the XT over the Elite at only $20 more. For that $20 you get a massively more elaborate pump LED, 3 exclusive ML-Elite fans (8 LEDs), and a Commander Core that will allow you to control fan speed (and lighting) from within the CUE software. It's certainly far less expensive than XT + 3 QL. However, the QL and ML-Elite are different, despite being able to do all the same lighting patterns and more than the other fans. You would still have to put the ML-Elite on the Commander Core controller and the 4 QL140s stay on your current Node Core controller. I don't know how much it matters to you if the fans are an exact match. Take a look at the videos and pics for the ML-Elite and new AIO. Edited October 3, 2020 by c-attack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanrichie Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Hi c-attack, thanks for your reply. My cpu is the 10900k that I plan on overclocking all cores to 5.1ghz. Yeah the review i watched that compared the different models set the fans to 100% and it was AMD 3950x processor. It would not fit in the front as i read corsair suggest the best option is to "pull" cold air from outside the case through the radiator, so i was mounting the fans on the inside of the case and attaching the radiator to the case. the radiator overlapped the 3rd fan slot by about a 1/4. I could do as you suggest but that would mean radiator would be on the inside and it would not be asteically pleasing as im planning on keeping my computer on my desk looking through the tempered glass. I agree 120mm confuses the situation but if i want to top mount i cant use 140m due to the extra 20mm hitting my corsair ram, so would need to be 3 x 120s or 2 x 120s, the 3 x 120s i have the issue of 7 rgb fans though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Hi c-attack, thanks for your reply. My cpu is the 10900k that I plan on overclocking all cores to 5.1ghz. Yeah the review i watched that compared the different models set the fans to 100% and it was AMD 3950x processor. I would prefer a 360mm for the 10900K. A 280mm will work. A 240mm is going to stay busy. If you are just gaming, the wattage on mine stays pretty low and I rarely break 150W. That is an easy load to manage for most coolers. However, if you intend to push it as far as it can go (5.1 x 10 cores), every degree may matter to keep you in your comfort zone. The "for best results.. mount as intake" is a general disclaimer. It does not mean it is automatically preferable and each set-up is unique. Case size and layout is the determining factor. You have a large open case with direct intake into the top fans. This is not the same as small box where the intake air, GPU waste heat, and MB heat all mix together. You are not going to see much difference in a case that size between top and front intake. Remember, the trade-off for blocking the front with a radiator is less airflow toward the MB and GPU. That may have some temperature implications for M.2 drives, RAM, and possibly the GPU. Regardless, the same analysis above in regards to lighting and coolers holds if you front mount a 360 as intake and move the 3x140 to the top as exhaust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanrichie Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Again thanks for your reply and your edit of your original post. Yeah i have been looking at the Elite Cap coolers closely however due to all this rgb and aio confusions my 10900k is still in the box 10days after purchase and the elite is not due on scan or overclockers until at least the 20th of october, so i want to get up and running asap no Also i would want all the rgb fans to be the same so not really a viable option. So in summary, a h150i with 3 x ql120 fans , in the following possible 2 set ups :- front mounted, 2 x QL140 on top as exhaust, 1 x QL140 on rear as exhaust (would it be better with 3 x 120 on top as exhaust and 1 x 120 in rear exhaust (cant fit 3 x 140 on top). Second option h150 with 3 x ql120 fans top mounted as exhaust, 1 rear ql140 as exhaust, 3 x ql140 as front intake. still gives me the headache of 7fans, also i have just realised i ordered 3 x single ql120s as it was £7 cheaper and i did not need another node core... ffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 2x140 + rear 140 is plenty of exhaust. You don't need the 3rd up top for functionality and it was mostly aesthetic value. That also solves the issue with 2 controllers. Now you are down to 6 fans so they all fit on one Core device 1-6. Looks like this is the one. If things do not work out as expected, you can do option 2 with the addition of a another lighting controller or a splitter for one of the RGB fans. Lots of people wind up with excess Lighting Node Pros and dump them on the internet or something else may present itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanrichie Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Thanks C-attack, i just needed someone who i could bounce ideas of that had a clue what i was talking about, my girlfriend was no good and neither was my dad haha. Plottwist - i have the option of up to 2 x 140/120 on the bottom front of my case, maybe an addtional non rgb intake fan as i worry i may have not enough intake with radiator causing resistance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 I like bottom intake fans and their ability to help push air through and out of the case. Anything you use there should be beneficial, even at low speed. The radiator will cut the expected airflow of the 3x120 in half. Another thing to consider is the price of QL120 multi-pack vs singles. I tried to check on Scan just now, but the site is down. In the US, the 120x3 pack is essentially the same price as 3 singles. This tends not to be true on the 140mm model. That other Core device in the multi-pack could have value later, either for expansion or replacement of the current part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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