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Downsizing my Watercooled NCase M1 to the Dan Case A4-SFX

amvoith

Current status:

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Hello!

 

This will be my fourth PC build, my first being a very basic build about 5 years ago, my second being for my brother and my third being a water cooling adventure last year at this link: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/337274-upgrade-time-first-water-cooling-loop/

 

This time around I'm looking to do a small form factor build with high end components. This will not be all high end straight away (GPU...), but hopefully as time goes on I will upgrade components as I get more $$$. Some components are being used from my previous build. So here is a list of the parts I will be using as of now:

 

Hardware:

Case: NCase M1 First Edition

CPU: Intel i7 4790k

Motherboard: EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D

RAM: 16 GB Corsair Dominator Platinum, 2133MHz, CL9 with Light Bars

GPU: EVGA GTX 980ti SC+

PSU: Silverstone SFX 600W

 

Water Cooling Components:

CPU Block: EK Supremacy MX

GPU Block: EK Full cover and backplate

Pump/Reservoir: D5 Vario with Alphacool Eisdecke pump top and res.

Tubing: 7/16 ID, 5/8 OD Clear flexible Primochill Advanced LRT (Possibly PETG in the future)

Fittings: XSPC Compression fittings, Bitspower 90o adaptors, a few other assortments. 

Radiator: EK CoolStream SE 240

Fans2 x Rosewill slim 120mm, 1 x CoolerMaster 92mm.

 

External Radiator Setup:

Radiator: EK CoolStream XE 480

Fans: 3 x Corsair SP120

Fittings: XSPC Compression fittings, Swiftech Quick Disconnects. 

 

Anyways, this will likely be a long process since I am just ordering the NCase now and it won't ship until at least 10 Jan. 

 

If you are interested, stay tuned...

 

Edit: hardware list updated 18 Nov 2016.

Edited by amvoith
Uploaded current pic of the build

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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You should hardline that. It would be the biggest watercooling challenge I'll ever see. I've only ever seen people flex tube that case.

Intel Core i7-6700K | Corsair H105 | Asus Z170I PRO GAMING | G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB | 950 PRO 512GB M.2

 

Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX OC | BitFenix Prodigy (Black/Red) | XFX PRO Black Edition 850W

 

 

My BuildPCPartPicker | CoC

 

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Have you considered a Fractal Design Core 500 instead of the NCase M1? The M1 might get a little cramped, and if you use an SFX PSU in the Core 500 and remove the 5.25" bay, you'll have ample spare room for everything.

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You have literally no choice, you will have to go with Silverstone 600W SFX... 

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Have you considered a Fractal Design Core 500 instead of the NCase M1? The M1 might get a little cramped, and if you use an SFX PSU in the Core 500 and remove the 5.25" bay, you'll have ample spare room for everything.

 

That's not the point. The point is to make this a challenge. The NCase M1 is the best case for this little piece of awesomeness.

Intel Core i7-6700K | Corsair H105 | Asus Z170I PRO GAMING | G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB | 950 PRO 512GB M.2

 

Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX OC | BitFenix Prodigy (Black/Red) | XFX PRO Black Edition 850W

 

 

My BuildPCPartPicker | CoC

 

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I have looked at the core 500, but settled on the M1, just love the look of it and the potential it has. However, shipping to Canada is estimated at $45 and with the exchange rate and import fees I'm looking at about $360.... I think I'll have to re-evaluate if I can spring for this case or not. 

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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I have looked at the core 500, but settled on the M1, just love the look of it and the potential it has. However, shipping to Canada is estimated at $45 and with the exchange rate and import fees I'm looking at about $360.... I think I'll have to re-evaluate if I can spring for this case or not. 

 

I thought about getting NCase, as I love small cases and ITX buids. However, I'd rather get a freakin' 390X and put it in Enthoo ITX than get a case at the price of a top tier GPU. Especially with their policies, which force me to wait months in order to get it.

 

If you want to attempt a WC build, try Enthoo ITX maybe? Sure, it's far bigger than NCase, but it's also more mod-friendly and won't cost you an arm and a leg. ;)

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I thought about getting NCase, as I love small cases and ITX buids. However, I'd rather get a freakin' 390X and put it in Enthoo ITX than get a case at the price of a top tier GPU. Especially with their policies, which force me to wait months in order to get it.

 

If you want to attempt a WC build, try Enthoo ITX maybe? Sure, it's far bigger than NCase, but it's also more mod-friendly and won't cost you an arm and a leg. ;)

 

An NCase M1 is, like, 90 USD.

Intel Core i7-6700K | Corsair H105 | Asus Z170I PRO GAMING | G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB | 950 PRO 512GB M.2

 

Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX OC | BitFenix Prodigy (Black/Red) | XFX PRO Black Edition 850W

 

 

My BuildPCPartPicker | CoC

 

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An NCase M1 is, like, 90 USD.

