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Help Me Plan A Custom Loop

byalexandr
By byalexandr
in Custom Loop and Exotic Cooling
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Whelp, last Friday I ordered an R9 290 off of eBay. Was a steal at $170, and it still kicks ass. Well the other thing is that my case is an SG05, and anybody who knows this case knows the card barely fits as it is, not to mention the heat and power consumption. Well I know I will be annoyed by the reference cooler sooner or later, so after I upgrade my PSU and my i3 to a Xeon, I want to do a custom loop. Kinda hard, I know, but it's been done before. So I want you guys to help me pick out blocks, pumps, reservoirs, tubing,etc. If it's going to be in such a small space I want to take advantage of the stuff that is available on the market. So:

 

-Tubing needs to be flexible, like no kinking and stuff, but at the same time a small overall diameter as thick ass tubing in this case is not going to look good and it's going to take up dearly needed space.

-I'm assuming I'm not going to be able to stuff in a full size pump, so I need one that is integrated into the CPU block. I think Swiftech has one if I do so recall.

-Thick 120mm rad with a very high fin density. I only have a single 120mm fan slot at the front of the case so the radiator is important. It is going to be cooling some hot running hardware.

-Tiny reservoir. Just big enough that I can fill it up, I was thinking of a small acrylic one that I could mount to the side of the radiator.

 

So, since I will be upgrading the PSU soon, I will get the 600W Silverstone SFX-L model. This will give me some more room for everything, as I don't think an ATX PSU will give me enough room for this beastly (in it's own way) loop. A couple questions about this loop in general as well:

 

Is it going to keep a power hungry and hot running 290 as well as a Xeon cool? I mean, it's only a single thick 120mm radiator, even if I do keep using the Scythe Gentle Typhoon I have installed right now.

Is it worth doing the loop, even if it will keep everything cool? Should I switch to an air cooler for the CPU and liquid cool only the 290 with a HG10 from Corsair (or something similar)? Or just leave the reference cooler on the 290 and keep my system as it is?

 

Now that those are out of the way, here are some ideas:

post-2597-0-40004000-1442628889.jpeg

^ Like this, where the CPU block is also the pump, but with it also cooling the GPU. I don't really know how to make runs, and which components should go in which order, etc.

 

post-2597-0-09661200-1442628951_thumb.jp

^ Again, like this but instead of that pump below the res, the CPU block is also a pump. And thinner tubing, that makes me cringe a lil'. I really want to make use of right angle fittings as well, I don't want the tubing to bend very much, as the fittings should be doing the bending work in my mind.

 

I just want a nice silver/chrome and black theme. Just some gloss black tubing, polished silver/nickel fittings and blocks, I really like Bitspower fittings.

 

Anyway, post what you think I should do. MS Paint demonstrations/ideas/drawings/etc. are very welcome and almost encouraged. I really want to do this, I will be that one guy with a custom cooled shoebox. Let me know what I should do, thanks!

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wait, is that a single 120mm for a CPU and a 290, that sounds like a cooling downgrade. (maybe an upgrade for the GPU, but the CPU temp is going to tank hard)

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Core components so far, improve if you'd like:

 

CPU/Pump Combo-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16151/ex-blc-1119/Swiftech_Apogee_Drive_II_Pump_and_CPU_Waterblock_Combo_-_Sockets_115x1366_APD2-1155-1366.html?tl=g30c325#blank

 

GPU Block ( I like the way the heat fins match the CPU block)-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/25223/ex-blc-1797/Alphacool_NexXxoS_GPX_ATI_R9_290X_M02_Liquid_Cooling_Block_w_Backplate_11144.html?tl=g30c357#blank

 

So I got those down.

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wait, is that a single 120mm for a CPU and a 290, that sounds like a cooling downgrade. (maybe an upgrade for the GPU, but the CPU temp is going to tank hard)

Yep, a single, super dense, thick ass 120mm radiator with a powerful fan. I was actually thinking of getting one of those Noctua Industrial fans instead of my Scythe since my Scythe is more of a quiet fan, even though it pushes a fair amount of air. That's why I said radiator choice is very important, but to me the GPU is the component in my system that I put 100% load on regularly (like everyday, regularly). I won't be overclocking the CPU or anything, that's why I went for a low TDP Xeon.

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For a radiator, I would use the Hardwarelabs Nemesis GTX120, it's thick at 56mm and has a pretty high FPI of 25.

For the Pump + Waterblock, the Swiftech Apogee Drive II seems like the most convenient option.

The Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Reservoir should also fit nicely in your case.

The EK-FC R9-290X will fit nicely on your reference R9 290

8 EK fittings and 3m of tubing

 

All of these parts compiled on PerformancePCs is $560.

 

I wouldn't order from FrozenCPU if I were you, I ordered all of my water cooling parts from PerformancePCs and had no problems

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

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For a radiator, I would use the Hardwarelabs Nemesis GTX120, it's thick at 56mm and has a pretty high FPI of 25.

For the Pump + Waterblock, the Swiftech Apogee Drive II seems like the most convenient option.

The Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Reservoir should also fit nicely in your case.

The EK-FC R9-290X will fit nicely on your reference R9 290

8 EK fittings and 3m of tubing

 

All of these parts compiled on PerformancePCs is $560.

 

I wouldn't order from FrozenCPU if I were you, I ordered all of my water cooling parts from PerformancePCs and had no problems

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. What about that Alphacool 290 block I picked out? Is it bad or anything? I like how it matches the CPU block with all of those heat fins. And what's the difference between EK and Bitspower fittings? What thickness should I use, etc.?

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Would an 80mm thick radiator plus a 25mm thick fan fit? I feel like that would provide adequate cooling performance. Lemme do some measuring, see how thick of a rad I can do.

80mm is tiny..

Thats that. If you need to get in touch chances are you can find someone that knows me that can get in touch.

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Wow, thanks for the quick reply. What about that Alphacool 290 block I picked out? Is it bad or anything? I like how it matches the CPU block with all of those heat fins. And what's the difference between EK and Bitspower fittings? What thickness should I use, etc.?

The Alphacool block only actively runs water over the GPU core, and not the VRMs, VRAM, and other stuff. That's what the giant heatsink is there for. Although it probably works fine, the EKWB cools all of the core components and leaves no man behind. Not much difference between fittings, just get whatever's cheaper and is a compression fittings. You don't want barb fittings in such a small build where tight turns are present. I would use the thinnest available tubes so you can save space and so the tube is more flexible.

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

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80mm is tiny..

He means 120mm fan radiator, but 80mm in depth or thickness. Your average 120mm AIO is 30mm thick.

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

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He means 120mm fan radiator, but 80mm in depth or thickness. Your average 120mm AIO is 30mm thick.

oohh. never heard of an 80mm rad..

Thats that. If you need to get in touch chances are you can find someone that knows me that can get in touch.

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Update on core components, still not sure what kind of fittings I should buy, I know I will need at least 4 90 degree fittings.

 

Radiator (thanks @Interfectorem )-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/23912/ex-rad-700/Black_Ice_Nemesis_GTX_120_Radiator_-_Black.html?tl=g30c95s159

 

GPU Block (if no one disagrees)-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/25223/ex-blc-1797/Alphacool_NexXxoS_GPX_ATI_R9_290X_M02_Liquid_Cooling_Block_w_Backplate_11144.html?tl=g30c357#blank

 

CPU Block (still the Swiftech one)-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16151/ex-blc-1119/Swiftech_Apogee_Drive_II_Pump_and_CPU_Waterblock_Combo_-_Sockets_115x1366_APD2-1155-1366.html?tl=g30c325#blank

 

Reservoir (a lot of SG05 loops use this one, might as well use it in mine too)-

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8336/ex-res-144/Swiftech_MCRES_Micro_Rev_2_Small_Form_Factor_High-Flow_Reservoir_12_ID_and_38_ID.html?tl=g30c97#blank

 

Again, stuck in fittings, what kind I should get and how many as no one suggested the path the loop should take, and what tubing I should get.

 

Edit: Crap, wrong radiator. Hold on.

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He means 120mm fan radiator, but 80mm in depth or thickness. Your average 120mm AIO is 30mm thick.

What diameter tubing should I use? ID and OD? And do you have an idea as to how the loop should run? Like which order and stuff? Oh, and I don't mind the passive cooling on the VRMs I guess, unless you would say otherwise. I mean it gets cooled right? Are there any other blocks with that black look that perform like the EK blocks?

