VS

[atoff]

So, still working on a rigid tubing setup. 
What I've ordered so far:
 
XSPC D5 Res/Pump combo
XSPC Raystorm CPU Block
XSPC 360mm V3 Rad
XSPC 240mm V3 Rad
Primochill Rigid Revolver Fittings
Primochill Acrylic Bending Kit (insert and gloves basically)
 
Now I need to pick out the rest of the parts.
 
I didn't intend to go all XSPC, but their price to performance just seems the best.  In fact I'd rather have an EK CPU block, so may swap that out, but again, XSPC was a good price.
 
Now, I have a few parts that I'm comparing, hoping to get a tie breaker.
 
Fans:  (OR would love recommendations for $15 and under, if there are better, quiet rad fans)
 

Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition CO-9050006-WW 120mm (~$14/fan)

VS
 
ENERMAX Twister Pressure UCTP12P High Static Pressure PWM 120mm (~$15/fan)
 
 

GPU Blocks:

 
EK-FC980 GTX Waterblock (~$124)

VS
 
XSPC Full Cover Razor GTX 980 Waterblock ($124)

 

 

What do you guys think?  And other than that, how does my list look? 

[Necrodead]

I haven't used enermax fans, but they look nice and people use them so they must be good. Corsair fans were a little loud for my taste but they perform well and aren't that loud. If you want cheaper Swiftech Helix's are quite good and are about $8 USD from performance pcs.

 

For waterblocks just use what looks better for you, I think the EK is supposed to be marginally better, but the difference was so small I wouldn't worry about it. Rest of you list looks good, good luck with the rigid build.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

I've personally never used the Enermax fans but I do have a set of the Corsair QE which work well from experience and are fairly quiet for the most part. As for the GPU waterblock I personally like EKWB their stuff is top notch. 

 

Overall everything looks great, a word of advice for filling up the XSPC combo unit get a syringe it helps a lot when filling.

[atoff]

I haven't used enermax fans, but they look nice and people use them so they must be good. Corsair fans were a little loud for my taste but they perform well and aren't that loud. If you want cheaper Swiftech Helix's are quite good and are about $8 USD from performance pcs.

 

For waterblocks just use what looks better for you, I think the EK is supposed to be marginally better, but the difference was so small I wouldn't worry about it. Rest of you list looks good, good luck with the rigid build.

 

Thanks, I did see the Swiftech fans mentioned a few times, but I don't want to support the company, so unfortunately, can't pick those up.  But I think I will go ahead with the EK waterblocks.  

 

I've personally never used the Enermax fans but I do have a set of the Corsair QE which work well from experience and are fairly quiet for the most part. As for the GPU waterblock I personally like EKWB their stuff is top notch. 

 

Overall everything looks great, a word of advice for filling up the XSPC combo unit get a syringe it helps a lot when filling.

 

Thanks for the tip, I was actually wondering how I was going to go about filling it.  I'm also not sure where I'm going to put the mini valve in my loop to be able to drain it.  I'm going to place the 360 radiator on top, and the 240 on the bottom next to the PSU, but I still plan on using my PSU cover, so it's all going to be tricky. Read that the lowest point is the best place, but being that the lowest point is already taken by the radiator, I just don't know.

 

Anyway, I'm still not sure on the fans.  The Corsairs are popular, but consensus is that they're somewhat loud.  Enermax seem like good fans, but I don't think enough people have used them.  Leaning towards the Corsairs, just because they're proven, but was hoping for something quieter.  

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

I would place it where it would drain the most fluid from the loop. I personally have a loop where I will use a radiator bleed port to drain but it will only drain part of my reservoir due to the height.

[atoff]

I would place it where it would drain the most fluid from the loop. I personally have a loop where I will use a radiator bleed port to drain but it will only drain part of my reservoir due to the height.

 

Yeah, I'm starting to rethink where I put the 240 radiator for that reason.  I can put it in the front, but then I'd have to take out the big fan in front, and I'd have no air intake.  I guess I could mount 2 140mm's at the bottom for intake, but I'd be sucking up all the dust.  Like I said, tricky!  

 

Some of my parts came in today... radiator, cpu block, other minor parts, so almost there.

[atoff]

Ran into some trouble with my built.  It's completely on hold.  The XSPC res / pump combo won't fit.  I didn't take into account just how long my video cards are.  Can't get it to fit anywhere else.  They're designed in such a way that I can't even rotate the bracket to align the holes for the rear.  No idea what to do.

[W-L]

Ran into some trouble with my built.  It's completely on hold.  The XSPC res / pump combo won't fit.  I didn't take into account just how long my video cards are.  Can't get it to fit anywhere else.  They're designed in such a way that I can't even rotate the bracket to align the holes for the rear.  No idea what to do.

 

Can you take a photo of what's wrong, also you can theoretically take off that back aluminum plate and just use the two brackets to mount the entire reservoir.

 

Alternatively for a mounting location how about on the back of a front rad using one of those rad mount adapters.

[atoff]

Can you take a photo of what's wrong, also you can theoretically take off that back aluminum plate and just use the two brackets to mount the entire reservoir.

 

Alternatively for a mounting location how about on the back of a front rad using one of those rad mount adapters.

 

Sure, here's what I mean... this was an option that looked like it might work... but the inlet is faced directly towards the side panel, so I wouldn't be able to put the side panel back on with the fitting and tubing in.  To be honest, I don't even know if it would fit there, even if the inlet was facing inward, considering I'll have a 360mm res on top.

 

 

 

 

I can't mount to the front res because for one it wouldn't be visible, and second, I'd have to get rid of the hdd bays, and I'd need at least one.  

