Water Cooling in a CM Stacker 830 Evo?

[fusedpro]

Well, this is a fairly simple topic. I have two cases, an Antec 1200 and a Stacker 830. I'll be using the Antec 1200 simply because of the two rear exhaust fans - easy enough to put a 2x120 radiator on there. My question is, how would one go about setting up a loop in the Stacker WITHOUT any modding?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119122

If you view the pictures or have one your own, there is a little mesh type thing on the bottom which would seem easy enough... Anyways, I'd like a 3x120 rad in there if possible but nothing set in stone, probably won't be using this case for awhile. I'm basically just wondering how other people have done it. I've tried Google but haven't gotten very good results so I turn here.

 

[fusedpro]

Ehm... bump?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

There were certain reasons (a bargain-price, the side-panel hinged-fan-frame) that I also chose the Stacker 830, but for other reasons (double-120mm rear exhaust-fan ports) I might have preferred the older Stacker model.

On the plus side, the bottom vent has potential for additional fans or a radiator and fan assembly, but it only accommodates 92mm fans (per my inspection without using a ruler).

But you'd have to modify the case-bottom. Such is not a very daunting task: you can use a Dremel cutoff wheel to widen the rectangular port. This is something I plan to do whenever I decide I need to install a radiator and fan assembly there.

There are a lot of things you can do with the Stacker 830 case-bottom using U-channel aluminum to strengthen the assembly, provide a place for fiberglass HVAC filter, or provide for a radiator/fan assembly outside the Stacker case-bottom.

But you have to be willing to mod the case. I and people I know are reluctant to start cutting on a $200 case -- a reason why my extensive mod projects use old, SECC steel ATX cases acquired from computer-store and landfill junk-piles.

So . . . if I plan to do water-cooling, I'm inclined to use last year's "1994-Compaq ProLiant Server" case-mod -- pretty much built with that in mind:

Chrome Lightning

I need to locate and review the photos I took while doing this project. There are things revealed in the other photos not shown in the above link. I cut away the entire case-bottom, installed modders'-mesh and a "fan-cage" there for 140mm fans (x 2), and there are two 120mm rear-exhaust fans, one above the other.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: fusedpro
Ehm... bump?

im sorry ive been out of town in north carolina.

got back with a pile of paper work and other pending problems i need to help other members fix.

PM me, and i'll get to you.


Once again sorry! a queue formed while i was at work on a seminar and out of the office.

 

[Ragamuffin45]

I am about to do the exact same thing to my stacker 830 SE(special edition). The water cooling parts should be here in a few days and i'll be mounting a 2x120 rad on the bottom. I have already got 2x 120mm fans in the bottom and they lined straight up. You would have to modify/lengthen the bottom cut out to fit a 3x120mm rad.

Only thing i would suggest is mounting the fans on the inside or raise the height of the case because the fans are strangely noisy even though there is a 10mm gap to the ground. And the fans im using are Noctua P12's.

Hopefully everything will go to plan.

 

[aigomorla]

you need to invert the board. So you need to remove the motherboard panel and slide it in the other side.

Yes you can do this. This allows your gpu's at the top so you can floor mount the radiator.

Problem tho, is you need to cut the case. There is no clean way of watercooling a stacker 830.

When they created the thing, watercooling wasnt planned. You dont make a case watercooling friendly by having mounts for 4 fans on the side.

 

[Ragamuffin45]

My 830 also has pre drilled holes for tubing on the back. So surely they did have some sort of water cooling in mind.
Picture of bottom cut-out

Tubing holes

Underneath clearance

 

[aigomorla]

no they didnt.

because once you mount a thick radiator down there you run into clearance problems.

Also you need to gut that entire bottom portion out to fit your eq.

Its not an easy mod. Its been done, but not easy.


Also im sorry but just cuz something has 2 holes on the back and they say its watercooling friendly doesnt mean its watercooling friendly.

To me watercooling friendly is this:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0707.jpg


Well thats about one of the few that can totally take a h2o setup without any modding.
Silverstone TJ-07 as well.

The Stacker T01 is also great:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0399.jpg

The armor is not.

 

[WoodButcher]

I'm not the guy to answer this,,,,
I can't build a stock aircooled PC w/o modding it.


The cases w/ holes in the back are for people buying Koolance top mount kits. or using the zalman reserators or other such crap. If you mounted a rad externally w/ a swiftech radbox on the rear fan you would use these holes but they tend to make getting at the rear ports for vid cards and such difficult. I would buy the Koolance box and put a real radiator in it. You can buy them here.