Top Mounting Radiators
By default, the Core X9 case can support a maximum of 4 x 120mm, 3 x 140 or 2 x 200 fans or a 480mm (4 x 120), 420mm (3 x 140), or 400mm (2 x 200) radiator mounted to its dual top-mounted brackets. The brackets are removable for easy installation and maintenance with slide-stype mounting holes to support almost any mounting configuration you could think of. The inside holes are for 120mm type mounting, the middle holes for 140mm mounting, and the outer holes for 200mm mounting. Note that a single bracket must be center mounted on top o the case to accommodate 200mm style fans or radiators.
Because of space constraints between the mounting brackets and the case top panel, the radiators or fans must be mounted to the bottom side of the brackets, facing the motherboard and floor of the case. The screws mount through the bracket and into the threaded holes in the radiator shroud or fan body.
Thin Radiator
Mounting slim-style 360mm radiator towards the front of one of the top brackets illustrates how the radiator would fit in the space. Mounting in this configuration requires removal of the top-most 5.25" device bay. In the configuration shown, the radiator inlet and outlet ports may require creative routing depending on what device is sitting in the middle or lower 5.25" device bay. Forty-five or ninety degree fittings may be required to route the tubing around 5.25" bay devices.
With the slim-style radiator mounted in the rear position of the top bracket, you open more space towards the top front of the case. However, the radiator inlet and outlet ports are very close in proximity a fan mounted in the rear position above the motherboard rear panel assembly. While the radiator does not impede on the space oft he upper 5.25" device bay, there may be space constraints between a device mounted in in the upper bay and a top-mounted 360mm radiator.
Thick Radiator
Even with a double thickness radiator installed in the top bracket, there remains plenty of room between the top-mounted radiator, motherboard, and vertically-oriented PCIe cards. In the rear-most mount position, the radiator can conflict with the rear fan mounted over the motherboard or the rubber-grommeted holes sitting over the motherboard's PCIe slots in the rear of the case. The radiator does not conflict space-wise with the top-most 5.25" device bay, but may impede on the ability to interact with cables plugging into a device mounted in the upper-most bay. Even with fans bottom-mounted to the radiator and mounted directly over the PCIe slots in the mothboard, there remains more than enough space between the radiator and PCIe cards for use and PCIe card-mounting / removal.
Mounting the radiator in the front position on the top bracket with the inlet / outlet ports in a rear facing orientation frees up space in the upper rear of the case. However, this type of orientation may introduce space concerns between the tubing coming off of the radiator and the motherboard or its PCIe cards. The radiator inlet and outlet ports sit directly over the motherboard, likely requiring use of angled barbs to avoid space conflicts with the motherboard or motherboard mounted PCIe cards.
The radiator's bottom section sits over the 5.25" device bays when mounted in the top front position, requiring removal of the upper bay to fit with fans mounted on the underside of the radiator. There should be no space issues in between the mid or lower 5.25" device bays and the radiator though.
I couldn’t really get a sense
I couldn’t really get a sense of the massive scale for this case until I saw how tiny the DVD burner looks on the front panel. What an absolute beast!
That is huge. Should have the
That is huge. Should have the option to use it as a coffee or bedside table by mounting tempered glass on top.
It can heat your coffee too,
It can heat your coffee too, I suppose. 🙂
Please do one for the little
Please do one for the little brother V21.
Sorry Morry, but you missed a
Sorry Morry, but you missed a point on one count. Most (all?) of problems with clunky tubing can be easily solved with X-Flow radiators. I understand you didn’t have one on hand, but still IMHO it deserves a mention. At this moment in time I see no point in mixing PVC and PMMA/PETG – even for sample system ;).
can this host 2 mobs ?
I want
can this host 2 mobs ?
I want in a single chasis windows and linux
Not in its default
Not in its default configuration. You would have to mod to to host multiple motherboards…
do you know an optimum
do you know an optimum chassis for my purpose ?
thanks in advance
you could try something like
you could try something like the Thermaltake Core X1 or Core X2 if you are planning to use mITX or mATX motherboards, both cases are stackable…
Great case. I have 3 XSPC
Great case. I have 3 XSPC RX480 rads in mine!
I ditched the HDD case and
I ditched the HDD case and used the brackets on the right lower side for the 3rd 480 rad.
BTW, EXACT swivel casters can be purchased from Apollo Caster Co (online) where the metal brackets exactly line up with the holes in the floor. Cost me @$20 and the BEST purchase I made for a heavy WC system.
Sounds like a nice build (3 x
Sounds like a nice build (3 x 480 rads that is). Do you happen to know the exact name or product number of the casters you used for your build?
Sure Morey:
4 ea. 40mm
Sure Morey:
4 ea. 40mm Twin-Wheel Caster with a Nylon tread, Top Plate connector, and Black finish (#68392) $6.68 per caster.
That part number is from their catalog. Took me awhile to find it but it matches perfectly.
I LOVE this build. I have
I LOVE this build. I have this case with very similar parts. Will be switching to hard line tubing and adding a second card soon and with it another 65mm thick 360 Radiator. I love that you have one pulling down, mounted on bottom.
I’ve been back and forth on where to put it, have so many options…
Not sure why I didn’t think of it but that’s perfect…She’s going to be so beautiful…I have one of those monstrous Radiators on top already and it holds the weight just fine and looks great.
Thank you so much for this build idea!
Always glad to help out and
Always glad to help out and share ideas. I was really glad how well the top and bottom radiators lined up, especially since they are from two different manufacturers (Swiftech on top and XSPC on the bottom). The straight up and down run gives it a really clean look. Please share pics of your build, I'd love to see it.