Water Cooling Cases Ranked by Total Radiator Area

[NikoDG]

The purpose of this post is to give people interested in water cooling an idea of how much certain cases can fit, in terms of radiator, and how much you can expect these cases to cost. All these numbers I gathered are for radiators you should be able to mount with only minimal modifications (moving a bay or two, no cutting or anything like that). All case available for under $149 will be marked in green, those that cost $150 to $299 will be yellow, any costing more than $300 will be marked in red too make things easy for those of you on a budget).

 

CoolerMaster Storm Trooper (~$190)

1) 240x120mm (288cm2)

2) 240x120mm (288cm2)

3) 140x140mm (196cm2)

Total: 772cm2

 

Corsair 800D (~$280)

1) 480x120mm (576cm2)

2) 240x120mm (288cm2)

Total: 864cm2

 

Silverstone TJ07 (~$390)

1) 480x120mm (576cm2)

2) 240x120mm (288cm2)

Total: 864cm2

 

CoolerMaster HAF 932 (~$140)

1) 360x120mm (432cm2)

2) 140x140mm (196cm2)

Total: 628cm2

 

CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced (~$110)

1) 240x120mm (288cm2)

2) 240x120mm (288cm2)

Total: 576cm2

 

Danger Den Black-Series Tower 29 (~$380)

1) 560x140mm (784cm2)

2) 360x120mm (432cm2)

Total: 1216cm2

 

LittleDevil LD PC-V8 (~$540)

1) 480x120mm (576cm2)

2) 480x120mm (576cm2)

3) 480x120mm (576cm2)

Total: 1728cm2

 

Xigmatek Elysium (~$210)

1) 420x140mm (588cm2)

2) 240x120mm (288cm2)

3) 120x120mm (144cm2)

Total: 968cm2

 

Aerocool Strike-X ST (~$210)

1) 360x120mm (432cm2)

2) 120x120mm (144cm2)

3) 140x140mm (196cm2)

4) 140x140mm (196cm2)

Total: 968cm2

 

 

Final Results

1) LittleDevil LD PC-V8 (1728cm2)

2) Danger Den Black-Series Tower 29 (1216cm2)

3) Xigmatek Elysium/Aerocool Strike-X ST (968cm2)

5) Corsair 800D/Silverstone TJ07 (864cm2)

7) CoolerMaster Storm Trooper (772cm2)

8) CoolerMaster HAF 932 (628cm2)

9) CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced (576cm2)

 

So far I have a very limited number of cases in this list, if you would like to suggest new cases please post a link to a page with their specs, and include a price (in dollars), and the amount of radiator that can be fit.

Edited December 9, 2011 by NikoDG

[d6bmg]

^^ Very good listing. But one thing I've to say that price wise, Corsair 800D is an affordable case & the best vfm case among the listed one. Connect me if I'm wrong.

[Tjj226_Angel]

^^ Very good listing. But one thing I've to say that price wise, Corsair 800D is an affordable case & the best vfm case among the listed one. Connect me if I'm wrong.

 

Well if you guys are talking about natively installing rads (meaning absolutley NO modifications to fit the rad) then the corsair 650D would be a better choice than the 800D. The reason I say this is because you have 2 by 140mm fans on the 650 as apposed to the 3 120mm. Now the 650D supports less surface area for a radiator, but because it is also close to being half the price of the 800D and the surface area loss is only 80mm, it would be wiser to go with the 650D and try to get some super high density fin radiators and take advantage of the higher airflow of a 140mm fan. The cooling will still be better on the 800D if you spent every single lest cent you had to your name, but the 650 provides the bang for the buck aspect.

 

However, I guess what I am not understanding about this thread is that usually people do mod for water cooling any ways. So the idea of choosing a case becomes predominatley based on people imagination rather then what the case alone supports. For instance, on the corsair 800D if you cut out the top, you could fit a 4 X 140mm rad for your CPU, cut out your hot swap bays and a optical bay and fit a 3 x 120 rad in there for your video cards. Or you could screw it all and go for external water cooling.

 

The cases are NOT going to capture people attention.......but these two products will

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11743/ex-wat-159/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS240_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_w_Free_Kill_Coil.html?tl=g30c321s1310

 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12222/ex-wat-162/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS360_Universal_CPU_Triple_Radiator_Water_Cooling_Kit_w_Free_Kill_Coil.html?tl=g30c321s1310

 

Normally custom water loops cost 200 USD and up, but here we have COMPLETE kits for a little more than an H100. This is what is going to attract the more average pc builder because the price point makes it so much more accessible to a general consumer.

[wevsspot]

Yep, I'd agree. The Corsair 650D is an outstanding choice for all but the most insane water cooling / case modders. You can fit a real nice loop (or even two) into that case with zero modification. Sweet pricing on those XSPC kits by the way. Very sweet.

[Tjj226_Angel]

Yep, I'd agree. The Corsair 650D is an outstanding choice for all but the most insane water cooling / case modders. You can fit a real nice loop (or even two) into that case with zero modification. Sweet pricing on those XSPC kits by the way. Very sweet.

 

I know, I hate it when people recommend the H100 when those bad boys are on the market

[NikoDG]

I know, I hate it when people recommend the H100 when those bad boys are on the market

 

Yeah, don't think I'd even touch one of those closed-loop watercoolers.

[Black64]

Very good list!

[ccokeman]

I dont see one mention of a Mountain Mods case. Here

[ccokeman]

I dont see one mention of a Mountain Mods case. Here

[Bosco]

I know, I hate it when people recommend the H100 when those bad boys are on the market

 

Not everyone has the desire to setup watercooling piece by piece. The self contained units and have a lot less parts makes it a little more attractive for people starting out.

 

Of course people that want something good will get their own setup and what not and not even bother with something from Corsair or Antec.