Help with custom water cooling

[TerraViri]

Hi,

I am looking for feedback on my first water cooling loop, I have gone with EKWB for all my parts. The computer I plan to cool will have the following components (only mentioning the relevant once):

• Intel I7 3700k
• Asus Sabettooth Z77
• Gigabyte Geforce GTX 980 TI
• Fractal Design S (with window)

Here is a picture of the shopping cart from EKWB (you should be able to zoom in to see the details):

https://imgur.com/1oskIcg

 

Here is a list of all the components in the lope with links:

Spoiler

1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-res-x3-250 

1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/tube-primochill-primoflextm-advanced-lrttm-19-1-12-7-mm-elegant-white-pflexa-34-w

1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-supremacy-evo-acetal-nickel

14x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-acf-fitting-13-19mm-white

6x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-vardar-f4-120er-2200rpm-white
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc980-gtx-ti-wf3-acetal-nickel
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-xtop-revo-d5-pwm-incl-pump

1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-atx-bridging-plug-24-pin
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc980-gtx-ti-wf3-backplate-black

2x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cable-y-splitter-3-fan-pwm-10cm
2x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cable-pwm-fan-extension-30cm
2x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-ekoolant-evo-clear-premix-1l
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-csq-plug-g1-4-black
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-ball-valve-10mm-g1-4-black
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-extender-rotary-m-m-g1-4-black
1x https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-t-splitter-3f-g1-4-black

The idea was to put one 360 radiator in the top of the chassi and one in the front. Does the two 60mm thick radiators fit in the chassi? I have found conflicting information where it says in certain places that it will work and in others that it won't. Together with the fans the thickness will be 85 mm.

I will happily take any feedback as this is the first time I am building a water cooling lope. Does the components look like a good fit? Anything I have forgotten or any parts I should replace with something else?

 

[jcw150]

In a define S I would stick to a 240mm and 360mm which are both 30mm.

[TerraViri]

5 minutes ago, jcw150 said:

In a define S I would stick to a 240mm and 360mm which are both 30mm.

Okay, they have three sizes 25mm, 40mm and 60mm. Should I go with one 240x40mm and one 360x40mm? Or 240x25mm+ 260x25mm?

[jcw150]

24 minutes ago, TerraViri said:

Okay, they have three sizes 25mm, 40mm and 60mm. Should I go with one 240x40mm and one 360x40mm? Or 240x25mm+ 260x25mm?

I'd go 25mm on both as it will give better airflow to the case and will fit a lot easier but you could probably fit one as a 40mm and the other as a 25mm.

[TerraViri]

7 minutes ago, jcw150 said:

I'd go 25mm on both as it will give better airflow to the case and will fit a lot easier but you could probably fit one as a 40mm and the other as a 25mm.

If it fits it would be nice to have one 40mm and one 25mm. As I would like to get as much radiator volume as possible, so that I have can have quite fans.

[TerraViri]

Also would you recommend using colored tubing with clear liquid or clear tubing with colored liquid?

[jcw150]

2 hours ago, TerraViri said:

Also would you recommend using colored tubing with clear liquid or clear tubing with colored liquid?

Clear liquid with coloured tubes definitely because the coloured liquid will stain your other parts.

 

5 hours ago, TerraViri said:

If it fits it would be nice to have one 40mm and one 25mm. As I would like to get as much radiator volume as possible, so that I have can have quiet fans.

I would put a 40mm 240mm on the front and 25mm 360mm on the top.

[TerraViri]

9 minutes ago, jcw150 said:

Clear liquid with coloured tubes definitely because the coloured liquid will stain your other parts.

 

I would put a 40mm 240mm on the front and 25mm 360mm on the top.

Okay good then I will stick with the same liquid and tubes as originally planned.

Do you think I could get away with a 60mm 240mm in the front or would that be too thick?

[TerraViri]

1 hour ago, TerraViri said:

Okay good then I will stick with the same liquid and tubes as originally planned.

Do you think I could get away with a 60mm 240mm in the front or would that be too thick?

What about having a 60mm 360mm rad in the front and a 25mm 240mm rad in the top? 

From what I can see there is plenty of space in the front. It is in the top that it might get a bit tight.

[Jidonsu]

You can easily shove a 60mm radiator in the front of the Define S. You can even mount the fans outside of the case AND still use the front filter if you get a little creative. Check my build log. 

 

I wouldn't get the thin 240 from EK though. The SE series from EK aren't that great. Maybe something from Hardware Labs. 

[TerraViri]

4 hours ago, Jidonsu said:

You can easily shove a 60mm radiator in the front of the Define S. You can even mount the fans outside of the case AND still use the front filter if you get a little creative. Check my build log. 

 

I wouldn't get the thin 240 from EK though. The SE series from EK aren't that great. Maybe something from Hardware Labs. 

Thanks! 

Nice build log! If I put the fans on the outside could I still fit the front panel on? 
So I could get a 60mm in the front and still fit the pump/reservoir in a nice way?
What combination of radiators in the top/front would you recommend a 360+240?




 

[TerraViri]

I contacted Fractal Design and their support recommended that I put a 360x60mm in the top and a 240x25mm in the front. Looks like a nice setup so I will probably go for that.