First Custom Loop

[Duranson]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm doing my first custom loop inside the Fractal Design Defilne 7 case, with a 2080ti and 3950x. I've decided to go with Corsair Hydro X for custom cooling, and this is the configuration that they've given me: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/custom-cooling-configurator?configCode=ffxjx1 . I want to make sure that this is everything I'll need. Or is there anything else that I'll need to make this build work? I also want to make sure that I'll have everything that I need to drain the system, when the time comes. Thanks!

[Bombastinator]

Won’t let me open the configuration.  Did manage to get by the obnoxious Corsair “enter your email” demand.  They hide the close button above the screen.  Configuration code is pre entered but open configuration button is grayed out.

 

Some marketer clearly needs to be punished in some way.

[MartinIAm]

11 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Won’t let me open the configuration.  Did manage to get by the obnoxious Corsair “enter your email” demand.  They hide the close button above the screen.  Configuration code is pre entered but open configuration button is grayed out.

Remove the dot at the end of the code.

[Bombastinator]

1 minute ago, MartinIAm said:

Remove the dot at the end of the code.

Got it that works.  That “enter your email” order with the hidden close thing still annoys me.  
 

looking at the system I notice there aren’t any hoses or fittings at all.  That’s going to be a problem.  Not sure if the pump is a pump/Rez or not, but reservoirs are nice things to have.  Should be more than enough radiator.

[-rascal-]

6 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Got it that works.  That “enter your email” order with the hidden close thing still annoys me.  
 

looking at the system I notice there aren’t any hoses or fittings at all.  That’s going to be a problem.  Not sure if the pump is a pump/Rez or not, but reservoirs are nice things to have.  Should be more than enough radiator.

 

Correct, that is a D5 pump-res combo.

It's not showing you how to hook-up the tube...it's more like a recommendation / draft sketch on where the water cooling parts should go.

 

@Duranson That should be a decent set-up, if you plan to water cool both the RTX 2080 Ti and GPU.

Corsair is recommending two options for radiator set-up

• 1x thick 360mm radiator + 1x thing 360mm radiator
• 1x thick 360mm radiator

IMO, the second radiator (e.g. the thin one) is not necessary.

A single 360mm, or a 360mm / 480mm at the top would be enough.

[Duranson]

21 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

Correct, that is a D5 pump-res combo.

It's not showing you how to hook-up the tube...it's more like a recommendation / draft sketch on where the water cooling parts should go.

 

@Duranson That should be a decent set-up, if you plan to water cool both the RTX 2080 Ti and GPU.

Corsair is recommending two options for radiator set-up

• 1x thick 360mm radiator + 1x thing 360mm radiator
• 1x thick 360mm radiator

IMO, the second radiator (e.g. the thin one) is not necessary.

A single 360mm, or a 360mm / 480mm at the top would be enough.

I'm planning on overclocking both the 3950x and 2080ti, so I want to have a bit of cooling headroom, which is why I'm going for dual 360 rads. But is there anything else I'll need to build the custom loop, and to drain it when the time comes?

[-rascal-]

8 minutes ago, Duranson said:

I'm planning on overclocking both the 3950x and 2080ti, so I want to have a bit of cooling headroom, which is why I'm going for dual 360 rads. But is there anything else I'll need to build the custom loop, and to drain it when the time comes?

 

That's pretty much it.

You can get special pieces / fittings to make a easy-draining tap...but you probably need to get those from Ekwb instead (doesn't look like Corsair has them).

 

The XG7 GPU waterblock has gone through quite a bit of controversy...personally would get a "better" GPU waterblock from Ekwb or something, rather than using the Corsair one. At least, not until they revise / update the design on it. 

[Duranson]

16 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

That's pretty much it.

You can get special pieces / fittings to make a easy-draining tap...but you probably need to get those from Ekwb instead (doesn't look like Corsair has them).

 

The XG7 GPU waterblock has gone through quite a bit of controversy...personally would get a "better" GPU waterblock from Ekwb or something, rather than using the Corsair one. At least, not until they revise / update the design on it. 

Alright. I did see that corsair had a drain valve, is that all I would need in terms of draining?

[-rascal-]

2 minutes ago, Duranson said:

Alright. I did see that corsair had a drain valve, is that all I would need in terms of draining?

 

You don't *NEED* it, but it makes draining the loop easier.

I guess also make sure you have enough fittings, and supply of things for regular maintenance

• Distilled water + Corrosion / growth inhibitor concentrate or,
• Pre-mixed coolant
• Extra tubing on-hand maybe?
• Fill bottle?

(Using EKwb's site as reference)

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/filling-bottle-1000ml

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cryofuel-clear-concentrate-100ml

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cryofuel-blood-red-premix-1000ml

 

Oh, and for prepping the radiator and such (step BEFORE you build)....

• Flush the radiator with 50/50 white/pure vinegar + hot/warm distilled water, couple of times, until the water coming out is clear (e.g. no bits, or blue color, etc)
• Flush/clean with 50/50 white/pure vinegar + distilled water on the CPU block, and GPU block as well, once or twice
• Flush tubing + pump/res combo with distilled water, once or twice is fine 

** Make sure you rinse/flush the vinegar out with distilled water, so no vinegar is left **

*** Do not use regular tap water ***