Project Will It Fit?

[savagesam117]

Hello all, I quite like writing about stuff I do which isn't a lot admittedly. So for this 'project' which is not really a project more of a rebuild and installing my first watercooling loop in a rather Ghetto fashion.

I also think i may make a video of this and enter for the Nvidia Competition.

As I'm sure you guys have seen me post about getting parts and stuff. Majority of the parts for this are going to be second hand because I don't have the money to blow on shiny new watercooling parts, the struggles of working part time whilst at college

The current PC spec will not change, unless I come into some money and can afford to purchase a 4790k and another 8GB of RAM.

Case: Zalman R1 Midi Case
CPU: Intel i5 4690k
Motherboard: Asus Z97 Pro Gamer
RAM: TeamGroup Vulcan 8GB 2400Mhz
GPU: MSI Lightning 290x 4GB
PSU: Antec 750w High Current Gamer - Modular.
SSD: MX100 256GB

Now I probably have a problem straight away as the case is in no way shape or form, made for water cooling.
But has space for 2 x 240mm rads up top and in the front so i thought why not give it a go at modding my case and if it doesn't fit i'll buy a new one and do it properly. I'm not very hopeful so it will probably be new case. I can see the tubing placement being all over the place.

Here it is as it stands.



Here is the planned route (Massively out of scale but more for tubing route)


Watercooling Parts.

Pump: Alphacool D5 with EK top block (in white, will change this eventually)
So my plan is to run it like this.
Reservoir: Bitspower 150ml
GPU block: EK Thermosphere
CPU block: Heatkiller 3 (Will be replaced when the top block is)
Rad 1: XSPC 240mm Crossflow
Rad 2: *Unconfirmed*
Fittings: XSPC Compression
Tube: Primochill
Fluid: Mayhems X1 Blood Red
Fan Controller: Aquaero 5 LT

A few of the parts turned up today.


The Fan controller, which I had a quick look into how to set it up and the software. Looks like a good piece of kid. Not sure where i'm going to mount this yet!


The Pump and block i didn't get pictures of separately as i wanted to put it together The top block was brand new so it was nice to open the packaging as i think this is going to one of the two things that will actually still in is original packaging. Looks of a very high quality and fitted very easily onto the pump. I will need to cut down the molex cable for the pump and braid it, to make it look pretty.



I will be doing some mods to the case to make all this fit. Taking out the DVD tray, HDD cages etc. Using my new friend the dremel

Over the next few days when i get time I will be starting on the strip down and my PC will be out of action for a while, unless i can be bothered to build it up in a spare case just so i can use it.

 

[dacads]

That's what she said

Looking forward to seeing the modding, p.s not a bad build for a part timer

 

[ED209]

should be good to see how this goes, ive never modded any cases myself in fear of ruining them and not having the money to replace it lol

 

[savagesam117]

should be good to see how this goes, ive never modded any cases myself in fear of ruining them and not having the money to replace it lol

Yeah I have never done anything like this either but I've got a lot of experience making stuff fit and modifying it.

So this should be interesting.

 

[Sandycheeks]

Looks like a good piece of kid. Not sure where i'm going to mount this yet

 

[savagesam117]

*UPDATE*

Today I finished college early so I thought i'd strip down my pc, pop it into a new case and start work on it.

Also a couple more bits have turned up. Ordered the tubing yesterday as OcUK got two in stock so grabbed both of them. Just need to finalize what fittings i need and then get my VRM heatsinks and fluid.. Oh and another Rad then i'm all sorted.

CPU Block: Looks quite pretty as far as they go. Don't know much more about it! Although, when i find out which holes i need, I may attack it with the dremel to get rid of all the other holes just to make it look a bit neater.


GPU Block & Adapter: This thing is really weighty for the size of it, i was surprised. One thing i'm not happy about is the fact i had to buy an adapter for what they call a universal block. Money thieving ...



Some nice empty case shots





Then i let myself loose with the drill Took the DVD drive cages out and the HDD cages. It's so empty now!

Bye bye DVD cages!


And HDD cages!


Now i need to make up some brackets to hold the pump/res. I am thinking of mounting them to the front rad. Or making a bracket to fix them to the back. I don't know yet, i need to wait for the res to get here so I can properly measure things up.

