Watercooling a pc, as flat as possible

TommyBoyBlitz · 6 Aug 2013 at 18:09

Hi,

I have used water cooling for many years and have just adapted the kit i have had to suit newer computers.

Now i am trying to make a set up which will sit as flat as possible against the wall, normal coolers are just to big so thinking about using watercooling again for AM3+ bulldozer cpu and ati radeon 7k series something (i think, can look it up more specifically)

Anyway, there seems to be about 1 billion coolers about and just want a bog standard good performance one, it doesn't have to be pretty or flashy lights, but preferably to sit as flat to the mother board as it can for the cpu and the same again for the graphics card.

Thanks

eddyr · 6 Aug 2013 at 21:31

One suggestion I do have is that you may be able to mod a universal gpu block to suit your needs. I recall some build logs for small form factor cases where it was done but it will require some work.
I can't think of any stock cpu blocks suited off the top of my head, it may be a case of using 90deg fittings. What case is it and what clearance would there be?

edit: Swiftech do a low profile series of blocks, search Apogee LP

TommyBoyBlitz · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:00

Thanks

Well its not a case, its a gap between the wall and paneling, my room is small and i am gonna run all my electrics in this gap, amps, blue ray etc

I have been looking and i should be able to get a normal cpu cooler with a couple of 90 degree bends in the gap... just...

TommyBoyBlitz · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:01

Also, i was thinking about running an old air con rad i found outside outside my room under the eves, as everything is gonna be so tight it would end up heating up so quickly. is there any problems with running long pipes or stuff outside?

Cheers

JonJ678 · 17 Aug 2013 at 22:08

No problems running pipes outside - well - unless they freeze.

It's just-about possible to get watercooling in 1U (45mm), but it's hard. A waterblock with 90 degree barbs doesn't fit. A modified gpu block or similar, with the pipes coming out the side instead of the top, does fit. Just. If 90mm is ok, you can pretty much take your pick. How much space have you got to work with?

TommyBoyBlitz · 18 Aug 2013 at 11:30

i have about 90mm.... and thats if the mobo is flat up against the wall, i want to mount it on somethign to keep it secure like the original mounting from the old case.

the psu just about fits in the gap, its an OCZ ZT 750w but the fan hasn't got much space to blow air away.

Everything else should fit fine

Diagro · 18 Aug 2013 at 12:18

TommyBoyBlitz said:
i have about 90mm.... and thats if the mobo is flat up against the wall, i want to mount it on somethign to keep it secure like the original mounting from the old case.

the psu just about fits in the gap, its an OCZ ZT 750w but the fan hasn't got much space to blow air away.

Everything else should fit fine

What about a GPU?? They are tall, will you be getting a PCI extension cable and running it on its side?

JonJ678 · 18 Aug 2013 at 22:16

At 90mm you can do pretty much whatever you like. Use a couple of 90 degree barbs and you'll have loads of space. Screwing the motherboard onto an old piece of case is probably a good idea, though ideally I'd want it in a box, with dust filters on the intake. The inside of a wall is probably not clean.

Power supplies with 80mm fans are dying out, but with care you can still find one. That would work better in terms of airflow into the psu.

implosiveturnip · 27 Aug 2013 at 11:47

I'm quite interested in how you get on running your wc through the radiator outside. I had an idea once, to bury an old car radiator or something deep in my garden, and run a loop through it, drilling out of the house and running tubing down the outside inside of an old unused drainpipe.