First custom loop, couple of questions...

[uberDoward]

I'll be running a custom loop, Strix x570i monoblock with a 5800X3D, 7900XTX, and both a 240mm and 120mm set of radiators.

This is an ITX build, so the radiator fans are the only case fans in the system. Raven RVZ01 if it matters.

I see the whole push/pull discussion and I think I can safely ignore as I'm going for "great cooling as silent as possible", but I'm trying to figure out if water-cooling should adhere to the same basic principles of air-cooling when it comes to maintaining positive case pressure. Do I want to go 2x120mm fans as intake, blowing through the 240mm radiator, and treat the 120mm radiator up top as the exhaust?

That would have 2x120mm (Noctua 15mm) bolted to the case, 240mm rad bolted to the fans, then the 120mm fan bolted to the case as exhaust and the 120mm radiator bolted to the 120mm fan (I think I can squeeze a 25mm thick fan here).

Asking because I've seen a number of people (but not trusted reviewers) saying ALL radiators should be exhausting?

Thanks for any info!

[filpo]

3 minutes ago, uberDoward said:

Asking because I've seen a number of people (but not trusted reviewers) saying ALL radiators should be exhausting?

no, only one of the radiators should be exhausting. if you've exhausted all the air, that means there's no more air to exhaust so no more air to use in the case to cool the components. I would go with what you said with the intake and exhaust but what case will you be using and where will both the 240 and 120 rad be mounted?

[uberDoward]

5 minutes ago, filpo said:

no, only one of the radiators should be exhausting. if you've exhausted all the air, that means there's no more air to exhaust so no more air to use in the case to cool the components. I would go with what you said with the intake and exhaust but what case will you be using and where will both the 240 and 120 rad be mounted?

240mm mounted in the bottom of the case (case has feet to allow airflow) would be the intake, and 120mm on top of the case would be the exhaust (at least in my current planning - just making sure I'm not barking up the wrong tree lol)

 

*edit* I use it as a Steam Box / HTPC in the living room - it'll be laying horizontally under the projector screen, on top of the media center, if it matters.

[filpo]

1 minute ago, uberDoward said:

240mm mounted in the bottom of the case (case has feet to allow airflow) would be the intake, and 120mm on top of the case would be the exhaust (at least in my current planning - just making sure I'm not barking up the wrong tree lol)

 

*edit* I use it as a Steam Box / HTPC in the living room - it'll be laying horizontally under the projector screen, on top of the media center, if it matters.

ye it won't matter if it has enough space to exhaust at the top

 

that planning seems good to me

[uberDoward]

Just now, filpo said:

ye it won't matter if it has enough space to exhaust at the top

 

that planning seems good to me

Appreciate it, thank you!

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

All intake will probably be slightly better. I have a Node 202 setup with all intake. The warm air finds it's way out through the other open vents. There are 3X 120mm fans acting as intake like you will have, and the cases have a similar design, so this could work well for you too.

 

Having all fresh air cooling your fluid will keep it cooler.

[filpo]

4 minutes ago, Hairless Monkey Boy said:

All intake will probably be slightly better. I have a Node 202 setup with all intake. The warm air finds it's way out through the other open vents. There are 3X 120mm fans acting as intake like you will have, and the cases have a similar design, so this could work well for you too.

 

Having all fresh air cooling your fluid will keep it cooler.

since its an itx build i don't think there will be any open vents once all the space for fans are filled but if they aren't then thats not a bad idea

[johnno23]

I have two radiators in my case one at the front where air flow is over the rad and into the case. the second rad is in the top and the flow exhaust the air out of the case.

Both cpu and GPU are water cooled.

[uberDoward]

26 minutes ago, filpo said:

since its an itx build i don't think there will be any open vents once all the space for fans are filled but if they aren't then thats not a bad idea

There's open venting along both sides of the case - all intake to cool the fluid could make quite a bit of sense, and let the hot exhaust find its own way out.

Between the ITX monoblock and XTX block, seems like everything that needs cooling would be getting cooling, so forcing exhaust venting via pressurization may be a good plan.  If nothing else, since I have filters on all the intake fans, makes it easy to dust!

[filpo]

1 minute ago, uberDoward said:

There's open venting along both sides of the case - all intake to cool the fluid could make quite a bit of sense, and let the hot exhaust find its own way out.

Between the ITX monoblock and XTX block, seems like everything that needs cooling would be getting cooling, so forcing exhaust venting via pressurization may be a good plan.  If nothing else, since I have filters on all the intake fans, makes it easy to dust!

ye i agree, just didn't know what case you were using

[IkeaGnome]

1 hour ago, uberDoward said:

There's open venting along both sides of the case - all intake to cool the fluid could make quite a bit of sense, and let the hot exhaust find its own way out.

Between the ITX monoblock and XTX block, seems like everything that needs cooling would be getting cooling, so forcing exhaust venting via pressurization may be a good plan.  If nothing else, since I have filters on all the intake fans, makes it easy to dust!

I'd also go this route. Worst case, you have high coolant temps and just flip the fan on the 120mm to add more exhaust. The 240mm would be an intake for sure. That case has plenty of vents to let air out. 

 

1 hour ago, filpo said:

ye i agree, just didn't know what case you were using

 

2 hours ago, uberDoward said:

Raven RVZ01 if it matters.

https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/RVZ01/

[filpo]

10 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

I'd also go this route. Worst case, you have high coolant temps and just flip the fan on the 120mm to add more exhaust. The 240mm would be an intake for sure. That case has plenty of vents to let air out. 

 

 

https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/RVZ01/

Wow maybe I should go back to elementary for my reading skills lmao

[uberDoward]

Lol, all good.  I've had this case for ages, this is my fourth build in it.  I've never put it under water, though, because I could never find the damn 3.5" reservoir.

 

I finally got one, and I figure it's well past time to try my hand at a custom loop!

 

To be fair, though, I don't think a custom loop in the RVZ01 will be super beginner friendly, but YOLO...