But that's enough for today, I am going to enjoy the slighty warm weather and go for a ride before i'm stuck at work all weekend

 

[MrMD]

This will pretty awesome if you are able to get it working.

Heres a thought,for your front rad get an xspc Multiport or alphacool st45,maybe even a coolgate. Then you can have the in/out threads vertical and have the crossflow directly connected with a straight tube into it. Then use a rotary for the Out towards your res.

 

[R63]

Interesting project.

 

[ScottiB]

according to your "planned route" your pump is pumping fluid from thin air INTO the reservoir, I guess this is a mistake.

My main question would be whether there is enough space in the roof of the case so that the rad or fans aren't fouling against the motherboard? It looks like Zalman left absolutely no space between the top of the IO and the top of the chassis.

 

[savagesam117]

This will pretty awesome if you are able to get it working.

Heres a thought,for your front rad get an xspc Multiport or alphacool st45,maybe even a coolgate. Then you can have the in/out threads vertical and have the crossflow directly connected with a straight tube into it. Then use a rotary for the Out towards your res.

Good idea, i didn't even think of getting a multiport rad. I'll have a look into that a bit more. I was just going to use a normal one and then put a 90 degree fitting on.

according to your "planned route" your pump is pumping fluid from thin air INTO the reservoir, I guess this is a mistake.

My main question would be whether there is enough space in the roof of the case so that the rad or fans aren't fouling against the motherboard? It looks like Zalman left absolutely no space between the top of the IO and the top of the chassis.

Yeah, i did notice that earlier. I drew two, this one was ages ago and then I was told by MrMD in another thread that it had to go res then pump and still managed to take a picture of the wrong one and then upload it!

Sadly I'm going to have to mount the rad on the outside have have the tubing running through the top and in with the fans in the cut out at the top pushing air through the rad and out. I will probably get some acrylic and make some sort of step up to house it in, so it kinda looks part of the case.

The Raijintek case that i put my computer in, on the other had has absolutely no space up the top for fans so i've had to screw them to the outside so it will actually have some airflow.

 

[savagesam117]

*Little Update*

Haven't done anymore, apart from make a NZXT type cable cover as when removing all the drive bays kinda left a big hole for cables to be seen! Not got any pictures of this though. And it also gives me somewhere to mount the res.

A few more bits turned up though. Waiting for my second rad and a few more fittings to turn up and i should be ready to pop it all in next week!

Some fittings, these are quite pretty!



A shiny new reservoir, this is heavier than i was expecting it to be. Build quality is very good though, i like it.



2m of tubing and some fluid. Doesn't smell too good and i can see it being a nightmare to get out of clothes if it manages to get there!



And the obligatory, Haribo picture.. I hate Haribo.

 

[jimbaw]

glad to see you've got the res
looking forward to seeing the final product!

 

[savagesam117]

Update time after a week off! I'm really quite productive when not able to use this forum.
The build is now finished but i thought i'd enter the Nvidia competition so the putting together of the water cooling will be in video and will be added later on today or tomorrow form but here's a few little mods and stuff i made.

I couldn't fit another 240mm rad in, everything is a bit bigger than i was expecting, but i could get a 120mm rad and pop the GPU in as i have space for that. But i'm going to buy a new case in a month or two, some new cards, unless i miraculously do manage to win the TX and do it all properly and make it look really awesome.

So i made an NZXT cover type thing as i needed somewhere to mount the res and hide the fan controller.




Then i finished it off with some Carbon sticker wrap stuff.


Then drilled some holes to fit, res and fan controller. Also got a little bored and wrote my name with the dremel.. No my name isn't 'am'!



Then popped the rad up top and went for a test fit, I am going to make a little section to go around the bottom to cover the gap so it has the step up but will look all like one.


And then the fitting wouldn't fit, so again the dremel came out!



A little test fit.. I moved my SSD and HDD to the bottom of the case and screwed in the pump. Doesn't look to bad and not a bad fit..

 

[savagesam117]

And here is the final putting together of everything and it all working..

Still need to do some case mods, like attaching the top of the case!

 

[jimbaw]

nice to see what you've done with it!!! good job mate