ITX - Custom Loop

Dirk Diggler · 8 May 2018 at 20:18

@FlyingScotsman cheers, Dude.

I've decided to rule out the 2700x so time to invest in the CPU block.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x EK Water Blocks EK Supremacy EVO CPU Block - Nickel (3831109800065)= £64.99

Total: £64.99 (includes shipping: £0.00)

FlyingScotsman · 9 May 2018 at 09:39

@String nice 1 mate, same block I got on my x99.

faheemrazzaq · 9 May 2018 at 15:59

FlyingScotsman said:
@String nice 1 mate, same block I got on my x99.

And me too

. very nice block. Though mine is not nickel plated. Hardly makes any difference.

FlyingScotsman · 9 May 2018 at 16:15

faheemrazzaq said:
And me too . very nice block. Though mine is not nickel plated. Hardly makes any difference.

Yeah think its just aesthetics

Dirk Diggler · 9 May 2018 at 16:24

Yea, I don't think the copper will go with a black & white theme so nickel it is.

D1craig · 13 May 2018 at 22:07

This looks really good. I love ITX it's so much more of an achievement getting all this inside a real ITX case and not some really huge thing.

My only custom was in an ITX case. Evolv ITX. Really tight couldn't get 2 rads.

I have my heart set on getting a Parvum R1 (I think it's R1, the one with a seperate space at the bottom for 2 360 rads) but i wanted to add a reservoir into the case and that doubles the price lol. Shame I have fallen out of love with pc gaming as of now so it won't be anytime soon.

vvalter · 17 May 2018 at 09:02

Nice work! Love custom loops in ITX builds. Following this.

Dirk Diggler · 22 May 2018 at 15:59

Inspired by @Smffy and his earlier idea, I've managed to get the reservoir fixed in place.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been picking up some bits and bobs in the MM and I decided to change Motherboard

I've put all the hardware and cables into the case and now it's time for more pipe... And it's looking like a proper little challenge to hook it all up.

Smffy · 22 May 2018 at 19:10

String said:
Inspired by @Smffy and his earlier idea, I've managed to get the reservoir fixed in place.

Looks cool mate, very tidy way to drain I’m defo doing a floor pass through next time I update!

That’s a lot of kit squeezed in there

Dirk Diggler · 23 May 2018 at 13:31

I've managed to get a couple of hours in this morning, but weather is glorious so will have to down tools for now.

Most of the bends now are unique angles, so I thought I'd share a little technique involving a piece of copper wire.

Another very simple technique for working out the size of bends when entries are quite far apart is to place a straight edge across the front of the case for a reference point.

I'm pleased to say that now I've piped it up, I don't need to do anything with the GPU as it's now sitting much better. I'm ready to fill with water and get some testing done now...

orbitalwalsh · 23 May 2018 at 13:37

looks sweet! good luck!

Dirk Diggler · 24 May 2018 at 14:16

All filled and working fine, GPU maxing out at around 45c and CPU around 65c. I just need to decide on a colour for coolant.

And now on to the next phase; a facility for easy maintenance...

LuckyBenski · 24 May 2018 at 14:22

String said:
All filled and working fine, GPU maxing out at around 45c and CPU around 65c. I just need to decide on a colour for coolant.

And now on to the next phase; a facility for easy maintenance...

To be honest that's crying out for a grey or gunmetal!

D1craig · 24 May 2018 at 20:16

i think a white coolant would suite it.

mingey · 25 May 2018 at 21:28

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, using pliers on compression fittings

Looking very tidy though !

mods1965 · 28 May 2018 at 10:14

Excellent work!

Dirk Diggler · 28 May 2018 at 10:43

Cheers all. I'll post some performance figures when I've got some testing done, and I'll need to settle on a fluid colour... But the weather's just too nice to be messing about with PCs right now. :cool:

Dirk Diggler · 6 Jun 2018 at 12:33

I've finally got around to looking at performance figures (sitting in the garden's been a more pressing priority in this weather

).

Unfortunately, the only "stock" way of controlling fan speed is via CPU temperature and motherboard PWM curves. With CPU and GPU @ stock settings and the CPU fan curve on silent mode, the GPU peaks around 54C and the CPU around 74C. Although this is acceptable ... for a water cooled system, that's too high.

In my experience, the best way to control fans is via an Aquaero linked to water temperature. I've got one available but I'm not going to install it right now as this PC will be my second system until I'm ready to upgrade the CPU/MoBo combination. It's not getting much action at all as my son prefers his PS4 for Fortnite with his friends.

Phase 1 of this wee project is now complete, and while I await the release of a CPU to do it justice... I've done a little bit of prep work on the cooling system that I'm intending to pair it up with.

orbitalwalsh · 6 Jun 2018 at 13:26

not running dual pumps for extra pressure and redundancy ?

Dirk Diggler · 6 Jun 2018 at 14:03

orbitalwalsh said:
not running dual pumps for extra pressure and redundancy ?

Yea, there's a pump in the case.