Help with setting up a liquid cooler for MSI GTX 970

[Ashercrasher]

I recently have started doing more tinkering with my computer that I bought prebuilt from Cyberpower (I live in Alaska where shipping costs are insane so it was more cost effective to order a prebuilt one then ordering individual parts otherwise I would have built it myself), it came with a liquid cooling system for the CPU, a Intel i5 Core 4690K @ 3.5ghz that I have since overclocked to 4.0ghz at a reasonable temperature, which is what has peaked my interest in getting a liquid cooling setup for my MSI GTX 970 so that I can push it a little harder and get better performance. I am not particularly familiar with setting up a liquid cooling system for a graphics card so I am not even sure where to start with even just the parts I would need for a moderately sized and capable cooling system, I am hoping that this is where this forum and the infinitely better knowledge about this then I have kicks in from you guys.

[N_Bot]

Start by doing some research on water blocks like on ekwb's website.

[aeroencychris]

https://www.ekwb.com/news/ek-releases-msi-gtx-970-gaming-4g-full-cover-water-block/ ?

[deVIZtation]

Watch some videos on the Youtubes, there are a ton of them. Also with custom liquid cooling, you are going to be spending a lot of money. Looks like you don't room in the case to mount a rad in the front, is there any clearance on the top?

[Ashercrasher]

5 hours ago, deVIZtation said:

Watch some videos on the Youtubes, there are a ton of them. Also with custom liquid cooling, you are going to be spending a lot of money. Looks like you don't room in the case to mount a rad in the front, is there any clearance on the top?

not a lot, it does have a mounting point that could be plausible but its a very close call, I would say there is about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches of clearance between the top of the case to the radiator of the CPU's cooling system. I could (with a drill) modify the case in an area where there is more clearance, create some new holes for the fan to actually blow heat out of and it doesn't look like it would be in the way of anything else. On the right picture just right of the top holes is where I am talking about for the modifying idea.

[deVIZtation]

13 hours ago, Ashercrasher said:

not a lot, it does have a mounting point that could be plausible but its a very close call, I would say there is about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches of clearance between the top of the case to the radiator of the CPU's cooling system. I could (with a drill) modify the case in an area where there is more clearance, create some new holes for the fan to actually blow heat out of and it doesn't look like it would be in the way of anything else. On the right picture just right of the top holes is where I am talking about for the modifying idea.

That would definitely be a DIY project. I say, if you really want to, then do it. It's a good learning experience.