Looking for a Unique case and custom loop plan

[DrunkenPanda]

Budget (including currency): wide-open... think "high-end, but fiscally responsible"

Country: USA

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Home server/personal gaming rig

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

This is my current build:

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/DrunkenPanda/saved/zksccf

 

I've been building PCs since I was 12, I'm 36 now, but I've never done a custom loop. I've got some spare income and will be doing a mostly aesthetic makeover of my main rig. I absolutely loved that Corsair case when I got it... it was blingy, all glass to show those l33t cable management skills at all angles, and still "simple"... but... other than being absolutely sick of cleaning it constantly now, it doesn't have room for a 3rd 3.5" drive, which I'll be needing soon as my server drives are nearing capacity. 

 

For the case:

I'm looking for unique, simple, clean, constructed from good materials, capable of housing the above hardware + a full loop without being enormous and hogging all my desk space, a show-piece of a PC, not super concerned with the budget here but if you're speccing higher-end materials, please have a reason for it... I like the Lian Li PC-O11's aesthetic but maybe it's on the *too* simple side?... Fractal Design Vector RS Blackout (measurements seemed very large on it though)?... something along those lines.... I'm definitely open to suggestions, but that's more what I mean by unique... something clearly signature/different about it, but still simple/clean. Bonus points if you've built in a suggested case before to vouch for it. I would prefer something with a full-length shield over the power supply so I don't have to get so creative hiding the swamp of cables that will inevitably exist in the underbelly, but I could look past a lot of expectations if it meets the rule of cool...

 

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/vector/vector-rs-dark-tempered-glass/blackout-dark/

https://lian-li.com/product/pc-o11-dynamic/?cn-reloaded=1

 

For the loop:

Probably using exclusively EK loop supplies unless you can vouch for another brand. I've got too much money in the PC to worry about springing a leak from inferior materials. I'm planning on hard line, tips or tricks for that are welcome... and I'd like a full spec of what all will be needed so I can wrap my head around the budget. I'm contemplating getting a water-blocked 3080ti... it's completely unnecessary for my use-case, but I owe my buddy an arcade PC so he could use my old 1080ti....... but we'll design the loop around needing CPU/1080ti waterblock and I can axe the waterblock if I get the 3080ti.

 

So this is all a splurge 1st world problem purchase... I don't care what things cost... I want quality... but also don't just get the more expensive just because there's no budget, at least give some cockamamie reason for it lol...

 

Thanks in advance for any help... should be a fun build for somebody to put together instead of the same old "I nEeD tO bUiLd A GaMiNg Pc I hAvE $200" post :)

[krakek]

Meshify-2 is another fractal design option, you can even fit a 420mm radiator (with some asterixes).

 

For lots of drives you may want to switch to the storage configuration, which would limit the water cooling options sadly.

[Dedayog]

4 minutes ago, krakek said:

Meshify-2 is another fractal design option, you can even fit a 420mm radiator (with some asterixes).

 

For lots of drives you may want to switch to the storage configuration, which would limit the water cooling options sadly.

Only issue is that Meshify (and Fractal) aren't unique at all.  They're sharp but it's a basic common design.

 

Something like these:

 

https://voltcave.com/unique-pc-cases/

 

[RONOTHAN##]

Might be a good idea to look at the phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 or Enthoo 719. It's a large case that would be very easy to water cool for a beginner. It can store a ton of radiators, as well as a number of hard drives. They're the same case internally, one has better external materials and costs a bit more. 

 

Going through the EK Configurator would get you all the parts you need, EK does make good stuff. My GPU block is an EK block, and it works great, and their ZMT soft tubing is awesome. Personally I like Bitspower fittings a bit better, they're what's running in my system now, but EK's are still good. 

 

https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/shared/oW614ca55e31bf3

 

This should be what you need. I opted for dual 360s, since with a 3080 Ti you'll probably need it.

[IkeaGnome]

16 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 or Enthoo 719

Aren't those also the same internally except for the PSU bay as the EvolvX? They both end up with more room in the bottom since the Evolv has a full PSU tray. Does help to hide cables a bit, but they might work better for OP. If that's the case(no pun intended), @DrunkenPanda Here's the Evolv X as a F@H/NAS. Plenty of room and both of those cases above have a bit more room in the bottom, to give you a size reference, 

Spoiler

 

[RONOTHAN##]

3 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

Aren't those also the same internally except for the PSU bay as the EvolvX?

looking at photos, they look similar, but I wouldn't call them the same. Main reason I suggested the Enthoo 719 is because of how many radiators it can hands, there aren't many cases that can fit 2 480s, 2 360s, and a 140 in the rear. 

[DrunkenPanda]

16 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

Might be a good idea to look at the phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 or Enthoo 719. It's a large case that would be very easy to water cool for a beginner. It can store a ton of radiators, as well as a number of hard drives. They're the same case internally, one has better external materials and costs a bit more. 

 

Going through the EK Configurator would get you all the parts you need, EK does make good stuff. My GPU block is an EK block, and it works great, and their ZMT soft tubing is awesome. Personally I like Bitspower fittings a bit better, they're what's running in my system now, but EK's are still good. 

