Node 202 custom water loop (CPU + GPU)...Possible?

Toby Tanfield · January 3, 2018

Its outrageous, i know, so heres the idea, tell us what you think...

I'm going to upgrade my system probably by the end of this new year. This means:

GTX 970 > GTX 1070 (Zotac Mini)

i5 6500 > i5 8600K

The case i have is the Fractal Design Node 202 - Great case btw - and i want great performance, in as a small and quiet build possible.

The Plan

- Buy the Fractal Design S24 "AIO" CPU cooler, but it can be expanded, which is key (and includes the pump) (http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/water-cooling/s24).

- If the fans which are supplied are more than 15mm deep, then i'm selling them and buying 2 Noctua Nf-a12x15 Flx 120mm X 15mm case fans.

- Buy the Alphacool NexXxoS GPX M05 GPU waterblock made for the Zotac Mini 1070 (https://www.alphacool.com/shop/grafikkartenkuehler/nvidia-fullsize/21777/alphacool-nexxxos-gpx-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1070-m05-mit-backplate-schwarz?c=20582).

- Stick it all together with hardline tubing.

I went ahead and got some Google Sketchup models, adding and editing them where necessary. Ignore the mad colours, the scale is the important part, the chrome fitting's will not be there, they're only there because im not a wizard, i dont have the time to curve tubes in Sketchup. I'm sure someone can tell me how though.

No reservoir - WHICH IS FINE BY THE WAY. Just harder to fill, and empty. I'd probably use a T-fitting someway and add a funnel tube to fill it with.

At the moment, the GPU which is sat on a 15mm fan, and a 30mm radiator is a little squished, but lifting the motherboard slightly with...anything (e.g blu tac), will lift the GPU adequately.

The cable management will have to be top notch i know, and yes the tubes fit just over the RAM.

So will it work? Any advice would be helpful!