Recommend a Small/Slim ATX Case capable of custom loop watercooling

im4gine3 · 10 Aug 2020 at 11:51

Hi all,

Not new here but haven't been into computers in a long while.

Can anyone recommend me a slim ATX case capable of a custom loop watercooling? (smaller/slimmer the better)

Though the case has been discontinued, shouldn't be hard looking for one to buy, i do have my eyes on the Thermaltake Core G3. Not sure if there are others of similar capability.

Note - Anyone who has a G3, how much clearance is there left if you were to have a GTX2080Ti propped either vertically or horizontally

I would have gone for a smaller form factor than ATX, but i'll be reusing my current PC setup into the new case which will be targetted for VR use, and my main PC config will be new parts in my current Corsair 750D.

Current PC parts include:
Asus Maximus Z87 Formula VI mobo
Intel 4770K
32Gb Corsair Vengeance Memory
(new) nVidia GTX2080Ti GPU (when the 3000 series release)
(new) SFX 700w PSU

Watercooling would include:
(new) EKWB 240 Slim radiator
EKWB Intel CPU Waterblock
(new) EKWB GPU Block
(new) EKWB DDC Pump/res combo
couple of Noiseblockers 120mm fans
Tubing pending on case size

I know the case i have my eye on is too small for a push pull config, but the system will have light overclocks and cooling performance doesn't have to be a major factor. I have also had a look at the NZXT H510 series and think that is still quite big, so smaller than that or even slimmer would be perfect.

Budget - Less than £150 sounds reasonable

Many thanks

adrichardson81 · 10 Aug 2020 at 14:50

You might get away with a Jonsbo UMX4 Pro. There's about 8mm change (eyeballed) with an H100i Pro installed.

im4gine3 · 11 Aug 2020 at 17:28

Had a look at the Jonsbo. It does look nice.. may go with that.

Before i do, can you tell me what cooling configuration it can have?

e.g. Can the top/bottom support radiators thicker than 38mm? Will i be able to get away with a 45mm rad and 25mm fan setup?

If i can, how much clearance do i have from the roof of the case to the top of the motherboard?

The gap at the bottom of the case. How wide is it? and is it possible attaching a radiator in the gap with the fans connected from the inside of the case? (pic in link)

https://s175.photobucket.com/user/carbine05/media/Capture_zps3dvbmn8r.png.html?sort=3&o=0

Oh, and can you also remove the 3.5" HDD bays?

Sorry for the questions, but need to make sure everything will fit before i buy. Will suck if i find out the case is not good enough for me.

Thanks

im4gine3 · 12 Aug 2020 at 11:08

Oh and 1 more question. How much space do i have remaining once a PSU is fitted.. say for example the Corsair RM850x with a 160mm size? would be nice if i can dump a EK DDC/Res combo in there

adrichardson81 · 12 Aug 2020 at 21:50

I make it 58mm to the top of the mobo.

There's about 3mm clearance between my radiator and the PSU (h100i Pro RGB).

The only thing you need to be careful about is the CPU power connectors - you may struggle routing cables through the back port, but obviously could run them along the front.

im4gine3 · 13 Aug 2020 at 16:47

So it looks like 30mm is the maximum thickness possible for a rad then. Good to know.

Any chance you could measure the depth of the bottom as i can see there is a gap where the magnetic filter connects to the bottom of the case. Wonder if i have enough room for a second 30mm 240 rad in a pull config.

And lastly, measure how much clearance you have left from the bottom of your PSU to the bottom of the 3.5" drive bay. Found a suitable PSU which is 125mm in width, and thinking of hacking the case to make a EK FLT 120 or 240 fit.. pending how much clearance is left with a 2080 gpu connected.

I know there are plenty oif pics on google and other forums with the UMX4, but difficult to gauge what i can stuff into it. Can you post pictures of your rig showing your whole setup head on and from different angles please.

Much appreciated

adrichardson81 · 13 Aug 2020 at 20:32

I think I can see what you've got in mind...

Bottom of case to bottom of mobo - 25mm
Underside of case 28mm
Bottom of PSU to top of 3.5" bay - 196mm
Bottom of case to top of 3.5" bay - 22mm

The biggest challenge I've had has been exhaust fans. I'm running the bottom fans as intakes and the top/back fans as exhausts, which seems to work best for my setup as the GPU gets pretty toasty if I run the rear fan as an intake (as they suggest).

im4gine3 · 13 Aug 2020 at 23:12

Thanks for the pics. Much appreciated.