 

https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/shared/oW614ca55e31bf3

 

This should be what you need. I opted for dual 360s, since with a 3080 Ti you'll probably need it.

https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/shared/oW614ca94f92249
 

I'll have to look more specifically at the final case option to see if dual radiators is going to work... and I could cut the fans---I have plenty---and they're probably better fans anyhow... 

 

Quote

Something like these:

 

https://voltcave.com/unique-pc-cases/

yeaaaa.... some of those are little... ahem.... too unique... I'd honestly go for the Lian Li desk build if I hadn't just bought that new Secretlabs desk the day it released... they sucked me in with their presentation and lies!

It actually wasn't lies it's a super nice functional desk with awesome cable management... no actual complaints lol

 

 

 

Also.... I probably spent more time on the RGB than the build last time I rebuilt this thing... and I still didn't get everything to work together with the motherboard/GPU/RAM RGB.... do I need an EK/Asus Aura controller or can I repurpose the corsair one? I wish they would standardize this stuff instead of every brand having its own proprietary "RgB ToTaL sOLuTiOn"... I eventually made it "work" but I had to reconfigure every separate light on the motherboard to keep it from being a carnival shitshow... which is unhideable in that case cause the whole damn thing is glass... anyways.... if there's an RGB controller solution that will work with EK and Asus stuff (and possibly Fractal's case lights as well?) so I can unify the shitshow I would be interested

[RONOTHAN##]

2 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

f there's an RGB controller solution that will work with EK and Asus stuff (and possibly Fractal's case lights as well?)

I'm not sure about Fractal, but I know EK just uses the standard 3 pin RGB connectors on everything (some stuff might still be on 4 pin, but I'm pretty sure everything has moved to 3 pin), so you should be able to connect them to your motherboard and control it off there. 

[DrunkenPanda]

2 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

I'm not sure about Fractal, but I know EK just uses the standard 3 pin RGB connectors on everything (some stuff might still be on 4 pin, but I'm pretty sure everything has moved to 3 pin), so you should be able to connect them to your motherboard and control it off there. 

Yea.... I'll have 6 fans and two addressable RGB waterblocks to hook up... so I'll either need a dumb hub or one that doesn't conflict with the Aura system... I'm pretty sure Corsair's controller hijacks the RGB feed but I'm too scared to change anything at this point because I DO NOT want to have to go back and reconfigure it like last time

 

So just get an Asus RGB hub?

[VIVO-US]

If you're going for unique with a good amount of room for custom water cooling, how about Segotep's Phoenix mid-tower case? https://www.amazon.com/Segotep-Computer-Graphics-Vertical-Mounting/dp/B07WNGN9X4

[DrunkenPanda]

14 minutes ago, VIVO-US said:

If you're going for unique with a good amount of room for customer water cooling, how about Segotep's Phoenix mid-tower case? https://www.amazon.com/Segotep-Computer-Graphics-Vertical-Mounting/dp/B07WNGN9X4

That's not bad... looks like the only place to mount the pump is in front of the GPU though... not so much worried about choking the airflow as I am about how am I gonna route hardline around the GPU and still be able to remove it ever? :X

 

Any pics of that chasis with a custom loop?

[IkeaGnome]

31 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

looking at photos, they look similar, but I wouldn't call them the same. Main reason I suggested the Enthoo 719 is because of how many radiators it can hands, there aren't many cases that can fit 2 480s, 2 360s, and a 140 in the rear. 

I wasn't really suggesting the Evolv. It's $60 more than the Pro or the 719. I was more trying to give a size reference with a very similar and filled up case.

[VIVO-US]

7 minutes ago, DrunkenPanda said:

That's not bad... looks like the only place to mount the pump is in front of the GPU though... not so much worried about choking the airflow as I am about how am I gonna route hardline around the GPU and still be able to remove it ever? :X

 

Any pics of that chasis with a custom loop?

I'm not seeing much in the way of photos for custom setups, but it looks like there's a large space in the top where the hard lines could be run without interference. 

[DrunkenPanda]

3 minutes ago, VIVO-US said:

I'm not seeing much in the way of photos for custom setups, but it looks like there's a large space in the top where the hard lines could be run without interference. 

[DrunkenPanda]

21 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

I wasn't really suggesting the Evolv. It's $60 more than the Pro or the 719. I was more trying to give a size reference with a very similar and filled up case.

I don't hate the Evolv and its children, I've used it for several builds personally, it's a super nice case... and I regularly recommend Phantek's stuff... it's just not a "showpiece chasis" to me... The Define 7... same thing.... super nice case... I had a Define R4 back in the day, a pleasure to build in... it's not a showpiece... I've seen it and built in both of those 10 times too many...

 

I mean, I'm supposed to be "upgrading" from a Corsair Crystal 570x... bring the heat.... bring the flavor

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Cases/570x-rgb-config/p/CC-9011126-WW

 

So IDC if the case is $300 if it fits the bill... this is not a price/performance test... $300 might be around the cap for a computer container? It'd have to be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY cool to go past that... but show me the money shots.... what's ur dream case that can fit 3 HDDs and a custom loop without taking up my whole living room

[DrunkenPanda]

OK this one is pretty cool... I dunno if it's $400 cool but it's pretty damn cool 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y17T7J9
 

Would probably need to use a distributor plate reservoir? hmm... decisions

 

Another pretty cool one... the question is.... where do you put a reservoir at? :X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084HNPHF9