[W-L]

Sure, here's what I mean... this was an option that looked like it might work... but the inlet is faced directly towards the side panel, so I wouldn't be able to put the side panel back on with the fitting and tubing in.  To be honest, I don't even know if it would fit there, even if the inlet was facing inward, considering I'll have a 360mm res on top.

-PIC-

I can't mount to the front res because for one it wouldn't be visible, and second, I'd have to get rid of the hdd bays, and I'd need at least one.  

 

So it looks like it's mainly the ring is the issue then, not being able to get it lower down or clear the GPU, also jsut note there the input and output are since the reservoir has two input ports and one output port.

 

if you can source one XSPC makes an aluminum ring which is lower profile which may solve the problem your having.

http://www.xs-pc.com/pump-accessories/d5-aluminium-screw-ring-black

[atoff]

So it looks like it's mainly the ring is the issue then, not being able to get it lower down or clear the GPU, also jsut note there the input and output are since the reservoir has two input ports and one output port.

 

if you can source one XSPC makes an aluminum ring which is lower profile which may solve the problem your having.

http://www.xs-pc.com/pump-accessories/d5-aluminium-screw-ring-black

 

The main issue at that location is that the inlet / outlet need to be rotated, but it doesn't rotate, because the bottom part of the bracket seems to be fixed (may have mixed up the ports when I explained it, but the one that's on the left, that one's necessity.  If I lowered it, it wouldn't work, because the second GPU (not installed in that pic) would be in the way of the holes.  Any lower than that and the PSU is in the way.  

[W-L]

The main issue at that location is that the inlet / outlet need to be rotated, but it doesn't rotate, because the bottom part of the bracket seems to be fixed (may have mixed up the ports when I explained it, but the one that's on the left, that one's necessity.  If I lowered it, it wouldn't work, because the second GPU (not installed in that pic) would be in the way of the holes.  Any lower than that and the PSU is in the way.  

 

I see then, for rotating the unit try loosening the screws on the back of the mounting plate, I have the same unit and found that it was not exact parallel to each other which made the plates bind, once you have it in the location you want snug up the screws on the back and it should be no problem.

[atoff]

I see then, for rotating the unit try loosening the screws on the back of the mounting plate, I have the same unit and found that it was not exact parallel to each other which made the plates bind, once you have it in the location you want snug up the screws on the back and it should be no problem.

 

You have the same pump/res combo, or the reservoir alone?   It just won't budge for me.  I've removed the backplate completely.  The top rotates, but the bottom seems like it's part of the bottom cap, it just won't turn.

[W-L]

You have the same pump/res combo, or the reservoir alone?   It just won't budge for me.  I've removed the backplate completely.  The top rotates, but the bottom seems like it's part of the bottom cap, it just won't turn.

 

I have the same pump res/res combo, and mine would only do about a quarter turn out of the box, for the bottom bracket try loosening the retaining ring that holds the pump in place and wiggle the bracket around. once you get it moving and into the position you want tighten up the ring to make sure the pump is secure.

[atoff]

I have the same pump res/res combo, and mine would only do about a quarter turn out of the box, for the bottom bracket try loosening the retaining ring that holds the pump in place and wiggle the bracket around. once you get it moving and into the position you want tighten up the ring to make sure the pump is secure.

 

I think there's something wrong with mine in that case, because no amount of force makes that bottom ring rotate.  

Won't wiggle, won't budge.   Even removed the pump completely, in case it was restricting it in any way.

[W-L]

I think there's something wrong with mine in that case, because no amount of force makes that bottom ring rotate.  

Won't wiggle, won't budge.   Even removed the pump completely, in case it was restricting it in any way.

 

Hmm they may have jammed it into place either the ring being too small of a diameter or the tube a bit oversized. If your willing to do some DIY work once you can get that ring off you can probably lightly sand the interior until it allows for rotation. 

 

Other than that I would probably contact XSPC and ask them what they can do since it's not suppose to be that way.

[atoff]

Hmm they may have jammed it into place either the ring being too small of a diameter or the tube a bit oversized. If your willing to do some DIY work once you can get that ring off you can probably lightly sand the interior until it allows for rotation. 

 

Other than that I would probably contact XSPC and ask them what they can do since it's not suppose to be that way.

 

Tried tapping it a bit with a rubber mallet, still not budging, so yeah, I think the next step is to contact XSPC.  Unfortunately they're slow with replies, and we have a long weekend, Monday being a holiday... so more waiting for my poor PC.  Thanks for all the help though, I appreciate you taking the time. 

[atoff]

Well, good news, I got the bracket ring to rotate!  A little time in my freezer did the trick.   Now it's down to a stable surface to mount on (should be able to figure that out), and the radiator being in the way.  I'll have to put the radiator holes at the front, which is unfortunate, but it would still be too thick... so I'm thinking I should go with the UT30 (30mm thick) 360mm instead of the 60mm XSPC I wanted.    Need to think about it though.  Everything I'm reading says thickness isn't so important, so maybe it won't matter.

[atoff]

So, I went with Noctua NF-F12 PWM fans.  I figured after what I've spent, and the hassle it would cause swapping out inferior fans, I may as well spend a little more and get some quality fans.  

 

Test fit just now...  can I get away with this?  

 

[W-L]

So, I went with Noctua NF-F12 PWM fans.  I figured after what I've spent, and the hassle it would cause swapping out inferior fans, I may as well spend a little more and get some quality fans.  

 

Test fit just now...  can I get away with this?  

 

-PIC-

 

It's a bit close but as long as it's not starved for fresh air and it shouldn't be a problem. Looks like things are moving along quite nicely.

[atoff]

It's a bit close but as long as it's not starved for fresh air and it shouldn't be a problem. Looks like things are moving along quite nicely.

 

Thanks!  I'm just waiting on Swiftech and PPCS to get my RMA sorted so I can purchase my GPU blocks!