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Okay, okay. Here we go, this should be a semi-polished final list of things I need to order:

 

http://www.performance-pcs.com/hot-swiftech-apogee-drive-ii-cpu-waterblock-with-integrated-pump-intel-1155-1366-version.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-120gtx-ultra-stealth-dual-core-xtreme-profile-radiator.html#Specifications

^ Quick question about that one. It says the radiator can handle up to 450W of cooling. Is that sufficient or what? I mean the 290 has a 250W TDP and my future Xeon is like 60W or something.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/swiftech-mcres-micro-rev-2-reservoir.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/ek-fc-r9-290x-dcii-acetal-nickel.html

^ Me likey.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-stop-fitting-with-o-ring.html

^ 4x of these for the rad and GPU block.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-silver-shiny-dual-rotary-90-degree-compression-fitting-id-3-8-od-5-8-v3.html

^ Not sure how many of these but at least 4 for sure.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-premium-g1-4-shiny-silver-high-flow-3-8-5-8-compression-fitting.html

^ Again not sure how many of these, but I think that covers it for the types of fittings I will need.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/xspc-high-flex-hose-3-8-8243-id-5-8-8243-od-16-10mm-black.html

^ This beautiful hosing, probably like 3 or 4 feet.

 

@Interfectorem What do you think?

 

All that for $510, including tons of fittings so I can play around with them just in case.

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Okay, okay. Here we go, this should be a semi-polished final list of things I need to order:

 

http://www.performance-pcs.com/hot-swiftech-apogee-drive-ii-cpu-waterblock-with-integrated-pump-intel-1155-1366-version.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-120gtx-ultra-stealth-dual-core-xtreme-profile-radiator.html#Specifications

^ Quick question about that one. It says the radiator can handle up to 450W of cooling. Is that sufficient or what? I mean the 290 has a 250W TDP and my future Xeon is like 60W or something.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/swiftech-mcres-micro-rev-2-reservoir.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/ek-fc-r9-290x-dcii-acetal-nickel.html

^ Me likey.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-stop-fitting-with-o-ring.html

^ 4x of these for the rad and GPU block.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-silver-shiny-dual-rotary-90-degree-compression-fitting-id-3-8-od-5-8-v3.html

^ Not sure how many of these but at least 4 for sure.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-premium-g1-4-shiny-silver-high-flow-3-8-5-8-compression-fitting.html

^ Again not sure how many of these, but I think that covers it for the types of fittings I will need.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/xspc-high-flex-hose-3-8-8243-id-5-8-8243-od-16-10mm-black.html

^ This beautiful hosing, probably like 3 or 4 feet.

 

@Interfectorem What do you think?

 

All that for $510, including tons of fittings so I can play around with them just in case.

Looks excellent!

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

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Okay, okay. Here we go, this should be a semi-polished final list of things I need to order:

 

http://www.performance-pcs.com/hot-swiftech-apogee-drive-ii-cpu-waterblock-with-integrated-pump-intel-1155-1366-version.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-120gtx-ultra-stealth-dual-core-xtreme-profile-radiator.html#Specifications

^ Quick question about that one. It says the radiator can handle up to 450W of cooling. Is that sufficient or what? I mean the 290 has a 250W TDP and my future Xeon is like 60W or something.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/swiftech-mcres-micro-rev-2-reservoir.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/ek-fc-r9-290x-dcii-acetal-nickel.html

^ Me likey.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-stop-fitting-with-o-ring.html

^ 4x of these for the rad and GPU block.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-silver-shiny-dual-rotary-90-degree-compression-fitting-id-3-8-od-5-8-v3.html

^ Not sure how many of these but at least 4 for sure.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-premium-g1-4-shiny-silver-high-flow-3-8-5-8-compression-fitting.html

^ Again not sure how many of these, but I think that covers it for the types of fittings I will need.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/xspc-high-flex-hose-3-8-8243-id-5-8-8243-od-16-10mm-black.html

^ This beautiful hosing, probably like 3 or 4 feet.

 

@Interfectorem What do you think?

 

All that for $510, including tons of fittings so I can play around with them just in case.

 

I hope you know the EKWb that you listed in that list is for a Asus Direct CU II R9 290...not a reference one as you mention in the first post

PC Build: Project Re-Define | Project Mochii | Personal Rig v3

 

 

 

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I hope you know the EKWb that you listed in that list is for a Asus Direct CU II R9 290...not a reference one as you mention in the first post

F*ck. Can you find one that's black and chrome like that but for a reference? I am really tired.

 

Edit: How about this one? http://www.performance-pcs.com/new-koolance-vid-ar290x-water-block-amd-radeon-r9-290-290x.html

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F*ck. Can you find one that's black and chrome like that but for a reference? I am really tired.

 

http://www.performance-pcs.com/ek-msi-gigabyte-radeon-r9-290x-vga-liquid-cooling-block-nickel-acetal.html

PC Build: Project Re-Define | Project Mochii | Personal Rig v3

 

 

 

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