Looks like it's gonne be a tight fit with what i've got in mind, but nothings impossible so will be a good challenge.

Fan config yet to be decided but thinking of having a XSPC Ultra thin/Alphacool XT25 radiator in the gap, so i should have 8mm free for the fans to at least help suck air in.. so the bottom fans will be intakes. Top rad will be an Alphacool XT30 with 2 fans as intakes as well.. and the rear as an exhaust. Both CPU and GPU watercooled.

That's my mind made up then. Time to buy a UMX4

adrichardson81 · 14 Aug 2020 at 09:29

im4gine3 said:
Thanks for the pics. Much appreciated.

Looks like it's gonne be a tight fit with what i've got in mind, but nothings impossible so will be a good challenge.

Fan config yet to be decided but thinking of having a XSPC Ultra thin/Alphacool XT25 radiator in the gap, so i should have 8mm free for the fans to at least help suck air in.. so the bottom fans will be intakes. Top rad will be an Alphacool XT30 with 2 fans as intakes as well.. and the rear as an exhaust. Both CPU and GPU watercooled.

That's my mind made up then. Time to buy a UMX4

Good luck! Occurs to me that an matx mobo would give you a bit more room to play with at the bottom (not that there's many good matx boards out there).

Too Tall · 14 Aug 2020 at 09:34

Have a look at a Thermaltake Core G3.

454 x 140 x 371 mm

It can be modded to fit a 360 rad in the front.

Too Tall · 14 Aug 2020 at 09:55

Sorry, just re read the main post and you've looked into the g3

im4gine3 · 14 Aug 2020 at 12:22

adrichardson81 said:
Good luck! Occurs to me that an matx mobo would give you a bit more room to play with at the bottom (not that there's many good matx boards out there).

Yeah it would have, however don't think i can get much from selling the Z87 so may as well make use of it.

Just a thought and last measurement (sorry).. can you measure how much space you have left between the bottom of your GPU and top of the bottom fan, and the measurement between the back of case to the SSD tray. Winder if i can mount a 240 flat pump there

im4gine3 · 15 Aug 2020 at 11:37

Luckily my case arrived today.. though it looks a bit different.. whats the difference between the normal UMX4 and the UMX4 Zone/Pro?

As far as i can tell, the Pro/Zone has additional cuttings for 2 SSD to sit at the front

adrichardson81 · 15 Aug 2020 at 16:10

Sorry - didn't get a chance yesterday. It looks like the UMX4 just sacrifices the 2 SSD mounts for arguable better gpu compatibility. I'm not sure if it actually lets you have a longer gpu, but you won't need to angle it for mounting.

im4gine3 · 15 Aug 2020 at 20:06

Cool.. thanks good to know.

Just did not expect to dismantle the case just to remove the 3.5" drive bays! Now i can start purchasing more and testing the fit

adrichardson81 · 16 Aug 2020 at 20:36

im4gine3 said:
Cool.. thanks good to know.

Just did not expect to dismantle the case just to remove the 3.5" drive bays! Now i can start purchasing more and testing the fit

The bottom bays or the caddy? If it's the bottom bays, were they easy to remove? You've got me thinking about watercooling my 3080 when I upgrade...

im4gine3 · 17 Aug 2020 at 17:22

adrichardson81 said:
The bottom bays or the caddy? If it's the bottom bays, were they easy to remove? You've got me thinking about watercooling my 3080 when I upgrade...

Both. When i say bays, i mean the HDD caddy at the front bottom.. since there's no 5.25" bays here.

The top 3.5" bay was easy as that just requires 2 screws. but the bottom part of the bay required the whole case to be stripped, as unless you wanted to flex the aluminium shell (not good unless you wanted a dent showing), the whole outer shell has to be removed to reach the 4 screws at the bottom holding the bay together. (2 screws to the side, 4 to the bottom for the bottom part of the caddy). All in all about 30 screws of about 40ish tied the case together.

Pics below. Frame held together using binder clips so i can take measurements

After constant measuring, shouldn't be an issue watercooling the GPU. Will start transferring my current case build into this one in the next couple weeks so will update you on any challenges etc. The build will be using rigid tubing too.. but obviously will be easier to route using the ol' soft tubing

adrichardson81 · 19 Aug 2020 at 20:53

Oh wow - I had no idea that was even possible with this case. Can you post pics of the finished build when you're done? Really interested to see how this goes!

im4gine3 · 20 Aug 2020 at 13:25

sure no probs