modify an all in one to fit into a custom loop?

[VeganJoy]

i really like how the asus ryujin cooler looks with the oled display and all that, but i'd also like to use a bigger radiator than what is offered. is there a way to modify it to use standard fittings and basically incorporate the pump head (standard asetek unit) into a loop? most cpu blocks look boring to me lol.

 

and as for radiator choice, i'd like to stick a 420mm rad in the front of my phanteks p500a. there's ~90mm of space for fans and a radiator, but with some simple modding i could increase that to ~115mm. i've got a bunch of noctua ippc a14s, so push-pull is a free option. what would be the best radiator choice for the given space and fans, that isnt completely deafening? would adding the extra fans for push pull be pointless for these noctuas?

[For Science!]

6 hours ago, VeganJoy said:

i really like how the asus ryujin cooler looks with the oled display and all that, but i'd also like to use a bigger radiator than what is offered. is there a way to modify it to use standard fittings and basically incorporate the pump head (standard asetek unit) into a loop? most cpu blocks look boring to me lol.

 

and as for radiator choice, i'd like to stick a 420mm rad in the front of my phanteks p500a. there's ~90mm of space for fans and a radiator, but with some simple modding i could increase that to ~115mm. i've got a bunch of noctua ippc a14s, so push-pull is a free option. what would be the best radiator choice for the given space and fans, that isnt completely deafening? would adding the extra fans for push pull be pointless for these noctuas?

It's an asetek design, so with the usual shenanigan's of non-standard barbs and voided warranty etc etc, it is possible but not recommended from my side. Push-Pull starts to make sense with thicker radiators (60 mm onwards, imo), though the iPPCs are intrinsically on the louder side.

[HM-2]

You could just buy a 420mm AIO, like the Arctic Liquid Freezer 420 or Alphacool Eisbaer.

[VeganJoy]

11 hours ago, For Science! said:

It's an asetek design, so with the usual shenanigan's of non-standard barbs and voided warranty etc etc, it is possible but not recommended from my side. Push-Pull starts to make sense with thicker radiators (60 mm onwards, imo), though the iPPCs are intrinsically on the louder side.

i'd be buying used anyways, dont really care about the warranty. hell i'd consider just disabling/removing the pump from the head to reduce complexity. so i see a few options for radiator configs:

 

- 40mm thick with high fin density, like the ekwb CE, using push+pull

 

- 60mm thick with medium or low fin density, and modifying the case to make room for push+pull

 

- some other radiator option; maybe just a standard 30mm with just push? dunno how much of a performance difference there would be between different thicknesses and FPIs for the same area

 

10 hours ago, HM-2 said:

You could just buy a 420mm AIO, like the Arctic Liquid Freezer 420 or Alphacool Eisbaer.

if they didnt look silly i would! the alphacool in particular is just monstrous lol, and the arctic can only be mounted one way for most boards afaik

 

[HM-2]

10 hours ago, VeganJoy said:

- some other radiator option; maybe just a standard 30mm with just push? dunno how much of a performance difference there would be between different thicknesses and FPIs for the same area

This would depend how fast you want to run the fans really. If you want to use iPPC's, be prepared for some noise and you really want to go with high fin density to take advantage of them. But depending on what you're cooling, a thinner low FPI radiator and some ultra quiet sub-1000RPM fan will probably provide all the performance you need. With a 420 unless you're doing a full CPU+GPU loop then there's little to no need for high RPM fans as you'll get basically the same performance from something slim and silent. 

 

A thick high-FPI radiator may well be significantly outperformed by a thin lower FPI one at low fan speed.

[VeganJoy]

4 hours ago, HM-2 said:

This would depend how fast you want to run the fans really. If you want to use iPPC's, be prepared for some noise and you really want to go with high fin density to take advantage of them. But depending on what you're cooling, a thinner low FPI radiator and some ultra quiet sub-1000RPM fan will probably provide all the performance you need. With a 420 unless you're doing a full CPU+GPU loop then there's little to no need for high RPM fans as you'll get basically the same performance from something slim and silent. 

 

A thick high-FPI radiator may well be significantly outperformed by a thin lower FPI one at low fan speed.

hmmm, interesting. i think i'll end up around 1000-1500 rpm most of the time, i have yet to test how loud they are at higher speeds. For now i plan on the loop being for my cpu only but in the future i'll add a gpu block and a 280mm. someone near me has an EK 420 coolstream radiator and an EK Quantum kinetic 300 pump/res combo for $50 and $120 respectively, are those good parts and good prices?