My First Watercooling Loop

[Guest]

Hi all.

Ive recently decided that I want to get a watercooling loop in my PC, unfortunately I decided this just after buying a new and in terms of watercooling at least quite inappropriate case, with that in mind I know it will be a bit of a struggle to make it all work so I want to check here if what I am planning will actually work and ask any advice on how I can improve this setup and get the best bang for buck water cooling system since I am on a budget as I need to buy a new motherboard at the same time.

So firstly my case is a standard midi Bitfenix Shinobi and this I think is a bit of a problem as its a very small case with little room to work in, so here is my plan...

I intend to buy this package from a UK supplier, as I live in the United Kingdom myself I would rather not buy from international sellers although will if required.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-040-OE&groupid=962&catid=1532

Here is the component list

Component List:

1X XSPC EX120 120mm Radiator

The latest radiator from XSPC, outstanding performance and superb quality

1X XSPC X2O 750 Dual 5.25†Bay Reservoir Pump V4

A clever space saving solution that allows you to see your coolant level from your drive bays

1X XSPC Raystorm [Choose your socket type from the drop down menu]

The most advanced high performance CPU waterblock on the market. LED customisation and astounding flow rates make this perfect.

1X XSPC K2 Thermal Compound

Included with the Raystorm block is a tube of K2 Thermal Paste. This high performance paste is ideal for watercooling applications and most importantly, Non Conductive.

1X Corsair SP120 Quiet Series High Pressure Low Noise 1450 RPM - 3 Pin Fan

Market leader for static pressure on watercooling radiators. Features interchangeable accent rings to customise the appearance of your system

1X Mayhems Coolant

Pick your own coolant that suits your taste and style

1X XSPC 7/16" ID [16/11mm] Clear

High quality watercooling tubing with a superb bend radius

6X XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome)

Trusted and reliable fittings. These fittings ensure a tight grip on your tubing for long lasting reliability.

For customization I intend to go with Red UV coolant and since I have a 1155 CPU I will get the relevant XSPC water block to match.

My first question really would be, is this everything I need to get a watercooling loop in my system? Do I need any extras?

Secondly I would like to just go through the setup and question if this will all actually work in the way I intend.

The radiator will be mounted on the rear of the case and I will push/pull config it using the included SP fan and one that I currently have on my CPU Air Cooler, the reservoir will go in the front of the case below my disk drive (or maybe above it, depends how I feel at the time, most likely below though) then the tubing will go from the reservoir -> CPU Block -> Radiator -> reservoir. Is this the correct way to configure this?

Also in the long run I intend to upgrade this by adding water blocks to my two graphics cards and then a 280mm rad in the top or possible a 240 in the front if I feel like destroying my case warranty, will this kit be a suitable start considering future upgrades?

[Whaler_99]

This is a "good" start - the res and v4 pump are pretty good. The block and everything are good quality to. The only issue... a 120mm rad. You will most likely see worse temps then you do right now if you are running a after market cooler. What CPU are you using?

The issue, obviously being, the limitations of your case. Any plans to upgrade your case at all. Essentially a 280/240 and a 120 will not be enough to cool a CPU and 2 x GPU. Typically the formula is 120mm of rad per block + an additional 120mm for a decent solution. Decent meaning temps are ok and won't be to loud. Want quieter and/or cooler - add more rad.

Are you able to put a rad in the roof? Overall, I think you would be better served not buy this kit right off, if everything else is working for you, and save up for a somewhat better case. You most likely be disappointed with the results from a 120 unit. For CPU only cooling, best to start with at least a 240mm rad and grow from there... Maybe upgrade to the XL unit?

[Maverik5124]

I own the shinobi and as far as I can tell it is not possible to mount a rad in the top. There just isn't enough space between the top and the motherboard

[Asusmad]

Glad to hear you want to get into water cooling, I am myself. Just waiting for all my stuff to arrive. I have to agree with Whaler_99 in that a 120mm rad is not enough for a custom loop. You could use this kit to cool the CPU only but your temps would not be all that different from air cooling.

You also talk about incorporating both your GPU's in to the loop (suggest EK water blocks) having just a 120mm rad is not enough. The formula that Whaler_99 sounds right and that is what im working to myself and more.

If i can give you an example of my water cooling set up, Its going to be a CPU and single GPU, with 2 rads. One of them is 30mm thick and the other is 80mm thick giving plenty of surface area.

[Guest]

Ok thank you for the responses and advice, I think one thing I diden't make clear was that if I was to get cooling on my graphics cards (two HD7850s, not exactly massively high spec, it will be more for appearance/doing it for the sake of it rather than being functional) I would buy a second radiator, I realize the single 120 one may not be enough but I really don't want to upgrade my case so I think I need to eaither find a way to make something else work or just go without, the top should theoretically fit a 280mm rad in the top but as Maverik5124 has said there is not a lot of room and looking at it I must agree I don't think it will fit, so eaither way I think I will need to destroy the case to make it fit, so heres a few options.

