Full Custom Loop - Noctua Themed

[Noctua Fan Fan]

I'm still waiting on some custom cables to arrive from the US to really finish this off, but here is my Noctua themed, full custom loop build!

 

My initial plans had the radiator side mounted, but those were scuppered because of the insane amount of fittings I'd need to get 90 degrees twice. So I opted for bottom rad. However I planned on having the in/out under the GPU. This was also scuppered by the case's compatibility. So below the pump/res it went.

 

Overall I'm exceptionally proud of the four runs (pump->rad, rad->GPU, GPU->CPU, rad->pump). I'm underwhelmed by the CPU to rad run but honestly, its necessary and the longer a run for soft tubing, the less interesting it can be. No matter what a run would have to run across the case and it looks fine.

 

Any tips for improvement or other ways I could have done stuff, I'd love to hear!

[Letgomyleghoe.]

My only complaints would be that I don't get the noctua vibe, the rgb isn't diffused, and the rgb on the ram is to bright. By Noctua Vibe I mean that while you're saying its noctua themed to me there is no theme. It feels like there was a white and blackish theme in which you forgot to use black tubing and you added the noctua fans as an afterthought. For things that I would do different I honestly don't know as trying to pull of a noctua theme is hard and i've only seen it done once properly. 

[For Science!]

Yeah, I totally agree with @Gundar, if this is a Noctua Theme build, everything except for the Noctua Fans don’t match up with the theme. It’s more like a black/white build with Noctua contamination. 
 

However other than that the build looks good for a soft tube build. If you could hide the drain port better then that would be the cherry on the cake.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

12 hours ago, Gundar said:

My only complaints would be that I don't get the noctua vibe, the rgb isn't diffused, and the rgb on the ram is to bright. By Noctua Vibe I mean that while you're saying its noctua themed to me there is no theme. It feels like there was a white and blackish theme in which you forgot to use black tubing and you added the noctua fans as an afterthought. For things that I would do different I honestly don't know as trying to pull of a noctua theme is hard and i've only seen it done once properly. 

The Noctua fans were the first purchase

 

I'm still working out the lighting profile to be more Noctua-esque. Trying to get the colours just right.

 

Also, awaiting Noctua themed PSU cables to arrive from the US. Should be here in a few weeks.

 

I'll post an update once I get it all done for your opinion

[Noctua Fan Fan]

5 hours ago, For Science! said:

However other than that the build looks good for a soft tube build. If you could hide the drain port better then that would be the cherry on the cake.

This is the best compliment. I try hard to make soft tubing look good.

[DoctorNick]

Looks great! I like it alot! Should be perfect once you get the "noctua PSU kit"  I'm a fan of the soft tubing choice, I would have done the same, much easier to swap out!

[Noctua Fan Fan]

6 hours ago, DoctorNick said:

Looks great! I like it alot! Should be perfect once you get the "noctua PSU kit"  I'm a fan of the soft tubing choice, I would have done the same, much easier to swap out!

Thank you!

Colour wise I have managed to get somewhat close with the RGB to Noctua colours but damn is it hard to get a good photo of it on my phone to share

[HM-2]

Agree it's really tidy for a soft tube setup. The only fly in the ointment for me is the long run from the CPU to top radiator, though I think it's about as tidy as it could be. The only way you could have really avoided that was to use crossflow radiators. The use of rotaries to get good alignment and clean runs plus clearly taking time to properly measure stuff has definitely paid off.

 

I think with Noctua coloured cables it'll work well. 

 

Having just completed a distro plated build in an O11XL using EZ-ZMT Black, I can only hope that your tubing was more pliant than mine because I've absolutely shredded my fingers on the textured finish of my compression fittings. 

[Noctua Fan Fan]

46 minutes ago, HM-2 said:

Agree it's really tidy for a soft tube setup. The only fly in the ointment for me is the long run from the CPU to top radiator, though I think it's about as tidy as it could be.

I had this EXACT conversation with my girlfriend about 90 seconds before I read this comment and that run is 100% my least favourite part. And unless I swapped radiators is unavoidable. Shorter runs with soft tubing and using a bunch of fittings is truly the wave, longer runs are where soft tubing looks bad.

 

47 minutes ago, HM-2 said:

The use of rotaries to get good alignment and clean runs plus clearly taking time to properly measure stuff has definitely paid off.

 

Thank you! I spent a solid 2 hours trying out different fittings in different locations and cutting the tubing by less than 0.5cm in places to try and achieve the runs. I'm really happy it shows in the finished product

 

 

50 minutes ago, HM-2 said:

Having just completed a distro plated build in an O11XL using EZ-ZMT Black, I can only hope that your tubing was more pliant than mine because I've absolutely shredded my fingers on the textured finish of my compression fittings. 

My fingers ached a lot and I've developed more callousses than 15 years of guitar playing had given me. By the end of the day I had to ask my girlfriend to come squeeze the fill bottle for me cause my hands just didn't want to work anymore!

 

Have you put any pics up? I'd be very keen to see your build.

[thrasher_565]

On 10/4/2020 at 10:06 AM, A Gassy Gnome said:

This is the best compliment. I try hard to make soft tubing look good.

people are really picky i like soft tubing. ied say fuck em haha

[HM-2]

15 hours ago, A Gassy Gnome said:

I had this EXACT conversation with my girlfriend about 90 seconds before I read this comment and that run is 100% my least favourite part. And unless I swapped radiators is unavoidable. 

Yeah it's one of those things really I think. I mean you could potentially also punch through the rear of the case and run that top line across the back but that starts to get a bit complex! 

 

15 hours ago, A Gassy Gnome said:

Have you put any pics up? I'd be very keen to see your build.

Sure, here