 

Not from official store, it seems. ;)

 

 

PVJpyVx.png

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So small update:

 

Changed Mobos to EVGA Z97 Stinger. I like the look of it better and comes with all the features I need and doesn't require me to paint the heatsinks like the AsRock one did :)

 

I'm not sure which waterblocks to use for this build. I will be using a Mayhems extreme white coolant with clear tubing. I will be using EK Blocks, I'm just undecided whether I want to use clear ones so you can see the coolant in the blocks or black ones. Right now I'm leaning towards black ones since I have some I can re-use from my previous build and then can always change them up in the future. 

 

Also, I will be getting an NCase M1 this weekend!!! Weeoo!!!

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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-snip-

 

I would recommend that you take a lot of time and plan your routing for all the wiring harnesses. In a SFF build, it is pretty critical to make sure you dont have wires clogging up areas...especially if you are watercooling.

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Got one 

post-214041-0-68859300-1451785405_thumb.

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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post-214041-0-82980600-1452286444_thumb.Starting to come together slowly.

post-214041-0-41142800-1452286494_thumb.

Doing a bit of test fitting to check allowable rad thickness.

post-214041-0-88445500-1452286529_thumb.

One thing I noticed is that the IO cover on the board puts a lot of pressure on the graphics card. (Kind of makes it push down/twist in the PCI-E slot)Not sure if I'll keep it on, it does look much cleaner with it though.

Next step is to order the rad and a pump top for my d5.

Thanks for looking.

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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Ordered the rad and pump top/res, and a few more fittings. 

Went for the EK CoolStream SE 240mm and an Alphacool Eisdecke pump top for my D5 and the associated res (pic below). These should be the last pieces of the puzzle until i make the switch to hardline tubing.

 

post-214041-0-99986600-1452382762_thumb.

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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Any recommendations for slim fans (less than the standard 25mm)? I'm looking to put 2 x 120mm slim fans on the floor rad. Right now I'm leaning towards Cooler Master Xtraflow Slim http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/case-fan/xtraflo-120-slim/  since they have the highest static pressure I can find. 

 

Any thoughts on if there are better options out there?

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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Any recommendations for slim fans (less than the standard 25mm)? I'm looking to put 2 x 120mm slim fans on the floor rad. Right now I'm leaning towards Cooler Master Xtraflow Slim http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/case-fan/xtraflo-120-slim/  since they have the highest static pressure I can find. 

 

Any thoughts on if there are better options out there?

 

You can try the Silverstone FW-121 Slim PWM Fan... http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=500

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Ordered the rad and pump top/res, and a few more fittings. 

 

Went for the EK CoolStream SE 240mm and an Alphacool Eisdecke pump top for my D5 and the associated res (pic below). These should be the last pieces of the puzzle until i make the switch to hardline tubing.

 

attachicon.gif1011327-2566ec16d9b3c1.jpg

that res pump combo honestly is perfect for so many sff builds holy ballz! i didn't even know it existed 

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that res pump combo honestly is perfect for so many sff builds holy ballz! i didn't even know it existed 

 

Yeah I researched for hours looking for a pump top that had a small res and fit a D5. 

 

You can try the Silverstone FW-121 Slim PWM Fan... http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=500

Nice! Fellow NCASE M1 v1 owner... Good luck with your build!  :)

 

I've looked at those too, thanks! :) 

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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Making some progress.Some slim fans on a slim rad 

post-214041-0-50804100-1452806085_thumb.

 

Getting the graphics card and rad in was a huge pain, almost wouldn't fit. I ended up having to take off the GPU IO shroud to wedge the card in... Starting to look more like the finished product though. 

post-214041-0-99477100-1452806176_thumb.

 

Unfortunately there was an inventory error when I ordered the pump top and res, so hopefully they will be in next week and I can finish off installing the components. 

CPU Intel Core i7 4790K Motherboard EVGA Z97 Stinger Core-3D GPU EVGA GTX 980Ti SC+ Storage 128 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 512 GB Samsung 850 EVO, 750GB HDD PSU Silverstone SX600-G Case Dan Cases A4-SFX v1 Cooling Custom Loop Monitor Acer Predator XB271HU (1440p), ASUS 1080p Keyboard TADA68 Mouse Logitech G502 Build Log Link

 

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did you ever tell us what gpu that is? or am i just retarded again ^^ 

anyway followed!

 

You're just retarded.  :P

 

post-233981-0-42495800-1452810294_thumb.

Intel Core i7-6700K | Corsair H105 | Asus Z170I PRO GAMING | G.Skill TridentZ Series 16GB | 950 PRO 512GB M.2

 

Asus GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB STRIX OC | BitFenix Prodigy (Black/Red) | XFX PRO Black Edition 850W

 

 

My BuildPCPartPicker | CoC

 

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