Firstly the front of the case has twin 120mm fan slots however the HDD cage blocks them from being useful for a radiator, so heres an idea, and thats to remove the HDD cage and then put my drives in a disk drive bay and get rid of the disk drive or alternatively buy a cylinder res that wont take up bay slots, that way I have space in the front for a radiator, only problem there is it all starts to get a bit complex and really not possible

The other thing I was thinking is that the top panel is plastic and sits about 1 and a half CM about the top of the metal case, if I was to cut the mesh out I reckon a rad will fit and just about clear the radiator, if its a thin rad, following that I will put two slim but decent performing fans in a pull config above the top of the metal case and underneath the plastic top cover.

Third and final option is this, the top of this case can take two 120mm fans or two 140mm fans, unfortunately they have designed it in a way that means the 120mm fans are apart so its not radiator suitable however it is centered and looking at it I think I can bring them fans down quite far before I'd hit the motherboard, with this in mind I do wonder if there are any dual 140mm --> dual 120mm adapters that could possibly make this work and allow me to mount a 240mm rad in the top, I have no doubt a 280mm rad will hit the motherboard but a 240mm rad centered I think might just clear it.

Overall though taking all advice on board I think this case simply is not designed for it and really can't take much more than a carefully measured AIO Watercooler, I guess I might just have to leave this one be for now, I am not massively keen on upgrading my case as I brought this recently and while its not exactly that expensive or even particularly well built I like its simplistic style and its small size, my CPU is a Intel I7 3770 and I honestly have no intention of overclocking it, my current cooling config is actually fine, its just a fan in the front one on the back and two on the top and then a Scythe Big Shurkin CPU cooler which I changed the fan on to a static pressure fan, I get like 35 degrees C under moderate load so I'm not displeased with temperatures, I just wanted to try watercooling for appearance of the PC and just to say Ive done it I guess.

[Whaler_99]

Just a note - do a google images search on your shinobi and water cooling - that may give you some idea of what you can do. Also, a 240mm rad isn't 240mm long. It's longer. Don't forget every rad has a wee bit extra on one end, and your port connectors at the other. Meaning, if you cut out that drive cage and just have the space taken up by the two fans, it won't fit - you need more the 240mm of space to fit a 240mm rad.

Just checked - an AX240 rad is 128mm wide and 286mm long...

Couple options - mount the rad on top of the case? Are there water cooling gromet holes? Also, you could get some like XSPC's external rad holder do hold a 360 or 420 for you. If you don't mind that look.

[Shikarikato]

Just a note - do a google images search on your shinobi and water cooling - that may give you some idea of what you can do. Also, a 240mm rad isn't 240mm long. It's longer. Don't forget every rad has a wee bit extra on one end, and your port connectors at the other. Meaning, if you cut out that drive cage and just have the space taken up by the two fans, it won't fit - you need more the 240mm of space to fit a 240mm rad.

Just checked - an AX240 rad is 128mm wide and 286mm long...

Couple options - mount the rad on top of the case? Are there water cooling gromet holes? Also, you could get some like XSPC's external rad holder do hold a 360 or 420 for you. If you don't mind that look.

Don't forget that the rad is 40mm thick so depending on heat sinks on your motherboard push/pull probably won't fit in your case.

[Whaler_99]

Just a note - do a google images search on your shinobi and water cooling - that may give you some idea of what you can do. Also, a 240mm rad isn't 240mm long. It's longer. Don't forget every rad has a wee bit extra on one end, and your port connectors at the other. Meaning, if you cut out that drive cage and just have the space taken up by the two fans, it won't fit - you need more the 240mm of space to fit a 240mm rad.

Just checked - an AX240 rad is 128mm wide and 286mm long...

Couple options - mount the rad on top of the case? Are there water cooling gromet holes? Also, you could get some like XSPC's external rad holder do hold a 360 or 420 for you. If you don't mind that look.

The AX240 I picked was just to reference length x wdith if he did cut out his hard drive cages - it's not just needing 2x120mm of space. :)

[airdeano]

the shinobi can be done pretty well to support some water-cooling capabilities,

but expectations, severe modifications, and just plain won't fit grumbling can

all be fixed by another capable cabinet.

because in essence, your list is an expensive H80/i. going through that lesson

will show you hadn't really done more that what a Noctua NH-D14 or Phanteks

TC-14PE could do for less.

if this is a "starting point" for a h2o rig, you really need a better foundation (case)

to really keep you interested in the mods. because you will look back and wonder

I can not sell this case to someone, unless this is specifically what they want..

'cuz it will be severely deformed from the modding that really needs to be done for

a proper h2o rig.

hind-sight would be, if you plan on more upgrades to the loop, you are going to

need more help and end up getting another case to support what not.

here is a well-known shinobi water-cooled 240...LINKY

airdeano