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Radiator - Removing the Outer Shell

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Jul 16, 2022
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I have a question regarding the radiator. Is it possible to remove the outer shell of the radiator in order to gain a few millimeters and make it fit into a tight space? I have attached a picture of the radiator I am referring to.
After speaking with EK support, they shared that as long as the fans can still be attached (without puncturing the radiator), removing the outer shell will not affect the radiator's performance.

I am curious if anyone has ever removed the outer shell of a radiator before and how it worked out for them. Although it may not result in a significant increase in the radiator's length, I am hoping to gain around 5-10mm.

Also freeing the radiator, would this yield a little better performance? How the radiator is getting hit by air on all sides of the rad? And the fan is just pulling the air through?



1692669953242.png
 
The fan mounts are on the shell, so removing it might make it difficult to mount fans.

Is it a 60mm thick radiator? if so could you not just switch it out for a 45mm thick one? it would not hurt the temps much really.

Edit, so is it too long, not too thick? If so removing the top and bottom plates should be ok as long as they are not holding the side fan mount plates on.
 
Removing the outer shell will probably give you 2mm of thickness reduction at max, also you wouldn't get a performance increase.
 
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The fan mounts are on the shell, so removing it might make it difficult to mount fans.
At EKWB Radiators you can unmount the front and rear shell keeping the side ones.
You can take a look to verify at the linked description and inside the manual (shopsite at the end)
 
the closer the fan to the fins the better but you have to rely on zip ties for the fans and mounting to the case and it could damage the fins that are sticking out.

in my case there is 455mm available hard to measure but Im not sure even if it can be maneuvered into place because most 420 rads are in fact 460, EK is 480.

In this case the sides are important. especially the side with channels in it

1692686654644.png
 
Also freeing the radiator, would this yield a little better performance? How the radiator is getting hit by air on all sides of the rad? And the fan is just pulling the air through?
The shroud directs the air such that it goes through all of the fins, if you remove the shell the fans wont achieve the same air pressure, I don't know how much worse it will be but the shroud is on there for a reason.
 
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The fan mounts are on the shell, so removing it might make it difficult to mount fans.

Is it a 60mm thick radiator? if so could you not just switch it out for a 45mm thick one? it would not hurt the temps much really.

Edit, so is it too long, not too thick? If so removing the top and bottom plates should be ok as long as they are not holding the side fan mount plates on.
Thank you - I would have the PC mode come up with an excellent way to have the fans holding up tight to the radiator and not puncturing the radiator. Mentally this can take place. I am just trying to make sure I do not disturb the cooling. The thought is to do a section as push and pull, and some fans pull the air across the radiator, IN my mind, with the radiator being open like this. I would assume the radiator performs a little better.

Cant buy ultra thin radiator?

TX240 Ultrathin Radiator — XSPC - Performance PC Water Cooling (xs-pc.com)

Edit: I can see what you're trying to do but in all fairness, you won't lose much performance if at all by going the next radiator size down that will fit.

Radiator Cooling Performance - What size is best? - EnosTech.com
The issue is not the thickness of the radiator. It is the total distance of the radiator. I asked a rep actually to measure the Alphacool HPE - 45. The specs say this unit is 391.5, which is perfect because I have 392 to give. BUT actual measurement - 395mm (~15.55”). So the specs for the until are way off. I am glad I did not actually purchase the until.

At EKWB Radiators you can unmount the front and rear shell keeping the side ones.
You can take a look to verify at the linked description and inside the manual (shopsite at the end)
Yes, you're correct. I spoke to EK reps, and they shared the exact same thing. They also shared I could remove the outer shell. And I would not affect the cooling one bit.
The only downside was that he could not tell me just exactly how much space. As I sit here and chat, I just realized I have some of the EKWB rads, but they are the P140 (280/420). I could actually see how much shorter this unit gets by removing the end cap. The p360 is 405mm in length. So just how much do I gain by removing the end cable? 15mm? .60"? Also, the way EK test their rads, I learned the hard way - their test and temps are based on 1600 RPM speed on the fans. And I personally want about 800. The EK rep said if I wanted to get the most out of their radiators at low speeds, you have to push and pull them. If you set them up at low speed, your not getting what you want out of them.

The way the alpha cools look - HPE-45. I am not sure if the outer shell comes off.

The Black ICE has an outer shell only to hold the fans. So removing the outer shell is not an option.

1692703194703.png



1692703495315.png


The fan mounts are on the shell, so removing it might make it difficult to mount fans.

Is it a 60mm thick radiator? if so could you not just switch it out for a 45mm thick one? it would not hurt the temps much really.

Edit, so is it too long, not too thick? If so removing the top and bottom plates should be ok as long as they are not holding the side fan mount plates on.
The 360 rads are to long. I need to stay within 392mm.

Cant buy ultra thin radiator?

TX240 Ultrathin Radiator — XSPC - Performance PC Water Cooling (xs-pc.com)

Edit: I can see what you're trying to do but in all fairness, you won't lose much performance if at all by going the next radiator size down that will fit.

Radiator Cooling Performance - What size is best? - EnosTech.com
Thank you. I will read the link you provided.

the closer the fan to the fins the better but you have to rely on zip ties for the fans and mounting to the case and it could damage the fins that are sticking out.

in my case there is 455mm available hard to measure but Im not sure even if it can be maneuvered into place because most 420 rads are in fact 460, EK is 480.

In this case the sides are important. especially the side with channels in it

View attachment 310124

Such as the EK. the sides would stay in place so that I can keep those fans holders. The EK allows this to happen without any modification or damage. I have an EK250, and I Will see just how much space I gain be removing the endcaps. I will update soon.
 
If you remove 4 screws on each side the whole thing falls apart. there is nothing keeping the fan holders into place so you have top do zip ties.
 
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