Made a mistake when planning parts for PC, now my GPU AIO doesn't reach front of case. Please help!

iguanaonastick · 5 Jan 2019 at 22:19

I've always used air, so when time came to make a list for my new pc build i didnt even think about checking the distances for the AIO i would be using for my GPU.

My build is 70% done, the time came to insert GPU and....

There's 10 cm distance between radiator and fan spots on front of case :/

See image: https://i.imgur.com/eUjkuLK.jpg

Mounting radiator on top/back is not possible due to other cooling/case restrictions. Has to be front.

I know im somewhat ******, but im looking for any advice as to how to unfuck myself. Some kind of adaptors, fan daisychaining etc.

Any advice would be great please :/

The case is Obsidian 1000D and the fans are from Gigabyte Aorus 2080ti Waterforce Extreme (240mm radiator), i have 2x of these (with NVlink). I cannot mount the GPU radiators elsewhere because CPU cooler can only fit on top, so even if one of GPUs goes to the back, the second one would still need to reach front.

At this point i can't change case. I also can't go custom loop for various reasons.

Im sitting at my old pc, staring at the almost-finished build in front of me, and trying not to cry from being so dumb and not realising that checking distances would probably be a good idea...

WantoN · 5 Jan 2019 at 22:38

Not being rude but why that case? It’s designed for extreme custom loops, not AIOs.

Anyway your best bet is a spacer, this very question was asked just recently, and I think they used a fan shroud.

MassiveJim · 5 Jan 2019 at 23:48

Although it isn't designed for it you can actually open an AIO up.

you could buy longer tubing to make it reach, i'm sure the guys on here would be able to help you with what and how to refill it if you went for that method.

Any chance to buy another AIO with longer tubing ?

I would definitely contact Gigabyte and ask if they do an AIO with longer tubing, see if you can somehow exchange yours.

freddie64 · 6 Jan 2019 at 08:55

Option 1 - Fan shrouds, but you will need 8 to fill that gap and not going to be pretty.

Option 2 - Fabricate some sort of radiator shroud.

Option 3 - Swap one of the 2080ti for a air cooled version.

Option 4 - Return one of the 2080ti and forget SLI.

WantoN · 6 Jan 2019 at 13:31

I would get a couple of radiator gaskets, and a load of m4 washers in black, and a bunch of super long screws (I think they use m4) in black too. You’d have to work out the length you need, it’s be : fan thickness + gap distance + 4mm or so.

Then I’d double up the gasket on the case, maybe even three+ of them (they’re adhesive backed) and use a load of washers to space the radiator off the case.

I’d its all done in black it’s not going to look too bad.