First Custom Loop - Looking for recommendations

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28 Oct 2006
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So I will soon be building my first full custom loop my setup will be as follows:

Case: Fractal Design - Define R5 Black
Motherboard: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3
CPU: AMD 8320
Grfx: R9 290X

I wont be cooling the RAM or anything on the motherboard so the loop will incorporate the CPU and the 290X.

The thing is I have no idea what types of fittings I will need, what type of tubing to use, which rads, pump reservoir etc. and I don't want to order either the wrong parts or order too much.

I like the idea of having the straight tubes with bends but I don't have a heat gun so I am guessing that is probably a non starter unless I buy a heat gun?

Also, I want to keep the 3 bay HDD cage in the case (happy to move it over towards the PSU to open up the front for a Rad) and would like to keep the optical drive cage as well. I think this will limit me to 2x 240 rads (top and front) - is that going to be sufficient?

I have looked at a couple of custom loop builds with this case and they all seem to go with removal of the optical drive cage so it does leave me a little concerned.

I have not bought the case yet (although I do have another PC in the house in that case) so the case is not an absolute must but if I went with another case it would have to have a similar style - I like the look and the silence of the Define R5 it is quite simply amazing from a noise perspective.

So, early days yet and I am very happy to receive any ideas and feedback. It is my birthday at the end of the month and I am planning to build the loop by then so I will be order components in the next 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for any responses in advance.
 
Last edited:
I have actually decided to go with the Thermaltake Suppressor F51 case instead of the R5 Define. I was really concerned about the lack of top filters on the R5 Define and the F51 seems to have more options for rads than the R5.
 
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