Phanteks Luxe Tempered Glass

de-gunking time + more pump bracket mods

I have striped out all the water-cooling parts and given them a good clean. I cleaned out the radiator with a 50:50 vinegar solution but also had to resort to descaling solution to shift the worst of it. the CPU block was quite gunked up with crud which I cleaned out and gave it a good cleaning with Isopropyl Alcohol. I have also cleaned up the CPU IHS and re-applied the thermal compound.

the radiator has also been sanded down and re-painted to remove a lot of imperfections, it looks supper clean now and colour matches well with the case.

31822741665_7365639105_c.jpg


31675536812_62a00c0935_c.jpg


The reservoir bracket has also come out again. I have made the slot for the top SSD cables slightly deeper and also removed the bottom inch of the plate to allow clearance for the tube form the reservoir to pump.

31675536642_1f0bd4e3ce_c.jpg


Now that the radiator has been cleaned up, I have added a thin layer of neoprene around the gasket I got made to ensure all the air goes though the radiator and doesn’t leak around it.

31450039400_0649e1bcc4_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Cenedd said:
Some of the fins ate a bit bent but you'll never see them and I'd challenge anyone to measure a meaningful difference in temperature as a result.
Click to expand...

I am the second owner of this Rad, and it has been thought at least 3 builds whilst it was in my hands, a couple of bent finds shouldn’t have any effect.
 
So let’s start bending

I was quite happy with my first bending attempts, For the pump to Rad tube i had to do a full 90 with a small kink as the outlet of the pump and inlet of the Rad where not quite in line. However it is rock solid and there is no way this will pop out accidently,

I did overhead the tube slightly during this bend so the tube bubbled a little, but as this is out of the way there is no issue with this.

30982009844_9e4b6a08e9_c.jpg


I got this mounted in the basement of the case and all nice and secure

And then it went wrong a bit, i attempted a complex composite bend from the rear most Rad fitting to the outlet of the CPU block which required two 90 bends on-top of each other.

I wound up going though two tubes attempting this, melting some tube to the bending tool, and getting the bending rubber stuck twice to the point it is no longer usable, and chopped in Half. However I’m ticking this up to a learning experience, i have a good feel of when I should bend and how quickly as my first two bends attempting this where normally find. I plan to revert back to my original layout of tubing which should space out the bends significantly making it a bit easier.

30986217984_2d8abdf7f1_z.jpg
 
Smffy said:
Didn't I post in your loop plan thread about using olive oil on the insert... ;)
Click to expand...

Yep, and this is what I did. My issue was that I was being to ambitious with it. With 2 tight 90 bends on top of each other, so I wound up under heating as I didn't want the soften the previous one, or over heating and it going to mush.
 
More Bending

So after the Christmas fun it was time to get back to the project. after some thought and advice (thanks Smffy) i drenched the bending tube in olive oil and took my time with each bend, like sooooo slow. The more I did the better it got. I ditched the XSPC bending tool as I just couldn’t get on with it.

31128267783_84e686b1b7_b.jpg


Then it was time for the big bend, this was a 700mm run and I only had one 1m tube to attempt this with, it was also blind due to the location of the pump. In the end it was easier than expected and probably the best bending job of the lot.

31789917672_1068b2bb17_b.jpg


I have two tubes left so I might have another go at the front most tube form Rad to CPU block, however I am planning to add a water cooled GPU in the loop, so might just wait until then. not perfect but mostly happy with it.

now its on leak test, I will need to strip out the CPU block as its gunked up quite a bit during the leak test, I plan to cycle the loop with distilled water two more times and then add the coolant I will use.

31128267653_426345fcea_b.jpg


31564330880_32caa68ac6_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Almost there

so after a successful leak test, i filled the loop with Mayhems Pastel White, i was taking a bit of a punt that the contrast would work, but i think it looks grate.

I need to get my 70D out and take some proper photos and finalize the plans for the top 5.25 bay as well as my monitor and GPU upgrade.

31145227664_1f2ae1516e_b.jpg
 
Cenedd said:
Just been answering some questions on the Aquaero thread. Just for reference, is your pump running power from a molex but control via the Aquaero or is it all from a single 4-pin fan plug to the Aquaero?
Click to expand...

Powered off a three pin header using the cable they make for the DDC.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/aqua-computer-connection-cable-laing-ddc-poweradjust-2-aquaero-5.6-wc-277-aq.html

it splits a 3pin output form the aquaero to the taco and a molex.

Edit:

If the pump just has a 4pin fan header you can plug it stight in? Or just send a PWM signal from a 4pin channel and power using your PSU?

My pump is only a 3 wire one, +ve,ground and taco
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom