1st ever custom loop

Sneblot · 3 Aug 2012 at 13:42

I am currently looking into building my first ever custom loop for my next build, which is going to have the following items of this build I want to water cool:-

i7 3930K
2 x 4GB EVGA 670

I'm looking at putting it all in a Fractal Design Define XL with one 240 mm rad mounted in the lower compartment to cool the i7 and a 360 in the roof to cool the 2 4GB 670's. I want to go for a healthy compermise between silence and performance.

Thus I'm thinking of Noctua P12's for the rad fans and sticking with the fractal 140's for the case.

Though what is this FPI I keep hearing when it comes to rads, thicker rads work better with lower speed fans as they have lower FPI but if I want to use thinner rads I would have to get higher speed fans as the rads themselves have a higher FPI?

Any help would be most welcome.

Warbie · 3 Aug 2012 at 17:19

Hey Sneblot. I'm considering going for my 1st loop soon too and like the look of the case. One thing - can you mount a radiator on the roof of the case? It doesn't look like there's anywhere for the air to go or for it to attach.

wissel · 3 Aug 2012 at 19:01

Warbie said:
One thing - can you mount a radiator on the roof of the case? It doesn't look like there's anywhere for the air to go or for it to attach.

You can mount a 30mm thick rad in the top with a set of 25mm fans, I cut the top and bottom of my case for the rads then fitted grills.

Sneblot · 3 Aug 2012 at 22:13

Warbie said:
Hey Sneblot. I'm considering going for my 1st loop soon too and like the look of the case. One thing - can you mount a radiator on the roof of the case? It doesn't look like there's anywhere for the air to go or for it to attach.

Yer as it comes there is no holes in the top for a rad, so if you would want to get this case you would have to mod it so that one would fit.

wissel said:
You can mount a 30mm thick rad in the top with a set of 25mm fans, I cut the top and bottom of my case for the rads then fitted grills.

Thanks for the picture has really moved me to get this case now I can see the actual sizes, I find it hard to imagine what the internal space is like when I see shots of the case with nothing in it haha. Also thats some crazy piping, I can't work out you layout haha.

wissel · 3 Aug 2012 at 23:51

The loop goes from the res to the pump (in the top drive bays) down the back of the case to the bottom rad, then up to GPU - CPU - Motherboard, then 360 top rad (EX360 Crossflow) then back to res.

...although its changed since that pic and now looks like this:

Sneblot · 4 Aug 2012 at 01:44

Argh right thanks, talking about this custom loop here is the basket for my set up.

Someone on here wouldn't be able to point out anything I might of missed?

Pgreenwo · 4 Aug 2012 at 02:47

You'll need more compression fittings. The kit above needs 14. Also get a EK SLI block to link the gpu's and some fluid of course unless you plan to use distilled/ battery top up water.

Not 100% but I think a D5 pump might be better with all the kit your putting in there too.

Just a personal pref but for a few quid more you could get a fully modular AX850 as space is quite tight already

Sneblot · 4 Aug 2012 at 17:53

I already have distilled water from filling up my EK kit, so I will be using that, not sure whether to dye it or not as I have heard that when you use dye it blocks the fins in the cpu gpu blocks.

Pgreenwo · 4 Aug 2012 at 17:59

Sneblot said:
I already have distilled water from filling up my EK kit, so I will be using that, not sure whether to dye it or not as I have heard that when you use dye it blocks the fins in the cpu gpu blocks.

Have a skim through the mayhems sticky thread there's info on the dyes there. Pretty sure they are pretty harmless but I've never used them as I use coloured per mix or coloured tubing

spixelspixel · 4 Aug 2012 at 21:46

There is better watercooling ready cases available. The fractal xl is not really made for it, your going to have to do some DIY.

Cleeecooo · 4 Aug 2012 at 22:21

Sneblot said:
I already have distilled water from filling up my EK kit, so I will be using that, not sure whether to dye it or not as I have heard that when you use dye it blocks the fins in the cpu gpu blocks.

Mayhems dye hasn't caused any problems for me

Sneblot · 5 Aug 2012 at 01:55

spixelspixel said:
There is better watercooling ready cases available. The fractal xl is not really made for it, your going to have to do some DIY.

This is one of the reasons I picked this case. That and the sound proofing it already has in it.

spixelspixel · 5 Aug 2012 at 02:08

Sneblot said:
This is one of the reasons I picked this case. That and the sound proofing it already has in it.

Your going to need holes in the case for the rads though or they won't cool properly. This case doesn't have any in the top.

Sneblot · 5 Aug 2012 at 20:33

spixelspixel said:
Your going to need holes in the case for the rads though or they won't cool properly. This case doesn't have any in the top.

Yep I was going to cut a hole in the top for the 360 rad then one either in the bottom or the lower side panel of the case for the 240 rad.